Dean Carpenter Award
Please note this award is not limited to any profession and is open to anyone who cares for our friends on the street in Michigan! This can be through outreach, housing services, social assistance, advocacy efforts, or anything else.
Nominations are now closed, we look forward to recognizing a dedicated individual at SMMS 2026!
See below for more info about the award, and please reach out to streetmedicinemichigan@gmail.com with any questions!
Student Excellence in Street Medicine Award
To honor students who have shown a strong commitment to people experiencing homelessness through community outreach, leadership, or both.
This award recognizes the outstanding contributions students make to street medicine in Michigan. Their motivation, determination, and perseverance are the backbone of so much of our work, and their commitment to the needs of people experiencing homelessness has been an inspiration to all of us. Many of our core initiatives began with students, and we're excited to spotlight some of these phenomenal individuals.
This award is open to students from any discipline or program, including medicine, nursing, PA, social work, public health, pharmacy, and beyond, who care for our friends on the street in Michigan.
Nominations are now closed, we look forward to recognizing a dedicated individual at SMMS 2026!
About Dean
Dean Carpenter was a nurse practitioner at the Neighborhood Service Organization’s Tumani Center in Detroit and the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI. Nurse Carpenter received his Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Michigan State University.
He had a passion for teaching nursing and medical students since 2001, first as a clinical instructor for Jackson Community College of Nursing and as a clinical preceptor for many nurse programs throughout the state, including Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan. Nurse Practitioner Carpenter saw the tremendous need of those experiencing homelessness and recognized that even simple interventions could have a huge impact on improving quality of life. His motivation: the gratitude expressed by SMD patients, paraphrasing St. Francis of Assisi, “For it is in giving that we receive”.
About the Award
This award is named in honor of Dean Carpenter, a nurse practitioner who worked in Detroit and the surrounding area and showed exemplary dedication to providing the best medical care to those experiencing homelessness. He was a mentor to many students and truly embodied the spirit of street medicine as a trusted figure and integral part of the street medicine community, providing medical care and a listening ear to all who needed it. In his memory, we are excited to highlight the outstanding efforts of individuals who have dedicated considerable effort to the cause in Michigan so that their stories might serve as inspiration to others.
Please note this award is not limited to any one profession and is open to anyone who cares for our friends on the street in Michigan!