Street Medicine: Making House Calls to People Without Homes

During last year's road trip I was honored to be introduced to two great men, Robert Egger of DC Central Kitchen and James S. Withers, M.D. of Operation Safety Net. Both men quickly became my heroes and friends. You can watch the original interview here .

I was also honored to spend a little time with Doctor Jim a few months back when the producers of @home gathered leaders in homeless services in New York City to help develop an outreach campaign and action items for the film. Both times I told Doctor Jim I was going to someday visit Pittsburgh to help him tell his story. Well, I was finally able to make that happen.

There are no words to describe how much respect I have for this man. For more than 20 years he's continued to go out into the streets providing healthcare to our homeless friends and neighbors. He may even be one of the most humble men I have ever met. Although he is brilliant, Doctor Jim's heart of compassion makes him truly remarkable in the world of medicine.

Please watch these important interviews, and watch the trailer to "One Bridge to the Next". Then, if you know someone in the medical field, or someone going to medical school, please forward this post to them. We need more people like Doctor Jim in this world.

The above video was recorded before we went out into the streets of Pittsburgh. We were having such a wonderful time with our new friends that I asked them to join us in a retake. I know which one I like better; which one do you like best?

For more information visit please visit StreetMedicine.org

Because Foundation's film on Doctor Jim's work "One Bridge to the Next"

 

 

 

Follow Mark Horvath on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hardlynormal

Comments

[arianaart]

02:06 AM on 10/18/2011

How uplifting to know such altruistic men as Robert Egger and Dr. James Withers exist.

[knightoftheroundtable]

08:32 PM on 10/17/2011

Truly these must be honorable doctors, so they cannot be reubtakers.

[Maggie Callahan]

06:06 PM on 10/17/2011

For those interested in issues of homelessness the University of Maryland in College Park is working towards the same cause through a resolve poverty conference being held from November 4th to November 6th. The three day conference will be hosted by the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness and will include working with advocates focused on lowering the extreme level of poverty within this country and throughout the world. There will be students from all over the nation interested in working towards the same goal and workshops throughout the three days to educate them on what they can do.
The conference is open to all who are willing to register and attend and will be an important event within the community. For those interested visit www.resolveconference.org for more information and the opportunity to register.

[kirkland]

03:26 PM on 10/17/2011

A TRUE PHYSICIAN. What a remarkable man. The burden of the Hippocratic Oath and the great empathy that inspires the true healer must weigh upon this MDs heart. What leadership. May his days be blessed .

[Buck Winthrop]

02:44 PM on 10/17/2011

People like this who help others are the BESt type of people. I feel I am rewarded as well working with homeless people in LA..Good Work.

[crom14]

02:11 PM on 10/17/2011

Amazing and wonderful story. What a hero.

[ywcachieve]

01:54 PM on 10/17/2011

This doctor is the embodiment of what we should strive for while we are on earth. He is the true spirit of being human.
Our journey here on earth is brief, even if you live to be 100, that is brief. And our objective should be. What have I done today, that was 'outside of 'self'?

http://obamaachievements.org/list

[sacmom3]

01:24 PM on 10/17/2011

While being bombarded with all the evil there is in the world today. It's good to be reminded that there are angels here on earth too.

[James Crandall]

01:20 PM on 10/17/2011

This is a great piece of news. If our health care system was better organized for the actual health and welfare of our people instead of profits and bottom lines we may possibly become a nation of power again. Mark you are well above the your calling and I commend you.

[TaraRodden]

10:53 AM on 10/17/2011

Mark, thank you so much for the post and these inspiring videos! God bless you for the work you do and for bringing these important stories to light.

With love,
Tara