Mustafa Rfat, a doctoral candidate in social work at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed to the American Public Health Association’s Disability Justice advisory board for 2025 to 2026. The board, which centers on disabled leadership, provides guidance on advancing disability justice across public health research, practice, and policy.
“I am honored to join this board and look forward to contributing to work that advances equity and accountability in public health,” Rfat said.
Rfat’s research focuses on disability justice, refugee inclusion, and health equity through community-engaged methods.
Earlier this year, he was elected to represent Missouri as a delegate to the Refugee Congress, a national nonprofit advocating for refugees and other forcibly displaced people. He will serve a three-year term through 2028, joining a nationwide network of delegates representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Refugee Congress, a nonpartisan organization founded and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers, and other migrants, promotes the dignity, integration, and well-being of displaced individuals by amplifying their voices to inform and influence decision-makers on key domestic and international issues.
In addition to these appointments, Rfat was recently selected to receive the 2025 International Service Award from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), which advances research, policies and practices for people with disabilities, their families and communities. The award recognizes individuals or groups, inside or outside of the AUCD network, who make outstanding contributions to programs or policies that foster inclusive communities and positively impact lives locally, regionally, or nationally.