1
What is Street Medicine?
Dr. Jonny Wong
1:00PM-1:30PM
2
Street Medicine Allies Panel
1:30PM-2:30PM
GR/Catherine's Health Center: Mark Contreras
Mark Contreras serves as the Clinical Director of Catherines Health Center. He is a Nurse Practitioner in both primary care and psychiatric services for adult populations. Mark participates in direct patient care and clinical leadership at multiple sites across Kent County. He oversees evolving services for the unhoused. In 2023, Catherine's Health Center opened a medical outreach clinic and started street medicine services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Mark strongly believes community partnerships and a willingness to truly know those you serve are integral to driving wellness for the unhoused community.
Kalamazoo Harm Reduction: Luca Mitchell
Luca Mitchell has been a certified Peer Support Special and Recovery Coach since 2020. They have been working at Kalamazoo Harm Reduction since 2021 where they primarily work with unhoused clients.
Grand Rapids/Mel Trotter Ministries: Lori Lynn
Lori Lynn is a registered nurse and has been the Senior Director of Clinical Services and Medical Outreach at Mel Trotter Ministries for almost four years. She is responsible for developing the medical outreach program at Mel Trotter and serves as the facilitator for the Street Medicine Collaborative in Grand Rapids. Lori brings over 20 years of nursing practice in critical care and the emergency department to the table as well as many years’ of experience as a legal nurse advisor, consultant, and educator. Her most recent work involved implementing new programs and leading process improvement initiatives, and it was her time in a large Federally Qualified Health Center that fueled her desire to work with the underserved. Lori holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master’s Degree in Patient Safety Leadership from the University of Illinois- Chicago School of Medicine. She is a strong patient advocate with a special interest in patient safety and vulnerable patient populations. In her spare time, Lori enjoys travel, medical missions, photography, and spending time with her family.
NSO: Jessica Bembas
Jessica Bembas is passionate about ending the experience of unsheltered homelessness. She has been working to end homelessness in Detroit since 2015 and became the Street Outreach Supervisor for Neighborhood Service Organization's outreach programs in 2018. In that time, she has served on the CAM governance committee, the City of Detroit's Policy Addressing Health and Safety in Encampments workgroup, the Detroit Police Department's Familiar Faces Pilot Program, Wayne County Jail's Mental Health Initiatives Committee, the City of Detroit's Street Outreach Work Group, and multiple Point in Time Count planning committees. She has advocated for responses to homelessness that utilize evidence-based and compassionate solutions to ending the experience of unsheltered homelessness for individuals and families in Detroit. When she's not working to end homelessness, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and two huskies. They enjoy cooking, acapella music, and Halloween activities.
Community and Home Supports (CHS): Eboni Williams
Eboni Williams earned her bachelor's degree from Wayne State University, where she double majored in political science and peace and conflict studies. Currently, she is attending Wayne State University for her master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in Urban and Metropolitan Policy and Management. During her first year of graduate school, Eboni served in the AmeriCorps through the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness where she served at her host site Community and Home Supports (CHS) as an outreach specialist. During her service year, Eboni created healthy connections with the housing team at Ruth Ellis Center where she played an integral role in connecting unsheltered LGBT youth with housing navigation services. Eboni continues to work at CHS after her AmeriCorps contract ended as their youth outreach navigator. As a youth outreach navigator, Eboni works with unhoused clients who are 18-24 years old with the goal of obtaining permanent housing. Eboni is passionate about equitable housing policy and connecting marginalized and underserved communities to affordable housing and the necessary resources to be successful. Eboni’s future goals include serving in the Peace Corps, pursuing a Ph.D. in political science, and continuing to be involved in the work of providing safe space for unsheltered youth by opening a youth shelter and drop-in center in the city of Detroit.
Macomb County Street Medicine: Joseph Carlier
My name is Joseph Carlier, I am an Emergency Medicine physician at McLaren Macomb. I attended Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed my Emergency Medicine Residency at Mclaren Macomb in June 2020. I am the clerkship director of the Emergency Medicine Residency which oversees all students who rotate in our department. I am one of two physicians who runs Macomb County Street Medicine which is a medical student-run organization. On our street runs, we provide wound care, perform various procedures, and have the ability to give antibiotics on-site at the physician's discretion. When I am not working, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my wife, two daughters, and one on the way.
3
Break
3:00PM-3:10PM
4
Street Medicine & Billing
3:10PM-4:00PM
