Based in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Spartan Street Medicine is comprised of medical students and physicians united under a commitment to quality healthcare for all. The program provides medical care and health education to people experiencing homelessness in Ingham County in the form of pop-up clinics and outreach trips.

“One of the most important parts of going into the medical field is being able to help the most vulnerable of us,” said Osteopathic Medicine student Jordan Lewis. “Being a part of Spartan Street Med has just reaffirmed how important it is to keep advocating for people.”

The student-led medical group is now overseen by Dr. Graham Atkin, community advisor, and Dr. Robert Scott and Dr. Michelle Loubert, clinical advisors.

“What we are trying to do is bridge the gap in healthcare for people who are experiencing homelessness in a way that brings them in as partners in their health discovery process and in a way that empowers them to be advocates for their health,” Atkin said. “It really is about bringing the clinicians to the patients, going to the people where they are, and helping them as best we can.”

Many people experiencing homelessness have developed a mistrust of the healthcare system due to past experiences of mistreatment. Spartan Street Medicine focuses on rebuilding that trust with a focus on individualized holistic care.

“Many people experiencing homelessness have had very negative experiences with the medical community, so part of our mission is to not harass them and to treat folks with respect and just give them as good care as possible,” Scott said.

In light of those past struggles, students are taught by both physicians and their elder peers how to be empathic and considerate of the patients they meet.

“The biggest takeaway is the number of barriers people have to seeking healthcare,” said Osteopathic Medicine student Chelsea Rawe. “Being aware of that will make me a better doctor because I will be ready to meet people where they’re at instead of just expecting that they view physicians and healthcare providers in the same light that I do.”

Students who participate in the organization through clinics and outreach trips also get a unique opportunity that can be hard to come by working in the healthcare field—time to listen to the patients and hear their stories.

“It really illustrates to the students how important establishing the relationship is when talking to a patient,” Scott said.

Recently, Spartan Street Medicine has expanded to include students from the College of Human Medicine, as well. The integration of both programs has provided student participants the benefit of seeing combined perspectives on medicine.

“I think that it has been really nice to foster that relationship with the doctors that we’re going to be working with in the future,” said Christa Schafer, Human Medicine student and outreach coordinator.

Undergraduate students have also played a part in the program, including students in the Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures Department who helped create flyers and brochures to help with health education.

Spartan Street Medicine continues to grow and adapt to overcome challenges, providing meaningful experiences for the students and physicians who take part in it, all while paying close attention to the mission of more equitable healthcare treatment for all.

Learn more about Spartan Street Medicine