A new Street Medicine Clinic at the Student Outreach Clinic is making a lasting impact on the local community by providing vital health care services to Reno's homeless population. Originally launched in 2024 by Janilynn Gatpayat, a third-year medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), in coordination with Daniel Spogen, M.D., and Mohammad Saba, M.D., the program has flourished under the leadership of second-year medical students Anisha Makhija and Joseph Tran. It is now an essential part of the Student Outreach Clinic, and its growth reflects both the commitment of the students and the increasing needs of the community.
"We're bringing the care to the clients, versus asking them to come to us," Makhija said. "A lot of these individuals face challenges accessing traditional health care, so we want to meet them where they are."
The program operates monthly clinics with a small team of around seven to eight people, including student providers and volunteer physicians. They partner with Jose Silonxochitl, the outreach manager at the Eddy House, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending youth homelessness in Northern Nevada. Silonxochitl has established strong connections within the homeless community, helping to identify clinic locations and build trust.
"Jose goes out three or four times a week to these communities, and he's kind of prepping them, letting them know we're coming," said Tran. "When we first started, they were quite nervous, but now they recognize us and are a lot more open."
The clinics not only provide basic medical care but also supply essential items like food, water and hygiene products. However, the focus is not just on meeting immediate medical needs; it’s also on building strong, trusting relationships with the homeless community.
The clinic not only provides basic medical care but also supply essential items like food, water and hygiene products to the homeless community in Reno."We operate with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in mind," Makhija said. "We start by fulfilling the most basic needs - like food and shelter - and as trust develops, we can address more complex health issues."
Looking toward the future, the team is eager to expand the program’s reach. Plans include increasing the frequency of clinics and expanding outreach, with an emphasis on establishing trust among the homeless population. Students and faculty are also working to establish a street medicine rotation under the community medicine elective with UNR Med’s Family Medicine Residency program.
"I'm learning a lot about the populations I want to serve and how I want to serve them," Makhija said. "I want to be an advocate for them and truly listen to what they need."
The program’s impact serves as a reminder of the powerful connection between UNR Med and the Reno community, with students gaining firsthand experience while making a tangible difference in the lives of those most in need.
