Over the coming weeks, look for stories that feature the 2017 Spirit of Community Award recipients as we prepare to celebrate this year's awards on March 29. These awards honor members of the WSU community who best exemplify the university's commitment to community engagement.

A doctor’s visit may be routine for some, but for Detroiters grappling with homelessness, poverty and restricted transportation options, it can turn into one more hardship. That’s why Street Medicine Detroit (SMD) is bringing doctors to them.

SMD is a Wayne State University medical student organization that, through its street run outreach program, provides mobile medical care services to people experiencing homelessness in Detroit. The group sets clinics at shelters and churches throughout Detroit, bringing medical school volunteers and licensed clinical preceptors to address the medical concerns of individuals experiencing homelessness.

By partnering with local community service organizations, churches and shelters, the outreach program brings medical care directly to the people who need it most. Additionally, by involving medical students in these street runs, SMD cultivates a culture of learning for student volunteers.

SMD also partners with the Neighborhood Service Organization, a local expert in homelessness, to connect with people experiencing homelessness and provide social work services that include housing applications and government identification retrieval.

In 2017, SMD earned a Spirit of Community Award for its street run effort. The Project Engagement Award recognizes innovative projects by individuals or organizations/groups that respond to local, community-identified needs.

The 2018 Spirit of Community Awards Ceremony will be held Thursday, March 29, at 3 p.m. in the Community Arts Auditorium with a reception to follow. This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, visit rsvp.wayne.edu/spirit-of-community.