The Urge of Addiction with Carl Erik Fisher, M.D.

How does Universal Health Care effect the provision of street medicine care? What is it that calls us and sustains us to do this work? Jacqueline "Jac" Atkinson, NP, and her team from the North End Community Health Center in Halifax hosted the 2026 Street Medicine Symposium, and Jac joined us to discuss her work on the streets of Halifax with the Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) team. MOSH website HERE For Feedback or suggestions, email Michael Brennan at [email protected]

In May of 2026, the Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance limiting medical treatment and food distribution in city parks. Dr. Jack Palmer, Medical Director of Circle the City, explains the ordinance and efforts to work around it. He also shares about the challenges of providing street medicine in blistering hot Phoenix, and encourages all street teams to prepare for the implementation of HR1. Circle the City website HERE For Feedback or comments, email Michael Brennan at [email protected]

How do we train and mentor the next generation of street medicine providers? Dr. Richard Bryce from Detroit leads efforts to educate undergraduates, medical students, residents, and fellows in the ways of street med. Mentoring for humility, compassion, and curiosity, Richard insightfully lays out a hopeful future for street med and the rough sleepers we serve. Dr. Bryce Bio HERE CHASS Center HERE For comments or questions, email host Michael Brennan: [email protected]

Disabilities disproportionately effect rough sleepers. Mental illness, cognitive impairments, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations are commonplace. While not every street med team can have an embedded Occupation Therapist, Max & Julia provide useful guidance on how to think about and address disability issues among the unhoused. Additional Resources:Hurwitz, M., & Lam, J. (2024). Unmet needs: Bringing physical rehabilitation to people experiencing homelessness. Pm & R, 17(4), 445. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.13311 Lam, J., Hurwitz, M., Ngankam, D., & Leland, N. (2024). Interdisciplinary rehabilitation for the transition out of homelessness with a traumatic brain injury. BMJ Case Reports, 17(12), e262462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2024-262462 Marshall, C., Gewurtz, R., Barbic, S., Roy, L., Cooke, A., & Lysaght, R. (2023). Bridging the transition to housing: A social justice framework to guide the practice of occupational therapists and other professionals who support individuals with experiences of homelessness. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/17280 Tyminski, Q. (2021, October). Occupational therapy for the homeless [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/quinn_tyminski_occupational_therapy_for_the_homeless

With fresh eyes and an open heart, UC San Diego pre-med student Sophie Smith spent the summer volunteering with the street med team in Rochester, NY. With her youthful enthusiasm she fully engaged with the work on the streets, and shares her reflections on the transformative nature of street medicine along the academic journey to becoming a physician.