Community Partner: Cincinnati Street Medicine
Cincinnati’s Street Medicine team provides medical care and other services such as harm reduction and case management to individuals where they are. The spirit of street medicine involves “going to the people” to provide more equitable, comprehensive, continuity of care to individuals who are not plugged into local health systems or social supports. This is accomplished by building relationships with individuals as a consistent force of support and care and respecting individuals’ choice to engage, or not engage, with medical teams. The team is a collaboration with UC Emergency Department, the Early Intervention Program, Neighborhub Health, and PATH Behavioral Health.
Cincinnati Street Medicine was recently established in late 2024. It goes out 5 days weekly and participates in monthly Bridge the Gap events. The team has a newly outfitted van for street medicine purposes, which it uses to travel as close to people experiencing street homelessness as it can. The rest of travel is accomplished on foot. The overarching goal of Cincinnati Street Medicine is to address acute medical needs, establish guests with primary care in Cincinnati, and provide harm reduction services and case management to improve health outcomes and health access in the Cincinnati community.
About Keirsten
I grew up in Columbus, Indiana with my parents, 2 little sisters, and 2 little golden retriever brothers. As the first in my family to attend college, the cost and long training in medicine intimidated me – but it was always my dream. At Indiana University Bloomington I explored non-profit management, social entrepreneurship, and the humanities before I found my path. I created my own major in Medical Humanities, served as the honorary founder of the Medical Humanities minor and its introductory course, and organized the first annual Medical Humanities conference. Still intimidated by the lofty goal of medicine, I first pursued work in direct service. I managed a hotel shelter program for unhoused families during the COVID-19 pandemic with Beacon, Inc. I also worked as a case manager with The Road Home in Salt Lake City, UT, home of the “housing first” model. I served for two years on the Street Medicine Institute Student Coalition Board.
I chose this elective to return to the “boots on the ground” work that I fell in love with during my years before medical school. The community I met through this work are part of my why at UCCOM. I can think of no finer way to close out my final year to that “MD” than to support the mission of street medicine. I hope to become a primary care physician who works with individuals from twinkle to wrinkle over the course of decades, rooted in my community and committed to the slow, incremental change of healthy living in the neighborhoods I serve. I intend to prioritize neighbors who are struggling in extreme poverty and need primary care the most, but too often receive it the least.