Street Medicine Detroit

What Street Medicine Detroit does

Street Medicine Detroit is a student-led non-profit organization founded in May 2012 at Wayne State University School of Medicine, providing medical care directly to Detroit's approximately 20,000-person homeless and service-resistant population. Its core offering is the "Street Runs" program, in which teams of medical and nursing students, supervised by licensed clinical preceptors such as Medical Director Dr. Richard Bryce and NSO Nurse Practitioner Dean Carpenter, deliver primary care, chronic disease management, wound care, vaccinations, and health education on the streets, at shelters (e.g., Caritas Welcome Center), and at soup kitchens (e.g., Manna Meal in Corktown). Supporting products include influenza vaccination campaigns funded by Alana's Foundation, COVID-era hand-washing stations, an H&P clinical documentation system, care package distribution, the 'Perspectives' podcast, and a Wayne State-approved Street Medicine elective for 3rd and 4th year medical students.

The underlying technology is a street-based mobile healthcare delivery model rather than a software platform; key enabling assets are a 150+ medical student volunteer base, clinical supervision from NSO, medication access via Midtown Rx Pharmacy, and an EMR-lite documentation workflow. The business model is purely philanthropic: all services are free to patients and the organization is funded entirely through donations, small grants, and fundraising events—most notably a $500,000 ARPA grant in August 2024 and prior micro-grants from Detroit SOUP, Belle Tire, and Alana's Foundation. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on earned media (CNN, USA Today, BBC, Detroit Free Press), Wayne State communications channels, and a podcast to attract volunteers and donors rather than commercial customers.

Name

Street Medicine Detroit

Legal name

Street Medicine Detroit

Website

https://streetmedicinedetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Street Medicine Detroit is a student-led non-profit at Wayne State University School of Medicine that delivers free primary care, preventive services, and vaccinations directly to Detroit's homeless population on streets, at shelters, and at soup kitchens through volunteer-driven "street runs."

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Healthcare Services

NAICS

Outpatient Care Centers (6214)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & Street Medicine Primary Care Programs (HLAFAGAH)

Keywords

• Street medicine
• Homeless healthcare
• Medical outreach
• Primary care services
• Nonprofit health

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a non-profit organization, Street Medicine Detroit relies entirely on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Funding supports medications, care packages, medical supplies, equipment purchases, and operational costs. No revenue is generated from services as care is provided free of charge to patients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Street Medicine Detroit is a student-run, non-profit organization affiliated with Wayne State University School of Medicine that delivers free, on-the-ground primary medical care to Detroit's homeless and underserved population. Care is delivered through "street runs" to shelters, soup kitchens, and street locations, supplemented by vaccinations, health and physical (H&P) examinations, wound care, health education, and prescription medication assistance.

Product overview

Street Medicine Detroit is a student-led nonprofit healthcare organization offering street medicine outreach services. Its core offering is the Street Runs program, which brings medical care directly to homeless populations on Detroit streets and in shelters. Supporting services include vaccination programs, hand-washing stations, and distribution of medications and hygiene supplies. The organization also operates the 'Perspectives' monthly podcast and provides a Street Medicine medical elective for Wayne State medical students. The H&P Form System supports clinical documentation during outreach. All services are provided free of charge to patients experiencing homelessness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Street Runs Medical Outreach Direct, in-person primary medical care delivered by student volunteers to homeless individuals at shelters, soup kitchens, and street locations in Detroit.
• Vaccination Clinics Mobile vaccination services offered to homeless and underserved individuals in Detroit during street outreach activities.
• Health and Physical (H&P) Examinations Standardized clinical history and physical examinations documented via the H&P form system during patient encounters.
• Wound Care On-site wound cleaning, dressing, and follow-up care delivered to homeless patients encountered during outreach.
• Health Education Educational sessions on hygiene, disease prevention, and chronic disease management delivered to homeless individuals alongside clinical care.
• Prescription Medication Assistance Provision of prescription medications to homeless patients identified during street outreach, funded via donations and grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 flu shots provided to homeless individuals who otherwise might not have received vaccination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Primary partner organization providing clinical supervision, facilities (Tumaini Center), and operational support. NSO employees including Dean Carpenter (Nurse Practitioner) and others work alongside students during street runs. NSO provides the infrastructure and clinical expertise that enables SMD's student-led model.
• Wayne State University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMD is officially recognized as a student organization at the medical school. Faculty advisors (Dr. Jennifer Mendez, Dr. Lisa MacLean, Dr. Mohammad Anees) provide guidance. The school approved a Street Medicine elective for 3rd and 4th year students in 2015.
• The Empowerment PlanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDetroit nonprofit that produces waterproof coats functioning as sleeping bags for homeless individuals. Coats keep wearers warm in temperatures as low as 17 degrees. Employs women who have experienced homelessness. Donated coats to SMD patients.
• Midtown Rx PharmacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent pharmacy providing medications to SMD patients. Owner Mike Srour delivers pharmaceuticals to shelters, provides medication therapy management, and offers affordable options for uninsured individuals.
• Detroit Receiving HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMD conducted research with Detroit Receiving to determine the impact of street medicine on Emergency Department enrollments. Hospital statistics show $1,600 per day for frequent users from homeless population.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Alana's Foundation to provide influenza grants for underserved populations through non-profits and colleges/universities.
• Dr. Jim O'Connell / Boston Health Care for the HomelessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMD hosted Dr. O'Connell for a seminar on medical respite. Dr. O'Connell founded Boston Health Care for the Homeless almost 30 years ago and shared insights on street medicine practices and organizational growth.
• Street Medicine InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that founded the International Street Medicine Symposium. SMD presented research at the symposium in Geneva, Switzerland in 2016.
• Caritas Welcome CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing safe, judgment-free facilities for homeless guests. SMD visits the center to provide care and build continuity of care relationships with patients.
• Robert R. Frank Student Run Free Clinic (SRFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner Wayne State student organization. Co-host annual 5K fundraiser event. Both organizations work to support Detroit's underserved populations and provide healthcare for all.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Night Ministry (Chicago): Chicago nonprofit delivering healthcare, housing, and outreach to people experiencing homelessness and poverty, including mobile outreach vans that meet clients where they are. Comparable street-level service delivery model to SMD, with broader program scope.
• Camillus Health Concern (Miami): A Miami-based nonprofit providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care to people experiencing homelessness. Shares SMD's mission of removing access barriers for uninsured, unhoused patients, though operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center rather than a student-led volunteer model.
• Healthcare for the Homeless Houston: A nonprofit providing primary care, mental health, and case management to Houston's homeless population through fixed and mobile sites. Operates in a larger metro area but addresses the same core population with the same community-health-worker-driven access approach.
• Robert R. Frank Student Run Free Clinic (SRFC): Wayne State's sister student-run free clinic that co-hosts SMD's annual 5K fundraiser. Operates the same medical-school-anchored, student-volunteer-driven model of care for Detroit's underserved populations, just at a fixed clinic site rather than on the streets.
• Central City Concern (Portland): A Portland-based nonprofit providing integrated healthcare, housing, and employment services to people experiencing homelessness. Comparable in mission and service breadth, though more established with a larger operational footprint and paid clinical staff.
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP): Founded by Dr. Jim O'Connell — who SMD has hosted for a seminar — BHCHP is the nation's most established street medicine and homeless healthcare program. It directly parallels SMD's mission of bringing medical care to unsheltered individuals, though operates at significantly larger scale with full-time clinical staff rather than a student-led model.
• USC Street Medicine (Keck School of Medicine): A medical-school-affiliated street medicine program serving unsheltered populations in Los Angeles. Shares the student-led care model, mobile outreach approach, and integration of faculty preceptors that defines SMD's delivery model.
• Pittsburgh Street Medicine: A student-led street medicine program affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine that brings primary care directly to Pittsburgh's homeless population. Closely mirrors SMD's medical-school-anchored, volunteer-driven model and addresses a similarly sized urban homeless cohort.

Others

• Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO): SMD's primary operational partner, providing clinical supervision, the Tumaini Center facility, and key personnel (e.g., Dean Carpenter) that enable SMD's street runs. NSO is the institutional backbone behind SMD's clinical delivery rather than a direct competitor.
• Street Medicine Institute: The international network that hosts the Street Medicine Symposium (where SMD presented in Geneva) and supports the growth of street medicine programs globally. It functions as an industry association and convening body for SMD and its peer programs rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StreetMedDet
• Facebookfacebook.com/RobertRFrankSRFC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Street Medicine Detroit