The Street Medicine Institute is excited to announce that registration is open for the 18th Annual International Street Medicine Symposium (ISMS 18) to be held September 22-24, 2022 in Toronto, Canada! A special pre-symposium Street Medicine 101 workshop will also be offered on Wednesday, September 21. Many thanks to Inner City Health Associates (ICHA) for hosting our first in-person symposium in two years! The International Street Medicine Symposium (ISMS) is the world’s premier educational event dedicated to the health care of rough-sleeper (unsheltered) homeless populations. As always, the ISMS will offer an impressive slate of homeless health care experts from around the globe presenting clinical topics, innovations, research outcomes, and best practices relevant to street medicine through the popular format mix of large-group lectures, interactive small-group presentations and workshops, and poster presentations. Clinicians and non-clinicians are invited to participate; we encourage and celebrate the diversity of professional roles and disciplines represented among participants. We intend to offer continuing medical education (CME) credits for eligible clinicians.

Canadian Entry Requirements

Please read and complete all requirements prior to crossing into Canada. All travelers are required to download and use the ArrivaCAN app. More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/services/arrivecan.html 

Masking Guidance

Click here to read the ISMS Committee's statement on COVID-19 safety at ISMS. 

Quick Links

Registration Information | Program Schedule | Keynote Presenter | Street Medicine 101 Workshop | CME Credits | Venue & Lodging | Transportation | Area Attractions
Host City Spotlight 

Reconnect and Re-energize

One of the most valuable experiences of the ISMS is the opportunity to interact with street medicine colleagues from around the world, especially this year returning to an in-person symposium after 2 years apart. Again, this year, program activities will incorporate time to reconnect with old friends, make new contacts, and share stories of the triumphs and challenges of this important work. Participants will be inspired and re-energized as they renew a common commitment to improving the lives of their brothers and sisters living on the streets.

Registration Information

Members of the Street Medicine Institute, including program members, receive a 50% discount on registration. 

   

Program Members: If you are registering a group of people from your program, please ensure they have first all been included in your Program Membership account. You may continue to add individuals to your Program account and register them for the symposium at any time until the event. Please contact [email protected] if you require assistance.

U.S. Registration Rates

To find your category, click here.

	Non-Member Pricing	Member Pricing
Persons With Lived Experience	Registration and SM101 Workshop are free	Registration and SM101 Workshop are free
Physicians & Admin	$500	$250
Advanced Practice Providers	$300	$150
Healthcare & Other Professionals	$200	$100
Community Stakeholders	$200	$100
Resident Physicians In-Training	$100	$50
Non-Medical Outreach Workers & Volunteers	$100	$50
Students	$90	$45

International Registration Rates

To find your category, click here.

If you live outside of the United States, you may be eligible for a discounted international membership. Visit the membership page for details.

	Non-Member Pricing	Member Pricing
International Group A: Physicians MD or DO, Admin, Other	$300	$150
International Group A: Healthcare & Other Professionals	$180	$90
International Group B: Physicians MD or DO, Administrative, Other	$200	$100
International Group B: Healthcare & Other Professionals	$120	$60
International Group C: Physicians MD or DO, Administrative, Other	$100	Registration and SM101 Workshop are free
International Group C: Healthcare & Other Professionals	$50	Registration and SM101 Workshop are free

Conference Add-Ons

Street Medicine 101 Workshop

We are pleased to offer this special pre-symposium workshop, updated this year to address common challenges among new and developing Street Medicine programs around the world. This high-yield introductory session is targeted to those individuals and organizations new to Street Medicine or in need of expert guidance to launch or enhance their Street Medicine activities. This workshop will provide an instructive overview of the history, principles, and practice of Street Medicine, as well as interaction with experts in the field for guidance and problem-solving. 

	Non-Member Pricing	Member Pricing
Street Medicine 101 Workshop	$50	$25
CME Credits	$250	$125

Host City Spotlight

Highlighting the work of Inner City Health Associates

Inner City Health Associates (ICHA) is Canada’s largest health organization for people experiencing homelessness, with vision to bring about a ‘healthy end to homelessness’.

ICHA’s >100 primary care, psychiatry, population health, internal medicine, paediatrics, addictions medicine and palliative care physicians and 30 nurses, nurse practitioners and health promoters provide care at over 70 program sites across Toronto on the streets and in drop-ins, shelters and community organization hubs.

ICHA’s street medicine programs include the Street Clinical Outreach for Unsheltered Torontonians (SCOUT) team, the street psychiatry Multi-Disciplinary Outreach Team (MDOT), the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Team and the 'Call Auntie' Indigenous Health Team.

ICHA works in close partnership with hundreds of community, shelter, housing, health care, academic, and Municipal partners across Toronto to provide the highest quality integrated health care possible for people experiencing homelessness while facilitating housing and health transitions.

The Street Medicine Institute believes that, as a global community dedicated to improving the lives of people sleeping rough, we have much to learn about creating sustainable street medicine programs and partnerships to address the health and human rights of rough sleepers from ICHA.

Venue & Lodging

ISMS 18 will be held at the Toronto Hilton, located downtown at 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H, 2L2, Canada.ISMS 18 Attendee Discounted Hotel Rate: $221 USD ($279 CAD), excluding taxes (17.52%)

Toronto lodging options

As of August 1, the Toronto Hilton is now fully booked on the 22nd and 23rd. 

**UPDATE: Because the SMI block at the symposium hotel is fully booked on September 22 & 23, we know some people are still making lodging decisions. If you’re looking for a hotel or Airbnb, consider the walking or transit distance from the ISMS venue, located downtown at the Toronto Hilton (145 Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario). There are many hotels in the surrounding area, and it looks like good Airbnb options are available, too! While the symposium room blocks are full, there are still rooms available at the Hilton. This could be a good option, especially if you’re open to sharing a room with a colleague. We recommend posting on the SMI Forums if you are looking for a roommate: https://stmi.memberclicks.net/smi-forums 

Or call 1-800-HILTONS and provide the group code ISMS22. (Joining the free Hiltons Honors program may give attendees access to free wifi.)

Transportation

Air Travel

Toronto Pearson International Airport is a 25-minute journey from the downtown Union Station via the UP Express. UP Express is much less expensive than taking a taxi or rideshare: http://www.upexpress.com. Union Station is a 12-minute walk from the Hilton Toronto.

Train

When traveling from other cities in Canada, take the VIA RAIL train to Toronto Union Station. Union Station is a 12-minute walk from the Hilton Toronto. For a detailed schedule and pricing, visit: http://www.viarail.ca.

Toronto Public Transit

The Toronto Transport Commission (TTC) runs the metro and buses around Toronto. The Hilton is within a 1 minute walk from the Osgoode Station. More information.

Program Schedule

Click here to view the full program.  

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

8 a.m. EASTERN	Registration
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.	Street Medicine 101 Workshop

 

Thursday, September 22, 2022

7 a.m. EASTERN	Registration
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.	Host City Day

Friday, September 23, 2022

7:30 a.m.	Registration
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.   6-9pm	Invited International Lectures,  Interactive Sessions, and Poster Presentations   Social Event Art Gallery of Ontario- 317 Dundas Street West Complimentary hors d’oeuvres with cash bar.  Symposium ID badge required for admission; no guests please.

Saturday, September 24, 2022

7:30 a.m.	Registration
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.	Invited International Lectures,  Interactive Sessions
1 p.m.	Afternoon Street Medicine Institute Student Coalition Session with lectures and interactive presentations

 

Keynote Presenter: Dr. Kaitlin Schwan

Dr. Kaitlin Schwan is Executive Director of the Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network and a Senior Researcher at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. She teaches social policy at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Social Work, where she is appointed Assistant Professor, Status Only. She is the former Senior Researcher for the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing and Director of Research for The Shift, where she worked in countries around the world to advance the right to housing. Dr. Schwan completed her PhD in Social Work at the University of Toronto in 2016 and has over 15 years of research and policy practice focused on homelessness prevention and human rights, particularly for women and youth. She uses research to build bridges between evidence, advocacy, policy, and lived expertise to advance housing justice in Canada and internationally.  

Area Attractions

CN Tower: Standing at 553 meters (1815 feet), the CN Tower boasts the highest observatory platform in the Western hemisphere. At the Main Observation Level, you can catch a great view of the city or look straight down through the observatory’s glass floor. If you’re feeling more adventurous, reserve a spot on the Edgewalk, 116 stories in the air secured only by a harness. Book a table in advance to enjoy dinner with a 360 degree view of Toronto. The tower is located 1 km (14 minute walk) from the Hilton.

Ripley's Aquarium: Holding more than 1.5 million gallons of water, the aquarium is home to marine and freshwater fish and animals. The aquarium is a 15 minute walk from the Hilton.

Royal Ontario Museum: The museum currently holds 13 million objects in its collections with over 40 galleries and exhibition spaces showcasing art, archaeology, and natural science. The exhibits explore everything from dinosaurs to mummies, Chinese architecture to Indigenous objects, and more. Within the museum, the Daphne Cockwell Gallery is dedicated to First Peoples art and culture with over one thousand works of art and cultural heritage.The museum is a 9-minute metro ride from the Hilton.

Hockey Hall of Fame: Home to the Stanley Cup, the Hockey Hall of Fame offers fans artifacts dating back to the game’s origin, interactive exhibits playing one-on-one against life-size animated versions of today’s greatest goalies and shooters, 3-D films, and vintage hockey footage from their vault. The HHOF is a 12-minute walk or 9-minute metro ride from the Hilton. Visit HHOF | Home for additional information.

Distillery District: Inside the 47 restored Victorian industrial buildings of the former Gooderham & Worts Distillery, the Distillery Historic District offers everything from shopping, dining fit for foodies, to art galleries and entertainment. The Distillery District is about 20 minutes from the Hilton on public transportation.

Recommended Restaurants

Baro: Latin food with vegan options and is located at 485 King Street. Visit Pablo’s Snack House on the 2nd floor of Baro for happy hour with sangria or margaritas paired with yuka fries and house-made tortilla chips.

Byblos: Mediterranean food with great ambiance. Located within a 5 minute walk of the Hilton at 11 Duncan Street. 

Queen Mother Cafe: A Toronto favorite with Asian food; vegetarian-friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly. Located at 208 Queen Street West, a 4 minute walk from the Hilton. https://www.queenmothercafe.ca

Cafe Landwer: Middle Eastern specialties and salads. It is located at 165 University Avenue and is a 1 minute walk from the Hilton. Great for brunch!

Rodney’s Oyster Bar: Seafood with a fun atmosphere. Located at 469 King Street West in the basement. 

Cluny Bistro: USA Today’s best French restaurant in Toronto, located at 35 Tank House in the Distillery District. Must take a rideshare or public transit.

El Catrin: Mexican and vegetarian friendly. Located at 18 Tank House in the Distillery District. Must take a rideshare or public transit. 

Covid-19 Safety

When traveling to Canada, you are currently required to demonstrate proof of vaccination using the ArriveCAN app or website. Detailed and up-to-date instructions on requirements at the border. Please pay careful attention to the requirements prior to your travel to Canada.

Currently in Toronto, masks are encouraged but not mandatory. We plan to follow local health guidelines, if they change, at ISMS 18. The Street Medicine Institute and our hosts in Toronto encourage the use of masks during the symposium to protect our vulnerable clients and workforce.