The Wayne State University Community Homeless Interprofessional Program earned an honorable mention in the 2019 Excellence in Interprofessional Education Collaboration National Award competition presented by the United States Public Health Service and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative.

One winner and four honorable mentions were selected from a nationwide pool of nominations. Project submissions were assessed for their lasting impact on community health. In addition, applicants were required to demonstrate a relationship between interprofessional collaborative care, health professions education and health outcomes.

Honorees are chosen for their significant impact on the communities and populations they serve. CHIP was selected as the honorable mention in the category "At Risk and Vulnerable Communities."

The clinic, founded in March 2014, provides care for the homeless the third Sunday of every month through a partnership with the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit; WSU second-year medical students, second-year pharmacy students and social work students; and faculty and staff volunteers. Commonly encountered health conditions include hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease, seizure disorders, mental health issues and substance abuse disorders. Students from the three health professions evaluate and serve the homeless, offering basic medical and pharmacy evaluation and health and community resource education. 

CHIP leaders include School of Medicine Director of Co-Curricular Programs Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D., WSU Associate Professor of Social Work Cassandra Bowers, WSU Applebaum's Associate Professor (Clinical) of Pharmacy Practice Justine Gortney and Assistant Professor (Clinical) of Physical Therapy Martha Schiller.

As an honorable mention winner, the CHIP team was invited to present a poster of the project at the IPEC Meeting to be held June 13-14 in Washington, D.C.

This article first appeared at cphs.wayne.edu