Advocacy in Action: A Spotlight on the USC Street Medicine Team

Posted on March 19, 2024 by | 1 comment
Nina DeJonghe, MPP
Nina is the Director of Government Relations for the Council of Academic Family Medicine (CAFM). Her work supports academic family medicine issues, including graduate medical education, primary care research funding, the healthcare workforce and increasing access to primary care physicians to improve health outcomes.


In October of 2023, I visited STFM member Jehni Robinson, MD, FAAFP, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC). Upon becoming chair, Dr Robinson secured funding to create a street medicine team at USC. After which, she partnered with a local county hospital to provide services to more than 60,000 unhoused people.

The USC street medicine team focuses on treating unhoused patients whose needs are often overlooked, if not ignored entirely. I was invited to make rounds to witness firsthand the incredible work the family medicine department does within the community.

Over five hours, we visited several areas throughout South LA. I watched as the team conducted evaluations on new and existing patients, provided wound care, reinstated Medi-Cal insurance, administered medications, and handed out necessities. The providers were compassionate, patient, and kind. The patients were treated with humility, dignity, and the utmost respect. During rounds, we learned a long-term patient was moving into a shelter later that week, which was great news. I held an internal moment of celebration for them, as waitlists for shelters can be extensive. It’s important to note that shelters, while not a long-term solution, provide an important step forward for those experiencing homelessness.

Through Dr Robinson’s leadership with California’s Department of Health and Human Services, and work of the USC street medicine team, physicians in the state are now able to seek Medicare reimbursement of medically necessary professional services to unsheltered homeless individuals, if this care is provided in a “non-permanent” location or found environment.

Since visiting USC, I have spent significant time reflecting on this transformative experience. The street medicine team embodies the spirit of Family Medicine through their dedication, compassion, and unwavering patient support. The contributions of Dr. Robinson and USC’s team are admirable; I am grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time observing their commendable work.

Ready to Make a Difference?

STFM will be working with Water Drop LA to assemble care packages on-site at the 2024 STFM Annual Spring Conference. You can purchase items on the Amazon wish list or bring them with you to the conference.

View the Amazon Wishlist

A room will be available at the conference hotel for attendees to assemble care packages during refreshment breaks. Representatives from Water Drop LA will also be on-site to share more about the organization.

Sunday, May 5 from 9:50 to 10:50 am
Monday, May 6 from 10:15 to 11:15 am and 12:45 to 1:45 pm
Tuesday, May 7 from 9:50 to 10:50 am and 2:45 to 3:15 pm

Water Drop LA is a 100% volunteer-run community organization whose mission is to provide clean water and other necessities to communities facing water inaccessibility. By distributing 2,000+ gallons of water to Skid Row each week and by providing water to our partner organizations across Southern California, Water Drop aims to support existing organizers and to meet the immediate needs of the community

1 Comment

Posted in Advocacy, Family Medicine Stories, Health Equity, Leadership, Public Health, story telling, The STFM Annual Spring Conference, Volunteering

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Demystify the Superhero Role of High-Resource Countries in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

Posted on March 5, 2024 by | Leave a comment
Mariquita Belen, MD, MAS, FAAFP,
Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH

Almost 16 years after being in the United States of America as a physician, we visited our birth country—Philippines. An 18-hour flight seemed nothing compared to more than a decade of being away. The excitement to speak in Tagalog again, touch Filipino patients, and heal the people who cannot afford to pay private physicians motivated us to plan this medical mission for more than a year. The partnership with the local municipal health officer and the mayor made the collaboration easy.  But no! The process of applying for temporary medical licensure, recruiting local physicians who would be available while we were there, and sending the medical supplies from the US was not pain-free and fast.

In the midst of the humid summer, we arrived on site, armed with our American way of training. Yet, we were not in America.  We were ready to screen for cervical cancer. There was no liquid-based cytology.  Not all beds had stirrups.   The local health center used the conventional glass slides and hair spray as fixatives. We had to use a rolled towel to lift the pelvis up while the women’s legs were in frog-leg position. We used a flashlight to illuminate the pelvic area. We learned their way of doing it, which was their right way.

They were the expert and we were their partners. We were there as extra hands. In eight hours, with five physicians, we did pelvic examination and pap smear on 219 women. It felt like an assembly line with the community health workers doing the intake history-taking, then we did the speculum and pelvic examination, then another team of health workers doing the fixation, labelling, and packing.

It flowed very smoothly. Nobody complained.  Patients waited for their turn with smiles on their face. One glass slide broke during the packing and the patient came back with no signs of disappointment.  She eagerly went to the examination table since she already knew the drill.

Clearly, we were not the superhero in this mission. We were impressed that with very limited resources, how could they make this process worked so well.  How community health workers who had elementary or high school diploma be an effective and efficient part of the health care team. They were empowered.

We concluded with a better understanding of ourselves and how we could mutually learn and support one another. The adaptability, resilience and community engagement during the medical mission in the Philippines shed more light to me.  Health care collaboration was a meaningful and sustainable experience when resource-rich countries partnered horizontally with host countries. Letting them lead their right way, and we would follow along.

Leave a comment

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Family Medicine Stories, global health, Health Equity, story telling

The STFM Medical Editing Fellowship: A Gateway to Scholarly Growth For Community Physicians

Posted on February 23, 2024 by | 1 comment
Priyanka Tulshian, MD, MPH
STFM Medical Editing Fellow (2023-2024)

The path of a community physician is replete with personal patient interactions, localized health solutions, and the day-to-day fulfillment that comes from serving the immediate needs of a community.  Yet, the pursuit of scholarship can sometimes seem like a distant reality, reserved for those in academia or large research-focused institutions. The Society of Teachers Family Medicine (STFM) Medical Editing fellowship presented me with a bridge between these two worlds, offering a community physician and educator a pathway to enhance my scholarly pursuits. My experience as a fellow has augmented my career in ways I had scarcely imagined.

For community physicians, scholarship often takes a back seat to the pressing demands of patient care. The STFM fellowship has opened the doors to the world of medical literature, providing tools and opportunities to contribute to the broader academic conversation without sacrificing the essence of community practice. I have come to embrace and recognize the similar skill set required in managing a patient… and managing a manuscript.

For me, the fellowship has been instrumental in the cultivation of a critical eye. As a physician, critical appraisal of literature underpins out practice, but the editorial lens is discerning of not just the content but the clarity, coherence, and contribution of a piece to the existing body of knowledge. This deepened sense of discernment is a skill that has enhanced both my practice and my teaching.

Moreover, engaging in the editing process has expanded my network, connecting me with authors, researchers, and educators from diverse backgrounds. These interactions have not only enriched my understanding of various healthcare issues but have also positioned me as a liaison who brings community based concerns to a national platform. I have the opportunity to become increasingly involved in dialogues that shape family medicine education and policy, thereby influencing patient care on a much broader scale.

The art of editing also cultivates the skill of writing, an invaluable asset for any physician-scholar. With each manuscript I review and edit, I hope that my own writing has become more precise and impactful.  The enhanced visibility of my work fosters further scholarly opportunities, contributing to a virtuous cycle of academic growth and reputation- building in the medical community. 

Furthermore, the mentorship inherent in the fellowship has been a rich source of professional development. Learning from seasoned editors and educators has provided me with a unique perspective on leadership in medicine. The mentorship provided has paved the way for long term relationships that support my ongoing professional journey.

The STFM fellowship has catalyzed my evolution from a community physician to a physician-scholar.  It has afforded me the platform to contribute to important conversations in family medicine and to apply those insights directly to my learners, patients, and community.  It has also taught me the value of scholarly activity as a means of professional satisfaction and career advancement. Community physicians have much to contribute to the landscape of family medicine and we should amplify our voices, share our unique insights, and ultimately enhance the health of our communities through scholarship.

Learn more about the STFM Medical Editing Fellowship and how to apply at https://www.stfm.org/medicaleditingfellow

1 Comment

Posted in Family Medicine Journal

Tagged , , , ,