Street Medicine Phoenix

About Us

Street Medicine Phoenix (SMP) is a student-driven interprofessional health care and social justice team coordinated by the Zuckerman College of Public Health that brings together students and faculty from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Mayo Clinic, Midwestern University, and Creighton University. We provide health care and other needed services to individuals experiencing homelessness directly where they are, whether in shelters, encampments, or on the streets. SMP utilizes a biopsychosocial, trauma-informed model of care, meaning each individual's well-being is holistically addressed in the context of their specific goals and needs. Our student volunteers and preceptors provide this goal-negotiated, person-centered care to ensure that each individual experiencing homelessness obtains what they need to improve their overall quality of life.

Street Medicine Phoenix in action

Our Mission

Our mission is to meet the unmet needs of Phoenix's homeless population living and sleeping on the streets.

Our Vision

Our vision is to walk side-by-side with and advocate for individuals experiencing homelessness in Phoenix as they strive to overcome personal obstacles and societal stigmas in the pursuit of well-being, happiness, and a home.

Our Services

Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screening
Cholesterol Screening
Hemoglobin A1c Screening
Physical Health Assessment (heart, lungs, etc.)
Acute Medical Care (wound care, foot care, etc.)
Hepatitis A, Flu, & COVID-19 Vaccination
Narcan distribution
Vision Screening & RX Glasses
Veterinary Medicine
Mental Health Screening

Health and Hygiene Education
Medication Reconciliation
Functions and Movements Assessment
Assistance with ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
Social Determinants of Health Assessment
Referrals to Federally Qualified Health Centers and Other Community Resources
HIV & Hep-C Screening
And More…

*Data last updated June 20, 2024

Next-Generation Providers Bringing Health Care to the Streets: “It’s my job to listen.”

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State Organization Helps to Vaccinate Arizona Homeless Population

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Street medicine: Bringing health care to Phoenix’s unsheltered homeless

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Podcast

WRPHTC Keeping Up with Public Health - Episode 28: Street Medicine Programs

Episode Description
Collaborative efforts of Street Medicine Programs that work across disciplines and sectors to meet the complex health needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. Guests: Jeffery Hanna, MPH, MSc, Robert Fauer, MD, Brett Feldman, MSPAS, PA-C, Catherine Miller, BSc, Justin Zeien, MD, MPH.

Continuing Education Credits, Transcript, and additional Resources available at: https://moodle.publichealth.arizona.edu/course/view.php?id=499

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Contact Information

Sheila Soto, DrPH, MPH
Director, Community Engagement & Outreach Programs
Principal Investigator, Assistant Research Professor
ssoto2@arizona.edu

Robert Fauer, MD

Robert Fauer, MD
Medical Director

Program Lead

Catherine Miller

Catherine Miller, BSc
Health Education and Promotion Professional
Program Lead

Recent Publications

Zeien J, Vieira J, Hanna J, Ramirez A, Miller C, Hartmark-Hill J, Rosales C. Utilization of street-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Phoenix's homeless population. Community Health Equity Res Policy. 2023 Aug 27:2752535X231196415. doi: 10.1177/2752535X231196415.
Zeien, J., Vieira, J., Hanna, J., Surendra, L., Stenzel, J., Ramirez, A., Miller, C., & Rosales, C. (2023). Mpox Case Reports in an Urban Homeless Population and a Proof of Concept for a Street-Based Mobile Mpox Vaccination Clinic. J Prim Care Community Health. 2023;14:21501319231169991. doi:10.1177/21501319231169991 https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319231169991
Zeien, J., Hanna, J., Hartmark-Hill, J., Puracan, J., & Rosales, C. (2022). Engaging Health Professions Students in Community-Based Service Learning Through Design of a Needs Assessment Survey. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7191813
Zeien, J., Hanna, J., Yee, S., De Castro, A., Puracan, J., Ervin, B., Kang, P., Harrell, S., & Hartmark-Hill, J. (2022). Education without walls: Using a street medicine program to provide real-world interprofessional learning. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2021.2016663
Zeien, J., Hanna, J., Puracan, J., Yee, S., De Castro, A., Ervin, B., Kang, P., Harrell, L., & Hartmark-Hill, J. (2021). Improving health professionals’ and learners’ attitudes towards homeless individuals through street-based outreach. Health Education Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969211037362

Miller, C. (2023 Feb 23). Street Medicine Phoenix: There is No "I" In "Student Team". 2023 Annual Arizona Public Health Association Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
Surendra L, Smith J, McLelland M, Hanna J, Zeien J. (2022 Sept 24). A 12-discipline Interprofessional Model of Street Medicine. 18th Annual International Street Medicine Symposium, Toronto, Canada.
Zeien J, Hartmark-Hill J. (2021 Mar 10). Needs Assessment of the Unsheltered Homeless Population in Phoenix, AZ. 11th Annual Student Research Symposium for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (Virtual).
Zeien J, Hanna J. (2020 Feb 21). Street Medicine Phoenix: Meeting Vulnerable Patients Where They Are At. Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute T.H.I.N.K. Academy, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Henry Ford Health System - The Global Health Initiative Detroit, Michigan (2019) Conference
- Topic Presented: Active Strategies to Implement (i.e., Mobile Health Unit & Street Medicine Phoenix) in order to Address Social Determinants of Health on a National & Global Scale
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Annual Fall (2019) Conference Phoenix, Arizona
- Topic Presented: Healthcare Transformation & Societal Responsiveness in an Era of Entrustable Professional Activities

2023

Eisner, A.L., Pico, A., Allen, M., Chen, T., Deaver, C., Foreman, N., Vieira, J., Fauer, R., Miller, C., & Rosales, C. Street Medicine Menstrual Health Team: Meeting the Needs of Unhoused Women. Arizona – Public Health Student Research Poster Forum. 2023 Tucson, AZ
Vieira, J., Miller. C., Zeien, J., Surendra, L., Stenzel, J., Hanna, J., Penner, S., Goutham, A., Vesta, S., Ramirez, A., & Rosales, C. A Proof of Concept for a Street-Based Mobile Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic. The University of Arizona – Public Health Student Research Poster Forum. 2023 Tucson, AZ
Vieira, J., Mahmood, N., Bui, L., Taddel, M., Vetsa, S., Goutham, A., Penner, S., Lee, D., Burman, H., Miller, C., & Rosales, C. Implementation of a Street Based Veterinary Clinic: One Year Later. The University of Arizona – Public Health Student Research Poster Forum. 2023 Tucson, AZ

2022

Surendra, L., Barlow, K., Yang, M., Poyorena, C., McLelland, M., Hanna., J., & Zeien, J. Narcan Distribution & Education Initiative for Phoenix’s Homeless Population. The University of Arizona – Public Health Student Research Poster Forum. 2022 Tucson, AZ
- Third place award in Community Engagement category
Surendra L, Barlow K, Yang M, Poyorena C, McLelland M. (2022 Sept. 23). Saving Lives on the Streets: Narcan Distribution and Education Initiative for Phoenix’s Homeless Population. 18th Annual International Street Medicine Symposium, Toronto, Canada.
Nelson S, Yang M, Surendra L, Barlow K. (2022 Sept. 23). Promoting Autonomy: COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit Distribution Initiative Amongst Phoenix’s Unsheltered Population. 18th Annual International Street Medicine Symposium, Toronto, Canada.
Barlow K, Surendra L, Yang M. (2022 Sept. 23). REDCapⓇ Logic and Survey Implementation to Effectively Collect Data on the Streets for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness. 18th Annual International Street Medicine Symposium, Toronto, Canada.

2021

Yee S, Das E, De Castro A, Hanna J, Zeien J, Hartmark-Hill J. (2021 Oct 23). Use of the Plenoptika QuickSee to Fulfill the Vision Needs of Phoenix’s Homeless Population. International Street Medicine Symposium XVII (Virtual).
De Castro A, Yee S, Hanna J, Zeien J, Hartmark-Hill J. (2021 Oct 22). Utilizing Street Medicine as an Avenue for Administering the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine. International Street Medicine Symposium XVII (Virtual).

2020

Zeien J, Hanna J, Puracan J, Yee S, De Castro A, Hartmark-Hill J. (2020 Oct 17). Utilizing REDCap® as an Electronic Health Record on the Streets. International Street Medicine Symposium XVI (Virtual).
Hanna J, Zeien J, Puracan J, Yee S, De Castro A, Hartmark-Hill J. (2020 Oct 17). The Benefits of Volunteering in a Street Medicine Program. International Street Medicine Symposium XVI (Virtual).

2019

Zeien J, Hanna J, Kaur M, Puracan J, Hartmark-Hill J. (2019 Oct 21). Needs Assessment of the Unsheltered Homeless Population in Phoenix, Arizona. International Street Medicine Symposium XV, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Zeien J, Hanna J, Kaur M, Puracan J, Hartmark-Hill J. (2019 Oct 10). Addressing Health Disparities through Interprofessionalism in Street Medicine Phoenix. 6th Annual Arizona Health Equity Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.

2018

Zeien J, Hanna J, Rosales C, Hartmark-Hill J. (2018 Oct 11). Needs Assessment of the Unsheltered Homeless Population in Phoenix, Arizona. 5th Annual Arizona Health Equity Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
Zeien J, Hanna J, Rosales C, Hartmark-Hill J. (2018 Oct 03). Needs Assessment of the Unsheltered Homeless Population in Phoenix, Arizona. Arizona Public Health Association 2018 Fall Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
Zeien J, Hanna J, Rosales C, Hartmark-Hill J. (2018 Apr 18). Street Medicine Phoenix – Providing Interprofessional Education on Phoenix’s Streets. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix 2018 Scholarly Teaching Symposium, Phoenix, Arizona.
Zeien J, Hanna J, Rosales C, Hartmark-Hill J. (2018 Apr 11). Street Medicine Phoenix – Caring for Phoenix’s Homeless Population. Arizona Public Health Association 2018 Spring Conference, Phoenix, Arizona.
Zeien J, Hanna J, Rosales C, Hartmark-Hill J. (2018 Apr 06). Street Medicine Phoenix – Caring for Phoenix’s Homeless Population. University of Arizona Public Health Poster Forum, Tucson, Arizona.