The Street Medicine Movement | Jim Withers | TEDxPittsburgh

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Published 2015-07-20

If you want to help people heal, you have to go to where they are. That’s part of Dr. Jim Wither’s philosophy on medicine that led him beneath the bridges of Pittsburgh to help an extremely vulnerable population: the homeless. Dr. Jim’s take on what he calls Street Medicine involves taking the time to gain the trust of patients and to selflessly give the gift of healing. His work is being taught around the world and is helping the health, happiness, and sometimes, the poverty level, of this community, one patient at a time.

Dr. Jim Withers is an internal medicine physician who began providing medical care to Pittsburgh’s unsheltered homeless population in 1992. He is also the founder of Operation Safety Net, a street medicine program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For the past 23 years, Dr. Withers has been working with the homeless population to provide free medical care by going from one bridge to the next to assist homeless individuals in need. As a 2014 Huffington Post article on Dr. Withers stated, “What started off as two people offering free medical treatment has since grown into a national network of medical students and volunteers who go out to treat the homeless four nights a week.” In fact, Dr. Wither’s street medicine is now practiced around the world through his nonprofit International Street Medicine Institute.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

All Comments (19)

@eugeniosalexander4486 4 years ago

THIS is a person that deserves a Nobel Prize.
@reidcrosby6241 7 months ago

Humbled to personally know SUCH and incredible and compassionate human. The world needs many more like Jim.
@madelyn-aishahussien588 5 years ago

Thank you Dr.withers you helped save my life! I had nothing,but you are right I have so much gratitude and love for you and your team! And from the team! Now my 10 yr old daughter is so grateful to have her mother! God bless you! Love always, Aisha!✌❤❤
@sunniqa899 1 year ago

“Do we have the courage to move in to the reality of our brothers and sisters?”
@michellevicary9150 4 years ago

Thank you for showing compassion where so many others fail.
@frenchfryfarmer436 2 years ago

Excellent piece. A lifetime of service and compassion
@georgewu5 6 years ago

I found myself having tears all over my face and I had to blow my nose many times as I was watching this video. George Wu, AIA, ARCHITECT, NCARB 2017-9-28
@sonjayasencion2984 5 years ago

Thank you. Very uplifting to listen to. ❤️✌🏽❤️
@ifedayoAfolabi 9 years ago

This is simply awesome. Inspiring. Thanks Dr Withers for the great work you do and how you inspire others to do same.
@JanLeeHypnosis2020 8 years ago

Amazing! Interested in doing some Hypnosis for Homeless. .esp work on self love,confidence, stress,fears phobias,addiction, seeking help etc.Thank you for sharing your love and skills Jim.!!!
@denizakis9655 4 years ago

big Thank you Jim Withers
@chinneynz7861 1 year ago

Excellent work! Thank you for all that you do🙏🏽
@jayantibhave 4 years ago

love you Dr. withers...!!!
@liz.217 4 years ago

Thank you.
@suzannemeub4470 2 years ago

we are all just walkin' each home
@skyrasmus4760 5 years ago

Do you have to be a doctor to do this, it can you get into it through nursing?
@avefiggy2128 4 years ago

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙌🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@virginiapribanic8532 4 years ago

Thank you.