they are
people first
more than just numbers and
statistics on a computer screen
they are
friends and daughters
brothers and fathers
children who grew up too fast
they are
our neighbors
and we are called to
do justice, love mercy,
to walk with them humbly
This is a poem inspired by my experiences of meeting people experiencing homelessness in our community. This past year I participated in a preclinical elective at our medical school called Homeless Communities: Health Outreach and Education. As part of the course, we accompanied a street outreach team of a psychiatrist and social worker to assist in the engagement and care of individuals experiencing homelessness in the local area. I learned a lot about the challenges they face, from trauma to substance use, to social determinants of health and the need for healthcare reform. As medical students and future healthcare providers, I hope we can seek to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly.
Contributing Writer
Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Anna Delamerced is a fourth-year medical student at Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island class of 2021. She graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in public health. She enjoys writing poetry and is passionate about advocating for kids as a future pediatrician.