HISTORY OF WSM
Wolverine Street Medicine (WSM) was founded in 2017 by medical students at the University of Michigan who were inspired by other local street medicine organizations and understood the health injustices faced by unhoused individuals in our community. Today, we are a student-run organization focused on caring for the health of those experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County and Detroit.
Our mission is to partner with individuals experiencing homelessness to meet their medical and social needs and to cultivate compassion and relevant knowledge in the future health professional workforce.
We accomplish this mission through organizing street runs, foot care clinics, and harm reduction events across Southwest Michigan. We also educate healthcare providers and trainees through our volunteer events, educational sessions, hands-on training, and a rotation for senior medical students. We aim to conduct all of the activities in partnership with community organizations and people with lived experience in order to develop programs that our clients desire and appreciate.
Our mission is to partner with individuals experiencing homelessness to meet their medical and social needs and to cultivate compassion and relevant knowledge in the future health professional workforce.
We accomplish this mission through organizing street runs, foot care clinics, and harm reduction events across Southwest Michigan. We also educate healthcare providers and trainees through our volunteer events, educational sessions, hands-on training, and a rotation for senior medical students. We aim to conduct all of the activities in partnership with community organizations and people with lived experience in order to develop programs that our clients desire and appreciate.
WHAT WE VALUE
1. Advocacy 2. Empathy 3. Equity 4. Holistic 5. Justice
HOW WE AIM TO MEET OUR GOALS:
1. Unconditional Positive Regard
2. Continuous Improvement and Sustainability
3. Community-Driven Programs
4. Meet People Where They Are
5. Develop Human Connections
1. Unconditional Positive Regard
2. Continuous Improvement and Sustainability
3. Community-Driven Programs
4. Meet People Where They Are
5. Develop Human Connections
Meet the team:
LEAD FACULTY ADVISORS
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Dr. Neil Nixdorff: Medical Director of Wolverine Street Medicine
Neil completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University and residency at The University of Pennsylvania. He worked for more than 6 years as a provider for the New Orleans Health Department’s Healthcare for the Homeless Clinic before coming to UoM for a combined fellowship in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. He has volunteered with WSM since 2022. |
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Jim Bastian, RN, Community Liaison
Jim Bastian, RN, has nearly two decades of experience working with the homeless population in southeast Michigan. He helped found Wolverine Street Medicine, serving as an advisor and mentor to students and faculty. He recently retired from Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, where he led their street outreach efforts and helped community members experiencing homelessness find housing. |
Other Faculty Advisors
Elizabeth Jones, MD
Nora Maloy, DrPH
Michelle Pardee, DNP
Sarah Tomaka, DDS
Samantha Chao, MD
Nora Maloy, DrPH
Michelle Pardee, DNP
Sarah Tomaka, DDS
Samantha Chao, MD
Current Student Leaders
2024-2025 M4 Directors
Executive Director: Hanikka Muna
Community Partnerships Director: Amanda Casetti
Harm Reduction Director: Hannah Slater
Street Run Operations Director: Rose-Carmel Guddard
Foot Care Directors: Sarah Hatfield & Anna Fasman
Education Director: Harrison Greenbaum
Inventory & Finance Director: May Rhee
Executive Director: Hanikka Muna
Community Partnerships Director: Amanda Casetti
Harm Reduction Director: Hannah Slater
Street Run Operations Director: Rose-Carmel Guddard
Foot Care Directors: Sarah Hatfield & Anna Fasman
Education Director: Harrison Greenbaum
Inventory & Finance Director: May Rhee
2025-2026 M1 Leaders
Internal Operations: Ella Gray
Community Partnerships Coordinator: Ananyaa Asthana, Alex Kastrul
Volunteer Coordinators: Molly Rudman, Meredith Redick, Anooshey Ikhlas
Finance Coordinator: Victoria Chen
Foot Care Coordinator: Zoe Siegel, Zoe Chen
Harm Reduction Coordinator: Leyla Ghaffari, Trevor Cady
Education Coordinator: Amanda Putti, Elle Fietsam, Khushi Rai
Inventory Coordinator: Sammy Shupe
Special Projects Coordinator: Jack Hennessey & Marlene Rahman, Muhammed Sillah, Emma Sass
Internal Operations: Ella Gray
Community Partnerships Coordinator: Ananyaa Asthana, Alex Kastrul
Volunteer Coordinators: Molly Rudman, Meredith Redick, Anooshey Ikhlas
Finance Coordinator: Victoria Chen
Foot Care Coordinator: Zoe Siegel, Zoe Chen
Harm Reduction Coordinator: Leyla Ghaffari, Trevor Cady
Education Coordinator: Amanda Putti, Elle Fietsam, Khushi Rai
Inventory Coordinator: Sammy Shupe
Special Projects Coordinator: Jack Hennessey & Marlene Rahman, Muhammed Sillah, Emma Sass
2025-2026 Undergraduate Board
Executive Director: Ryan Mirza
Volunteer Coordinators: Mustafa Sharba, Rawaa Al-Zehairy
Finance Coordinator: Manha Zubair
Education Coordinator: Anish Palli
Inventory Coordinator: Evelyn Thebault
Donation Coordinator: Daniel Lee
Social Media Coordinator: Mihika Shibu
Executive Director: Ryan Mirza
Volunteer Coordinators: Mustafa Sharba, Rawaa Al-Zehairy
Finance Coordinator: Manha Zubair
Education Coordinator: Anish Palli
Inventory Coordinator: Evelyn Thebault
Donation Coordinator: Daniel Lee
Social Media Coordinator: Mihika Shibu
OUR PARTNERS
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