This meeting, in its 20th year, is the largest such event dedicated to those who practice street medicine. We had gracious hosts in our good friends, Care Beyond the Boulevard, who put on a wonderful event.
The symposium was an amazing opportunity to connect with street medicine organizations across the globe. We heard from groups as close as Columbia, MO and as far away as Kenya. This conference is a forum for sharing best practices, brainstorming how to overcome barriers, and is about camaraderie between groups who share an affinity for the most disenfranchised among us. 
While there were many highlights, hearing from leaders in the field stood out as some of the best moments. Jim Withers, who coined the term Street Medicine, provided a passionate discussion on the values of our work. Brett Feldman, the director and co-founder of USC Street Medicine, provided some incredible pearls during the street med 101 sessions. And getting to talk to living legend Jim O’Connell, the center piece of New York Times best seller Rough Sleepers, was a treat.
Two of our student volunteers were able to present on our program, particularly around how we have worked to garner community feedback in building our harm reduction focused program. We had such kind comments from everyone who stopped by to view their poster.
We return to St. Louis with new friends, new insights, and renewed spirits. More exciting news to come!
