The Syrian Refugee Surge to Canada: A Health System's Response
Between November 2015 and January 2017 Canada resettled 40,081 Syrian refugees, around 2,200 of them in Calgary. This mixed-methods study examines how the health system adapted, how providers were affected, how patients experienced care, and what it tells us about preparing for future humanitarian crises.
Duration: September 2017 – September 2025
Research questions
- How did the Calgary health system respond to the rapid influx of Syrian refugees?
- What adaptations did providers make, and at what personal and professional cost?
- How did Syrian patients experience care across a specialized refugee clinic versus community clinics?
- What does this experience tell us about preparedness for future humanitarian crises?
Methods
Mixed-methods: document review, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and eight years of clinical data (2011 – early 2020) from the Calgary Refugee Health Clinic.
Study team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Gabriel Fabreau
Co-Investigators
Dr. Annalee Coakley
Dr. Kerry McBrien
Dr. Stephanie Montesanti
Dr. Paul Ronksley
Dr. Rachel Talavlikar
Publications
- JAMA Pediatrics · December 5, 2022
Posters
- North American Refugee Health Conference · June 2019
- North American Refugee Health Conference · June 2019
Oral presentations
- Almasri I et al. — "Syrian patients' Perceptions of Care…"Mobilizing Knowledge on Newcomers Symposium, Calgary · October 2019
- Sakeah J K et al. — "Healthcare Providers' Experiences During a Syrian Refugee Influx…"North American Refugee Health Conference, Toronto · June 2019
- North American Refugee Health Conference, Toronto · June 2019
Media coverage
- December 13, 2016
Funding
MSI Foundation.
Partners
Calgary Refugee Health Clinic (formerly Mosaic)
Mosaic Primary Care Network
The Alex
Trans Canada Medical Centre
Panorama Hills Medical Clinic
East Calgary Health Family Care Centre
Sunridge Family Medicine Teaching Clinic