STREET MEDICINE INSTITUTE STUDENT COALITION

Recently, the Street Medicine Institute established its first Student Coalition - a group focused on bringing together street medicine programs run by students worldwide. Click the SMISC history and mission tab to learn more of our story. Below you can find details about the current student leadership team. Please become a member of the Street Medicine Institute, log in and click on the Student Coalition - Resources tab to view numerous student resources, including the SMISC Program Directory, Research and Resource Toolbox, FAQs, and more! Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions or to contact any of our team members below!

Meet the 2024 SMISC Leadership Board

Name: Sophie Roe
SMISC Position: Chief Coordinator
University: Geisinger Commonwealth SoM

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: General inquiries/suggestions for the SMISC; discuss ideas to develop and/or enhance Street Medicine programs; strategize approaches to community engagement and person-centered, transdisciplinary care. These inquiries will be responded to as an entire team for a variety of perspectives.

Name: John Karns
SMISC Position: Vice Chief Coordinator
University: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Street Medicine Experience: John embarked on his journey in street medicine back in 2021 while still a first-year medical student in Detroit. Since then, he's made significant strides, helping to spearhead a groundbreaking Michigan initiative to establish the state's inaugural street medicine symposium in 2023, revitalizing the Detroit Street Care initiative after the COVID-19 Pandemic, and integrating various street medicine initiatives across the state. Prior to this milestone, John dedicated himself to serving the community through volunteering at numerous soup kitchens and outreach programs in the Detroit area—a commitment he has upheld since 2016. Notably, John held the esteemed position of President at MSUCOM's Detroit Street Care, and to this day, he remains actively engaged on the streets of Detroit alongside various esteemed physicians and fellow medical students.

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: General inquiries/suggestions for the SMISC; discuss ideas to develop and/or enhance Street Medicine programs; strategize approaches to community engagement and person-centered, transdisciplinary care. These inquiries will be responded to as an entire team for a variety of perspectives.

Name: Julianne “JJ” Dee
SMISC Position: ISMS Coordinator
University: Saint Francis University

Street Medicine Experience: “Four years ago a lecture by a street medicine provider sparked a life-changing journey to work with a street medicine team. Inspired by their work, I launched an umbrella drive for people experiencing homelessness, then joined Valley Health Partners (VHP) Street Medicine Program in Allentown, PA as a volunteer. Over the past four years, I have worked alongside clinicians, witnessing the impact of healthcare delivered right to patients. Recently, I focused on how to spread the word about street medicine and the work that providers do on a daily basis. To amplify the voices of street medicine, "Our Street Neighbors" was launched which is a podcast featuring professionals in street medicine. Recently attending ISMS in London, it offered the ability to connect with a global network of street medicine practitioners, further fueling my mission to work in street medicine. Now, I aim to bring the field of street medicine to new audiences, encouraging others to witness and participate in the powerful work of street medicine.”

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: ISMS proposals, registration, lodging, and other logistics. Starting a new Street Medicine Program; challenges and successes experienced during program development; Navigation of the SMISC google-drive and/or materials to contribute; Street Medicine quality improvement

Name: Rachelle Kromash
SMISC Position: Academic Research & Curriculum Coordinator
University: East Tennessee State University

Street Medicine Experience: "About two years ago, I participated in my first street medicine event, the Point-In-Time (PIT) count, with the Street Medicine Interest Group at ETSU’s medical school (Quillen College of Medicine). Since that time, I have participated in and planned several of the events as one of three leaders on the SMIG board. Last year, I was a psychology extern at the Johnson City Downtown Day Center (a FQHC) where several of the clients experience homelessness or have recently experienced homelessness. Also, I served as SMISC’s Academic Research & Curriculum Coordinator from 2022-2023 in which I started a multi-site research project on PEUH and their experiences with healthcare. I hope to take my experiences with SMISC, ETSU’s street medicine team, and the clinic to improve street medicine."

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Starting or sustaining a Street Medicine/Outreach Program; student program resources and/or post-graduation Street Medicine opportunities; Street Medicine research or conducting research with persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness, academic programming, and consultation about providing mental health services within street medicine.

Name: Sophia Druffner
SMISC Position: Quality Improvement Coordinator
University: Vanderbilt University, Peabody College

Street Medicine Experience: "Seven years ago, as an undergrad at Vanderbilt, I watched a short video clip of Dr. Sheryl Fleisch, giving psychiatry consults on the streets of Nashville, TN. When I came back to Vanderbilt and started my Ph.D. in Community Research and Action, studying homelessness, I knew that I had to be involved in street medicine. Luckily, my advisor was already affiliated with the new Street Medicine Initiative at Vanderbilt, and I am currently a researcher on their team. I am so excited to work as a researcher to improve the efficacy of street medicine teams to better serve those experiencing homelessness."

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Starting a new Street Medicine Program; challenges and successes experienced during program development; Navigation of the SMISC google-drive and/or materials to contribute; Street Medicine quality improvement.

Name: Sohan Rao
SMISC Position: Advocacy Chair
University: University of Pittsburgh

Street Medicine Experience: "Over the past year, I volunteered with Street Medicine at Pitt, going on rounds and collaborating with other members to better understand and address the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness. As a public health student and aspiring physician, I saw the burden of chronic disease and its direct relationship to the lack of basic necessities such as shelter, food and transportation. This broad, public health perspective is what fascinates me about street medicine. As advocacy chair, I hope to shed light on the personal struggles and experiences of the homeless to influence community leaders and enact change on a wider scale. I am excited to work with students and advocates to bring our minds and passions together in support of such an important and fulfilling cause. While this is my first year on the board, this experience has influenced my pursuit of medicine and the physician I hope to become. I look forward to an amazing year and am excited to work with and learn from current and future advocates!"

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Policy work, advocacy resources and toolkits, connections/resources for public health and street medicine, advocacy research and general SMISC questions.

Name: Julia Deziel
SMISC Position: Recruitment Coordinator
University: West Virginia University School of Medicine

Street Medicine Experience: “Before medical school, I worked on a street outreach team with Jefferson County Public Health in Lakewood, CO. I’m particularly passionate about harm reduction and substance use care as a facet of street medicine. Now, I’m the Co-Leader of the Morgantown, WV’s street outreach team called MUSHROOM (Multidisciplinary UnSheltered Homelessness outReach Organization of Morgantown), which goes out on biweekly rounds in our community. I’m excited about spreading the word about ethical street medicine as an option for medical professionals and getting more folks involved, including in more rural areas!”

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Connecting with SMI/SMISC, communicating and networking with other street medicine teams, all things harm reduction, getting more involved with our organization, history of street medicine presentations for your program, empowering volunteers, and connecting international chapters.

Name: Brittany Pace
SMISC Position: Newsletter Communications Coordinator
University: Medical College of Wisconsin

Street Medicine Experience: "I was first introduced to Street Medicine in my first year of medical school by a then fourth year medical student who was working with a physician at our medical school to start a Street Medicine program in Milwaukee. We have established a continuing partnership with a local outreach organization, StreetLife, to send medical students on weekly food and resource-based street rounds. As the president of our Street Medicine Interest Group, my goal has been to develop lasting relationships with people experiencing homelessness, diversify our group’s reach in the community, and ultimately lay the groundwork for establishing a fully functional Street Medicine program in Milwaukee."

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: General SMI news and updates to spread to the community, how to use social media to spread the word on your program, effectively communicate to your team, share ideas on how to better structure programs or ideas that may help other teams, general SMISC questions

Name: Savannah Vetterly
SMISC Position: Programming Coordinator
University: University of Notre Dame

Street Medicine Experience: "In the summer of 2021, I began volunteering with Operation Safety Net (OSN) as an EMT in a shelter clinic. From this experience, I quickly became aware of my passion for working with individuals experiencing homelessness, and at the same time, I developed an academic interest in understanding the differential health outcomes for this population. After the summer with OSN, I chose to minor in poverty studies at Notre Dame, specifically to learn more about the causes and potential solutions to America’s homelessness crisis. This past summer (2022), I was able to round with OSN and Street Medicine at Pitt, and needless to say, I absolutely loved my experience! Currently, I am conducting a research project on how type of homelessness (unsheltered vs. sheltered) can predict longitudinal hypertension outcomes. In the future, I plan to continue similar research on differential health outcomes experienced by the unsheltered homeless. Finally, I am excited to continue learning with you all through different webinars and other programs with SMISC this year!"

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: New webinar topics that you would like to hear about, or anything related to volunteering with other student Street Medicine groups, Street Medicine elective rotations, and/or residency opportunities. I would love to hear any feedback regarding SMISC’s programming and anything that you would like to see!

Name: Nikila Nallabelli
SMISC Position: Student Liaison Director
University: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Street Medicine Experience: “In my first year at MSUCOM, I was introduced to the transformative world of street medicine through my involvement with Detroit Street Care (DSC). From starting as a student volunteer to assuming a leadership role within DSC’s executive board, I gained invaluable insights into the pressing needs of Detroit's homeless population and worked on initiatives to address them. As a member of the executive board, I honed my skills in cross-collaboration, working with multiple street medicine organizations to ensure a continuum of care for our patients. It was during this time that I witnessed firsthand the profound impact of street medicine in extending a lifeline to those most in need of support and compassion. My journey with DSC ignited within me a deep-seated passion for the reach and efficacy of street medicine. This passion led me to join the SMISC e-board, where I am committed to facilitating collaboration among street medicine teams nationwide. Through this platform, I aim to foster excellence in street medicine care and facilitate meaningful discussions among like-minded organizations, all aimed at maximizing the impact of street medicine on a broader scale.”

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Questions about connecting with other street teams, options for solving issues that arise within your organization, recruiting volunteers and volunteer retention, and empowering volunteers through street medicine.

Name: Vinh Dang
SMISC Position: Podcast Director
University: Stockton University

Street Medicine Experience: “I was introduced to Street Medicine after meeting with Dr. Jim Withers while working with friends to develop Bridge Beyond, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources to individuals experiencing homelessness through collaboration with colleges and universities. Working with individuals experiencing homelessness and learning about the Street Medicine Institute inspired me to continue educating the public about the amazing efforts to help address the challenges that individuals experiencing homelessness face.”

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Ask me about the greatest podcast about street medicine ever: Street Side the Official Podcast of SMISC. Would love to chat and learn more about your community’s commitment and work to help people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

Name: Poyani Bavishi
SMISC Position: Student Liaison Director / International Collaborations
University: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

Street Medicine Experience: "I was first introduced to Street Medicine at my medical school in Camden, NJ. After one year volunteering with the team, I joined our school’s leadership for outreach as well as our group’s Advocacy committee where I began learning about the processes of obtaining identification, navigating housing guidelines and policies, and participating in local government. The invaluable experience I gained interacting with individuals experiencing homelessness then drove me to join SMISC so that I could understand how to take my interests and apply them for further change. It is my first year on board and I have loved connecting with other extremely passionate individuals!"

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Ask me about the greatest podcast about street medicine ever: Street Side the Official Podcast of SMISC. Would love to chat and learn more about your community’s commitment and work to help people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. 

We look forward to collaborating with you!