Primary care training and enhancement -- residency training in street medicine - the miami street medicine residency training initiative aims to enhance medical education and expand healthcare…

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professionals awarded the University of Miami $499,503 on July 1, 2026, under the Primary Care Training and Enhancement program (CFDA 93.884) to establish the Miami Street Medicine Residency Training Initiative.

The initiative integrates structured residency training into street medicine delivery for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Miami-Dade County. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in partnership with Jackson Health System and Dade County Street Response, will develop two required one-month residency rotations focused on street medicine, social determinants of health, and peer-driven care models. Residents will work alongside interdisciplinary teams where physicians serve as consultants to case managers, emphasizing lived experiences and community-based solutions. Program objectives include early identification and treatment of conditions in the field, prioritizing follow-up primary care, bridging gaps in existing free care coverage, and providing multidisciplinary specialist support.

Performance of work takes place in Miami, Florida. The project period runs through June 30, 2031. This project grant formalizes and enhances training opportunities within an established street medicine program that has operated for four years, while strengthening faculty support through the collaboration between a safety-net hospital, academic institution, and community-based organization.

Primary care training and enhancement -- residency training in street medicine - the miami street medicine residency training initiative aims to enhance medical education and expand healthcare services for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in miami-dade county. Led by the university of miami miller school of medicine in partnership with jackson health system and dade county street response (DCSR), this initiative will integrate structured residency training into an established, evidence-based street medicine program. Despite existing efforts, gaps in care persist due to limited provider training and systemic barriers to healthcare access. To address this, we will develop two required one-month residency rotations focused on street medicine, social determinants of health, and peer-driven care models. Residents will work alongside interdisciplinary teams where physicians serve as consultants to case managers, emphasizing lived experiences and community-based solutions. Key program goals include early identification and treatment of conditions in the field, prioritizing follow-up primary care, bridging gaps in existing free care coverage, and providing multidisciplinary specialist support. This initiative will promote a healthcare model that embraces and serves excluded populations while equipping future physicians with the competence and confidence to care for individuals experiencing homelessness. What makes this initiative innovative is its integration of residency education into a proven, sustainable street medicine model. For four years, miami street medicine has successfully provided care to the unsheltered population and has an informal educational track with its partners. This hrsa funding will formalize and enhance training opportunities while strengthening faculty support. Furthermore, this project represents a unique collaboration between a safety-net hospital, an academic anchor institution, and a grassroots community-based organization-ensuring a holistic, functional approach to medical education and healthcare delivery for miami's most vulnerable residents.