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 2025 SMISC Leadership Board
Name: Becca Kalik
Position: Advocacy Chair
Bio: Becca is a second-year medical student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and one of the Advocacy Chairs for SMISC. She is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people experiencing homelessness and mobilizing students for policy change. In Philadelphia, she organizes outreach through Temple Street Outreach (TSO), connecting students, residents, and attendings to provide essential supplies to those living on the streets. Outside of advocacy and medicine, she enjoys cooking, watching Severance, and spending time with her cat, Purkinje.
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: street medicine advocacy, policy initiatives, student mobilization, or anything else related!
 Name: Vinh Dang
Position: Podcasting Director
Bio: Hi, my name is Vinh, and I’m an M1 at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. I’m as passionate about street medicine as I am about puns, hiking, and immunology. Super excited to be expanding the podcast and hearing your suggestions! Please subscribe and share the Street Side podcast!
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Podcasting, Policy, Advocacy, Street Outreach programming, hiking, puns
 Name: Hannah McBride
Position: Student Liaison Director
Bio: Hi! My name is Hannah and I am a second year medical student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. When I started medical school, I knew I wanted to get involved with our local street outreach organization Temple Street Outreach (TSO). After going on a few outreach walks, I saw how important street outreach is in our community and wanted to become an advocate for street medicine programs. I am very passionate about harm reduction and how to implement psychiatric care for individuals experiencing homelessness. I am very excited to work with street medicine teams around the world and help facilitate connections between street medicine teams!
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Questions about how to get involved with SMISC, how to connect with other street medicine teams in your community, how to start up a street medicine program, and how to recruit volunteers to your street medicine teams!
 Name: Joshua Morgenlander (he/him)
Position: Advocacy Chair
Bio: My name is Josh, and I am a second-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Inspired by a presentation from Dr. Jim Withers in 2023, I joined the board of Street Med at Pitt, a student-led interdisciplinary street medicine group. I am also programming vice-chair for a new street psychiatry student conference that is in the works! SMISC’s 2024 Op-Ed campaign was my first major advocacy experience in street medicine; this year, I will work to ensure that the voices of people experiencing homelessness continue to be centered in all SMISC activities. I love practicing Spanish whenever I can, making music with my band (Felix Rabito / Saint Dismas), running, and yoga.
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Advocacy, forming coalitions, street psychiatry, connecting with street medicine teams outside of the United States - any and all dreams you have for our collective future!
 Name: Sophie Vogel
Position: Chief Coordinator
Bio: After graduating as a math major from Vanderbilt, I taught for three years. In the classroom, I saw how environments shape human behavior, and I decided to go back for my Ph.D. to continue studying community psychology (the study of how changing environments can benefit individuals, instead of teaching individuals to respond better to their environments). This led me to becoming Director of Research and Community Engagement of Vanderbilt Homeless Health Services, a position which I have loved. I am so excited to help strengthen student-run street medicine teams across the world!
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Email us at [email protected] about connecting to other Street Medicine teams, running an effective Street Med team, and getting off the ground. I am also so happy to meet with you! You can schedule a meeting through calendly.com/sophia-druffner/ !
 Name: Julia Deziel
Position: Recruitment Coordinator
Bio: Before medical school, I worked on a street outreach team with a county public health organization outside of Denver, CO. I’m particularly passionate about harm reduction and substance use care as a facet of street medicine. Now, I’m part 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 street medicine as an option for medical professionals and getting more folks involved, including in more rural areas. In my free time, I love to ski, trail run, read, and play violin!
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: Anything! 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. You can email me through [email protected]
 Name: Adelina Geraghty
Position: Communications Coordinator
Bio: I was introduced to street medicine as a first year medical student at UIWSOM. I was immediately hooked, and knew that this was a movement I just had to be involved in. In my second year of medical school, I became my school’s Street Medicine Liaison and VP of Outreach Medicine, roles which involved coordinating with local street medicine and outreach groups and helping other students get involved. As SMISC Communications Coordinator, I am excited to expand our following and help get more students interested in street medicine. Outside of medicine, I love to spend my time singing, painting, and cuddling my three cats.
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: street medicine news, info from your own street medicine groups or clubs, stories about your experiences with street med, and resources you’d like to share with the community. Message me on instagram @smi_student_coalition or connect with me via [email protected]
 Name: Ramya Chigurupati
Position: Quality Improvement
Bio: Hello! My name is Ramya, and I’m an M3 at MSUCOM in Detroit. I first heard about street medicine when I was a senior in high school, and immediately decided that it was for me. Since then, I’ve volunteered at Haven House, a family shelter, and as soon as I got to medical school I joined Detroit Street Care. Through Detroit Street Care, I’ve been able to work with the community, and helped set up the Street Medicine of Michigan Symposium, where street medicine teams from around the state can join together to discuss procedures and trade ideas. I am beyond thrilled to join SMISC and continue working to expand the reach of street medicine across the country!
Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: How to start a new street medicine program, street medicine electives in medical school, setting up street medicine conferences/meetings to talk about what we can learn from each other, and resources/cool outreach in your city or state!
 Name: Savannah Vetterly
Position: Programming Coordinator
Bio: 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. In 2022, I began going on street rounds with OSN and Street Medicine at Pitt, and needless to say, I absolutely loved my experience! Currently, I am a second year medical student and am involved with Loyola Street Medicine. 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 or speakers that you are interested in hearing from. I would love any feedback regarding SMISC’s programming and any other events you would like to see from us.
We look forward to collaborating with you!
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