Zena Yared

About Zena Yared

I am a doctoral researcher within the research platform: Borders in Health, Medicine, and Society. My academic and professional background includes training as a physician, as well as a master’s degree in Sexual, Reproductive, and Perinatal Health. Over the years, I have gained extensive clinical experience in psychiatry, working in both hospital and NGO settings in Syria. During this time, I have had the opportunity to engage with a wide range of communities, including displaced and disadvantaged populations, which has informed my research interests and professional focus.

My current research primarily examines the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among marginalised populations, aiming to address the challenges they face in accessing equitable care. Additionally, a significant area of my work is dedicated to exploring the relationship between physicians’ agency and political frameworks, particularly in the context of migration policies. In addition to my research activities, I am involved in teaching postgraduate students about migration within the field of public health, allowing me to share insights on the intersection of migration and health.

As part of my doctoral studies, I am currently involved in the following research projects:

VOICESforSRHR: This project is led by Lisen Dellenborg and is in collaboration with Josephine Greenbrook, My Opperdoes, and Lena Gross. This interdisciplinary study adopts a participatory research approach to investigate the lived experiences of forcibly displaced unaccompanied minor girls, with a specific focus on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. By involving unaccompanied minor girls, healthcare providers, and civil society advocates, the project seeks to identify critical points where shortcomings in SRHR-related healthcare may lead to human rights violations. Additionally, the project aims to map out potential opportunities for support and early intervention to better address the needs of this vulnerable group.

The Boundaries Longitudinal Study: This interdisciplinary study is led by Josephine Greenbrook and is in collaboration with Lisen Dellenborg, Andrea Spehar, Lena Gross, Mayssa Rekhis, and Signe Askersjö. The study explores how physicians respond to government initiatives that require the mandatory reporting of undocumented patients. Using a broadened ethnographic methodology, the research spans a period of ten years and incorporates qualitative interviews conducted in various healthcare and medical education settings. It also includes participant observations in medical humanitarian and civil society contexts, as well as media analyses of public debates and discourses surrounding mandatory reporting. The goal is to understand the broader implications of these policies on healthcare practice and patient care.