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 2023 SMISC Leadership Board

Name: Stephen Venable
SMISC Position: Chief Coordinator
University: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Street Medicine experience: "I started getting involved with street-based medicine in my first year of medical school through a program called Street Medicine Detroit. It was here that grew a love for our friends experiencing homelessness. Through our runs in Detroit, I have come to appreciate the difficulties they encounter, but also have been humbled by their resilience and positivity despite all they go through.

During my time at Street Medicine Detroit, I became the Advocacy Coordinator and learned about some of the challenges involved in advocating for this population and the importance of including their thoughts and opinions in the advocacy process. I then moved to the Vice President of Internal Affairs position where I led multiple runs, managed the daily operations of our organization, and was involved with both training sessions and seminars. I am currently the External Affairs Advisor where I support various leadership projects. I also have experience as a registered nurse in the emergency department and critical care and am familiar with many of the challenges our population faces when interfacing with the healthcare system. Our patients are truly inspiring, and I look forward to working together as a team to meet their needs as best we can!"

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.


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

Street Medicine Experience: "I was introduced to street medicine through an internship at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program in summer 2017. I served as a volunteer EMT-in-training at Operation Safety Net with their street outreach team as an intern in summer 2018. In 2019, I partnered with SMI to conduct the first international study of the descriptive characteristics (funding sources, billing method, providers, scope of practice, etc.) of all street medicine programs as my senior thesis project. I hope to conduct further street medicine research and perhaps a second study of this nature, and I look forward to volunteering on a street medicine team in medical school and beyond!"

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: Keirsten White
SMISC Position: ISMS Coordinator

Street Medicine Experience: "I was introduced to street medicine while serving as Director of a COVID-19 Isolation Hotel for unhoused individuals and families in Central Indiana. Our team provided 24/7 care on-site while making efforts to connect clients to primary care, mental health support, medically assisted treatment, vaccinations, and casework. My experiences in this role informed my intent to work towards improved healthcare for people living in poverty as a physician. I am currently applying to medical schools and hope to participate in street medicine efforts as a medical student in the coming year. In the meantime, I am excited to support others’ in their efforts to deliver dignified healthcare on the streets and possibly participate in expanding knowledge on the impact and relevance of street medicine in communities."

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas aboutStarting 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.


Rachelle KromashName: 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.


Sophia DruffnerName: 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.


Sohan RaoName: 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.


Katy WyszynskiName: Katy Wyszynski
SMISC Position: Media Communications Coordinator
University: University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Street Medicine Experience: "I learned about street medicine at the beginning of my third year of medical school, when I began rotating at the local county hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. They have a specialty group of healthcare providers that work on the Street Medicine team, in conjunction with inpatient and outpatient services to treat patients experiencing homelessness. I was fortunate enough to work with the team clinically and on other outreach projects. As a future emergency medicine physician, I am excited to continue to work with our street medicine team in Fort Worth and learn about other organizations both throughout the country and internationally!"

Contact me for questions/comments/ideas about: 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


Brittany PaceName: 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


Savannah VetterlyName: 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: 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: 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. I would also love to make sure our international chapters are well connected!


Lauren EstessName: Lauren Estess
SMISC Position: Student Liaison Administrator
University: Currently Matriculate for Medical School in 2023

Street Medicine Experience: "My experience with street medicine began in college as a volunteer with Doctors Without Walls along the streets of Downtown Santa Barbara. I have continued to volunteer with this local team for the past three years, and this previous year got the opportunity to hold a leadership position as a Coordinator for the organization. After connecting with practitioners, students, and volunteers on street medicine teams at national and international street medicine symposiums, I am eager to remain involved in this incredible, impactful field as I begin my journey into medical school. I look forward to meeting and learning more about the amazing work students and future physician advocates are doing throughout the country!"

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.


We look forward to collaborating with you!