Naomi George '12, Jonathan Hansen '12

The Columbia-Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership (CHHMP) is a student-run free clinic serving the community of West Harlem.  Operating from a church basement every Tuesday evening, the clinic provides the homeless, the uninsured, and the local community with basic medical care, health education, and referrals to a variety of social services.  Every week, 10 to 12 medical students evaluate patients under the supervision of a Columbia Family Medicine attending physician with occasional support from Family Medicine residents.  During clinic sessions, teams comprised of one clinical student and one pre-clinical student coordinate patient intake, obtain histories, and conduct physical exams.  We provide an opportunity to further the education of medical students in the practice of primary care medicine through observed history and physical examinations, evaluations, and participation in a seminar focusing on homeless health care.  Involvement also allows for learning about the health and social needs of the community, the challenges of providing healthcare to underserved populations, and advocacy for underserved populations.