In this firsthand account, Elizabeth Golding, stewardship manager at the Baylor Scott & White (BSW) Dallas Foundation, joins the Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) Street Medicine team on a ride-along through Dallas, witnessing compassionate care delivered directly to the unhoused. Pictured above, from left: Johnrice Newton, RN, community health worker; Elizabeth; and Ti Hoang, DO, medical director of the Street Medicine program at BUMC.
In June 2025, I had the privilege of shadowing our incredible Street Medicine team at BUMC — a group of compassionate healthcare providers bringing care directly to our unsheltered neighbors in Dallas.
Meeting people where they are
On any given night, around 3,700 people experience homelessness in our city. These aren’t just statistics — they’re students trying to get to school, mothers searching for their next meal and hardworking individuals navigating a broken system.
Homelessness is a public health crisis. It leads to higher rates of chronic illness, mental health challenges and infectious disease especially for those who are unsheltered. The average age of death for a woman experiencing homelessness? 43. That’s a wake-up call.
So where do people go when they need care? Often, they wait. And when they can’t wait any longer, they end up in the Emergency Department. At BUMC, 10% of daily ED visits come from the unsheltered population — that’s 25–35 people every day.
What Street Medicine looks like in action
But this is where Street Medicine steps in. It’s more than a program; it’s a global movement. A mission. Our Street Medicine team goes directly to where people are — beneath bridges, inside abandoned buildings or tucked away in stairwells — bringing not only medical care, but also dignity, trust and a renewed sense of hope.
Under the leadership of Ti Hoang, DO, medical director of BUMC Street Medicine, a dedicated medical team – including a physician, nurse, social worker, medical assistant and BUMC residents, conduct follow-up visits on foot. They provide primary care, lab services, health screenings, physicals, wound care, minor procedures, medication management and mental health support. The team also collaborates closely with social outreach groups, including those focused on housing assistance.
How philanthropy makes this work possible
Surprisingly, until 2024, Dallas was the largest U.S. city without a Street Medicine program. But thanks to visionary philanthropic support, that changed, and the impact is already profound.
Witnessing this work firsthand shook me to my core. These providers are compassion in motion, showing up every day to save lives and restore hope. This is what it looks like to live the BSW Mission. To give voice to the voiceless and bring light to the shadows.
I’m honored to help steward the donors who made this all possible — and those who will join us in the journey ahead.
Join us in the journey
Launched in 2024 with support from the Street Medicine Institute, this pilot program at BUMC is already making a powerful impact, but continued donor support is vital. With your help, we can sustain and expand this work, delivering essential care to Dallas’ most vulnerable residents and building a stronger, healthier community. Learn more and donate today.
Donate to the Street Medicine program at Baylor University Medical Center today.
