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Sustainable Connections & Collaborations for Health & Human Rights

The 2nd annual University of Michigan Sujal Parikh Memorial Symposium for Health & Social Justice

The Physicians for Human Rights National Conference

March 24^th to 25^th, 2012 in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sujal Parikh was a University of Michigan medical student and NIH Fogarty Scholar who held leadership positions on the Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) Student Advisory Board, as well as in AMSA, GHEC, UAEM, UM Center for Global Health, and UVP.  A passionate believer in the collective power of committed individuals to advance health and social justice, Sujal leveraged his networks within these organizations to make each of them stronger.  Sujal’s unique gift for bringing people together in pursuit of common goals inspired the theme for this year’s joint conference.  Learn more about Sujal here.

The Sujal Parikh Memorial Symposium on Health and Social Justice began as a collaborative effort among friends, colleagues, and representatives of the numerous global health organizations to which Sujal contributed. The 2011 symposium, The Social (Justice) Network, brought together diverse students and professionals to learn from one another, create lasting connections, and generate new ideas for the advancement of health and social justice. Together, we established a community committed to carrying on Sujal’s work and ensuring that his spirit continues to inspire a better world. More information on the 2011 symposium is available here.

PHR is an independent organization that uses the integrity of medicine and science to stop mass atrocities and severe human rights violations against individuals.  The organization was founded in 1986 on the idea that health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to protect human rights.  PHR uses its investigations and expertise to advocate for the:

• Prevention of individual or small scale acts of violence from becoming mass atrocities
• Protection of internationally-guaranteed rights of individuals and civilian populations
• Prosecution of those who violate human rights

PHR’s National Student Program provides health professional students with opportunities to learn about, advocate for, and develop leadership in the field of human rights.  Information about PHR’s 2011 National Conference is available here.

We are honored to be sponsored and hosted by the University of Michigan Center for Global Health, the U of M Medical School, the U of M Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, the U of M School of Public Health, and Global REACH, and to be supported by the Michigan Student Assembly.