Healing Beyond Walls: Street Medicine Students Bring Health Care to the Unhoused
In Fort Worth, a group of compassionate medical students from The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is bridging the gap between health care and the city’s unhoused population. Rebecca Zapata and Madison Stevens, second-year students at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, co-founded the Street Medicine Student Coalition in January 2024, and it is already making a significant impact.
“Street medicine is all about meeting people where they are—physically, mentally and emotionally,” Zapata said. “It’s not just about providing care but about building trust, humanizing the experience and addressing the barriers that keep people from accessing basic services.”
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.
“We realized there wasn’t an active organization on campus specifically serving the unhoused in Tarrant County, and we knew we had to do something,” Zapata said.
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’s homeless community.
“I 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,” Stevens said.
Stevens’ 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.
“Our goal isn’t just to treat physical health problems but to show people they’re valued,” Zapata said. “The unhoused population often feels invisible. It’s up to us to remind them they’re not.”
A Trusted Mentor
Joel Hunt, director of the Acclaim Street Medicine Team at JPS, has been a guiding force for the coalition. With more than a decade of experience, Hunt provides mentorship, logistical support and encouragement.
“Street medicine is about more than just health care delivery,” Hunt said. “It’s 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.”
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’s development. A semi-retired internal medicine physician, Dr. Rheams became involved after Zapata approached him for guidance.
“Street medicine delivers care directly to people in their environments,” Dr. Rheams said. “I’ve never seen such a motivated group of young people. What they’re creating here is something truly special.”
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
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.
“Street medicine reverses our normal clinical experience,” Dr. Rheams said. “Instead of us welcoming them to the emergency room, they’re welcoming us to where they live. It’s about less technical services and more caring.”
Hunt calls it a “classroom of the streets,” where students learn not just about medical care but about humanity and justice.
“Street medicine offers a powerful lesson in what it means to be human,” Hunt said. “It helps students see the barriers their patients face—not just in accessing health care but in navigating life’s challenges.”
A Vision for the Future
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.
“This work has completely changed how I view health care,” she said. “It’s about more than treating physical conditions—it’s about connecting with people, understanding their struggles and being a source of hope.”
Dr. Rheams is developing a street medicine curriculum at TCOM, hoping to offer course credit for students’ work.
“In a time when health care inequities are increasingly apparent, SMSC is a powerful reminder that compassion and innovation can make a difference,” Dr. Rheams said. “Through their efforts, these students are not just treating illnesses—they’re restoring hope and empowering a community.”
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