Joseph’s House of Camden
Title: Understanding Barriers at Joseph’s House of Camden
Student Interns:
Yash Valia
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Academic Preceptor:
Mara Gordon, MD
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Anthony Rostain, MD, MA
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Community Preceptor:
Kevin Moran
Joseph’s House of Camden
Community Site:
Joseph’s House provides 24/7 shelter for those who are unhoused in Camden, NJ. The shelter provides three meals a day, daily laundry and shower facilities, and access to social services. For those who struggle with substance use disorder, peer recovery specialists and medication-assisted treatment are available on-site.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps student intern served lunch to shelter residents, distributed bag lunches to nonresidents, conducted personal hygiene classes, and developed signage to encourage good hygiene practices.
Reflections
“The experience allowed medical students to witness socioeconomic barriers that impact one’s ability to care for themselves. Additionally, by listening to the stories of shelter guests and staff, I realized how important it is to break the stigma surrounding homelessness and regarding people with substance use disorder. BTG lectures educated us on important topics such as gun violence, smoking cessation, harm reduction, vaccine efficacy, and reproductive health. These topics will be essential in the changing political climate and during my time as a physician.”
Yash Valia