In September 2024, a team of eleven representatives from Doctors Without Walls – Santa Barbara Street Medicine (DWW) traveled to Kansas City, Missouri, to attend the 20th annual International Street Medicine Symposium (ISMS). Hosted by the Street Medicine Institute (SMI) and Care Beyond the Boulevard, this event brought together leaders, practitioners, and advocates from around the globe to collaborate, share, and strengthen the movement of Street Medicine.
The symposium holds a special place in the hearts of our DWW team, as the founder of Street Medicine, Dr. Jim Withers, has been instrumental in guiding and inspiring our program in Santa Barbara. Dr. Withers’ story, beginning in 1992 when he first began providing care to unsheltered individuals in Pittsburgh, embodies the spirit of Street Medicine: bringing dignity, compassion, and access to care for those often excluded from traditional health systems.
This year’s ISMS was especially meaningful for our team as we celebrated the growth of Street Medicine worldwide. The symposium showcased the incredible work of the host organization, Care Beyond the Boulevard (CBB), which operates as a fully independent Street Medicine team in Kansas City. Their model of multidisciplinary care, ranging from medical respite to vision screenings and dental services, serves as an inspiration for other programs, including ours at DWW.
Our delegation included DWW Lead Nurse Cathy Mollkoy, WFHC Director Jorie Nelson, Executive Director Maggie Sanchez, Volunteer Josh Monroy, First-Line Supervisor Lynn Mattis, ECM Case Manager Rey Lara, Companion Care Coordinator Chris Chi, myself (Blake Sanchez, DWW Communications Coordinator), and past Companion Care Coordinators Sophia Fischer, Robert Hinojos, and Devanshi Tomar.
A proud highlight of the symposium was Sophia, Robert, and Devanshi presenting a poster on DWW’s unique volunteer-based model. Their presentation received an enthusiastic response from fellow attendees, many of whom were eager to learn from our approach to engaging the community and delivering compassionate care. It was a privilege to share insights with Street Medicine teams from across the globe, further solidifying DWW’s commitment to collaboration and growth.
One particularly exciting connection was with the Street Medicine team from Whatcom, Washington. Their program, launched in November 2022, is relatively new, and we’ve had the honor of mentoring them on how to grow and expand their efforts. Following the symposium, the Whatcom team visited Santa Barbara in December 2024 to learn more about our model firsthand. During their visit, we shared insights on running clinics, engaging the community, and operating a volunteer-driven program. This mentorship has been incredibly rewarding, and we look forward to seeing their continued success as they grow their impact in Whatcom County.
Of course, no symposium would be complete without a memorable story involving Dr. Jim Withers. During a lunch outing, our team noticed a small wound on Dr. Withers’ arm. In a delightful twist, Chris Chi, our Companion Care Coordinator, happened to have a Band-Aid in his wallet and humorously performed a very basic “trauma care” on the “king of Street Medicine” himself. The moment was a perfect mix of humor and humility, reminding us all of the simple, human connections at the heart of Street Medicine.
The 2024 ISMS reinforced our belief that the work we do is part of a larger, global movement of compassion and innovation. We returned to Santa Barbara energized by the ideas, collaborations, and friendships we built during the symposium. As we continue our mission at DWW, we are profoundly grateful for the opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to the transformative field of Street Medicine.
To our patients, partners, and supporters—thank you for walking this journey with us. Together, we are making a difference.
BY BLAKE SANCHEZ, DWW Communications Coordinator
