Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine/UPMC received a $499,998 Project Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professionals under the Primary Care Training and Enhancement (PCTE) program (CFDA 93.884) for a five-year project period beginning July 1, 2026 and concluding June 30, 2031. The award funds the establishment of a robust, interprofessional training initiative that integrates street medicine principles into primary care residency training programs. This initiative prepares physicians to deliver comprehensive, high-quality care to individuals experiencing homelessness in urban and rural areas of western and south-central Pennsylvania by addressing systemic barriers such as lack of access, stigma, and fragmented care.

The project delivers enhanced training through didactic and experiential learning modules emphasizing trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and community-based interventions; longitudinal clinical experiences including street rounds, shelter-based care, and mobile outreach conducted with interprofessional teams; and skills development in navigating support systems and addressing social determinants of health. Training incorporates interdisciplinary collaboration with behavioral health, addiction medicine, occupational therapy, legal services, and community organizations to provide holistic care for a population experiencing disproportionate rates of chronic illness, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. The initiative ensures future primary care physicians are equipped to serve vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness with evidence-based, patient-centered approaches.