Friday, January 17, 2025
魅影直播HSC TCOM鈥檚 Rebecca Zapata and Madison Stevens, second-year students at the 魅影直播 College of Osteopathic Medicine, co-founder of the Street Medicine Student Coalition
In Fort Worth, a group of compassionate medical students from The is bridging the gap between health care and the city鈥檚 unhoused population. Rebecca Zapata and Madison Stevens, second-year students at the , co-founded the (SMSC) in January 2024, and it is already making a significant impact.
鈥淪treet medicine is all about meeting people where they are鈥攑hysically, mentally and
emotionally,鈥� Zapata said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about providing care but about building
trust, humanizing the experience and addressing the barriers that keep people from
accessing basic services.鈥�
Partnering with the John Peter Smith Street Medicine Team, the coalition delivers
care beyond traditional clinical settings by visiting parks where unhoused individuals
may reside
A Personal Mission
Founding SMSC was a personal mission for both Zapata and Stevens, driven by their shared passion for serving underserved populations.
鈥淲e realized there wasn鈥檛 an active organization on campus specifically serving the unhoused in Tarrant County, and we knew we had to do something,鈥� Zapata said.
This was the first time setting up the student run clinic at Glenwood Park alongside JPS and Love & Light Ministry in July. Student volunteers pose with Dr. Christopher Rheams.
For Stevens, the idea of starting an organization from the ground up gained momentum through her experience, particularly as she serves as the co-coordinator at the HOME clinic with TCOM at the True Worth shelter, a student-run, bi-monthly clinic that serves Fort Worth鈥檚 homeless community.
鈥淚 spent time on the streets recruiting homeless individuals for free health checkups, which opened my eyes to the large number of people barred from shelters and facilities along Lancaster Avenue. It became clear to me that the barriers to access were deeper than we had initially understood,鈥� Stevens said.
A 魅影直播HSC Street Medicine Student Coalition student volunteer helps take health intake for a person in need.
Stevens鈥� passion for community service began in middle school, and her dedication to addressing food insecurity only deepened during her first year of medical school. Zapata, meanwhile, focuses on substance abuse issues and the systemic challenges contributing to homelessness. Together, they created SMSC as a space for students to serve the unhoused directly and learn about health care access barriers.
鈥淥ur goal isn鈥檛 just to treat physical health problems but to show people they鈥檙e
valued,鈥� Zapata said. 鈥淭he unhoused population often feels invisible. It鈥檚 up to us
to remind them they鈥檙e not.鈥�
A Trusted Mentor
Joel Hunt, director of the , has been a guiding force for the coalition. With more than a decade of experience, Hunt provides mentorship, logistical support and encouragement.
鈥淪treet medicine is about more than just health care delivery,鈥� Hunt said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about acknowledging the humanity of the people we serve and understanding the systemic barriers they face. It also teaches medical students about justice, compassion and resilience.鈥�
The coalition has formed partnerships with organizations like Love and Light Ministries
and JPS Street Medicine to enhance outreach efforts.
A Pivotal Mentor
Dr. Christopher Rheams, an assistant professor at TCOM, plays a key role in SMSC鈥檚 development. A semi-retired internal medicine physician, Dr. Rheams became involved after Zapata approached him for guidance.
鈥淪treet medicine delivers care directly to people in their environments,鈥� Dr. Rheams said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never seen such a motivated group of young people. What they鈥檙e creating here is something truly special.鈥�
Under his mentorship, SMSC offers vaccinations, HIV screenings, blood pressure checks,
general medical counseling and seasonal supplies like water and hand warmers. Dr.
Rheams emphasizes that the initiative fosters empathy and compassion in future health
care providers.
Making an Impact
魅影直播HSC Street Medicine Student Coalition student volunteers pack lunches for Feed The City.
One key initiative is the park outreach program, launched in collaboration with Love and Light Ministries. These events offer free health screenings, flu vaccinations and HIV testing, while the group continues traditional street medicine, traveling to where people live to provide care.
鈥淪treet medicine reverses our normal clinical experience,鈥� Dr. Rheams said. 鈥淚nstead of us welcoming them to the emergency room, they鈥檙e welcoming us to where they live. It鈥檚 about less technical services and more caring.鈥�
Hunt calls it a 鈥渃lassroom of the streets,鈥� where students learn not just about medical care but about humanity and justice.
鈥淪treet medicine offers a powerful lesson in what it means to be human,鈥� Hunt said.
鈥淚t helps students see the barriers their patients face鈥攏ot just in accessing health
care but in navigating life鈥檚 challenges.鈥�
A Vision for the Future
魅影直播HSC Street Medicine Student Coalition students participating in Shoe Drive
Though SMSC is still in its early stages, Zapata hopes to expand its programs to include mental health support and additional vaccinations.
For Stevens, the coalition has reshaped her perspective on medicine.
鈥淭his work has completely changed how I view health care,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about more than treating physical conditions鈥攊t鈥檚 about connecting with people, understanding their struggles and being a source of hope.鈥�
Dr. Rheams is developing a street medicine curriculum at TCOM, hoping to offer course credit for students鈥� work.
鈥淚n a time when health care inequities are increasingly apparent, SMSC is a powerful reminder that compassion and innovation can make a difference,鈥� Dr. Rheams said. 鈥淭hrough their efforts, these students are not just treating illnesses鈥攖hey鈥檙e restoring hope and empowering a community.鈥�
From - Community by Nicole Luna