UW Street Medicine Training Program Summary

The University of Washington has received a $499,967 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) to establish the UW Street Medicine Training Program. Awarded July 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for June 30, 2031, this five-year initiative will enhance training for internal medicine residents to effectively serve people experiencing homelessness (PEH). The program addresses a critical regional need, as homelessness and associated mental illness and substance use disorders are increasingly prevalent in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The program delivers two integrated training pathways across the 169-resident internal medicine residency program. First, a foundational didactic curriculum spanning all three years of residency training—weighted toward intern year—covers compassionate engagement and person-centered communication with PEH; diagnosis and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, including medications for opioid use disorder; the impact of social determinants of health on disease management; and patient navigation of medical, behavioral health, legal, and social support systems, including medical-legal partnerships. Second, the program establishes advanced clinical training opportunities to provide residents with practical experience in street medicine. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared to address the complex healthcare needs of vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness and to practice general internal medicine with competency in this specialized area.