Medical Services
Our two psychiatrists and general practitioner seek out clients who do not have access to basic medical care and psychiatric treatment and help them address the underlying issues that may cause their homelessness. Weekly, the psychiatrists engage and treat our guests in the Drop-in Center, residents in our winter shelter, and those with whom contact is made by going to them on the street.
Our psychiatrists make referrals to AA, detox, and addiction treatment programs and perform comprehensive medical assessments needed to qualify for S.S.I. benefits. They are available for emergencies and, if necessary, for preparing emergency psychiatric evaluation petitions in the case of dangerous behaviors. Most of the time, the psychiatrists provide crisis intervention and offer the opportunity for treatment and S.S.I assessments because it is the insidious nature of mental illness that individuals are in denial of their illness.
Our general practitioner sees patients in our Drop-In Center and accompanies staff on street outreach one morning a week. She checks blood pressure, listens to people’s heart and lungs, tests blood sugar, manages chronic diabetes or hypertension, dispenses medication or writes prescriptions, makes referrals, and calls an ambulance when needed. She also engages in health counseling aimed at reducing or stopping drinking, smoking, and the use of drugs, as well as addressing nutrition and other self-care priorities.
Psychiatry – Dr. Ronald Koshes
Dr. Ronald Koshes, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist who has been part of the GMC team for over 25 years. Dr. Koshes works exclusively with the homeless and underprivileged patients and has educated physicians world-wide about the scientific and ethical delivery of services to individuals who suffer from serious and persistent mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and completed his Residency in Psychiatry at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He accompanies GMC’s Street Outreach Team every Monday afternoon.
Street Medicine – Dr. Puya Jafari
Dr. Jafari is an internist with Unity Health Systems in DC. He received his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, he served two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer in DC. During this time, he worked at a substance abuse program and then as a health educator. Dr. Jafari won the Phillip S. Birnbaum Award in Primary Care and is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He accompanies GMC Street Outreach Team every Thursday afternoon. He conducts basic wellness checks and screens for common chronic ailments such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
