Our Impact

Some of the most meaningful moments for me at clinic come from seeing returning patients for follow-up care. One patient in particular has become a familiar presence, and he always comes in with the same request - to have his blood pressure checked.

     Mike has been a patient of Dr. Foster’s for over 12 years, dating back to the early days of Occupy Medical. I first met him during my very first volunteer shift in early 2024, when he stopped by the Highway 99 clinic for a quick blood pressure check. Since then, I’ve seen him return regularly, and I’ve come to look forward to those simple but meaningful interactions.

     Over time, I’ve especially enjoyed getting to know Mike. He always greets us with a smile and expresses genuine gratitude for the care he receives. He once shared that one of his favorite parts of coming to clinic is the opportunity to connect with familiar faces and volunteers and feel welcomed each time he walks in. He tells me he stays active by biking and walking, often using those very activities to travel to and from clinic.

     Patients like Mike have shown me the importance of long-term, consistent care that not only helps manage chronic conditions, but also builds trust and fosters real human connection.

– OM Vice-President, Caroline Foskett

Growing up in a large city, I learned to look past people experiencing houselessness without a second thought. It never sat quite right with me, but it was what everyone around me seemed to do, which made it easier to ignore that discomfort.

When I returned to my hometown during the later phase of the pandemic, about a year after moving away, I was struck by how much had changed. Streets I had memorized as a child were now lined with tents, and the houseless community had grown visibly. What felt like a sudden shift to me was, in reality, the result of longstanding systemic challenges: limited access to healthcare, rising housing costs, discrimination, gaps in victim support, and ongoing marginalization. That realization marked a turning point, and I knew I wanted to become a trustworthy advocate and a genuine friend to people experiencing houselessness in my community.

Occupy Medical, and the patients we serve, have become like a family to me since I began volunteering. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to build meaningful connections at our Saturday clinics, where healthcare takes many forms. One of my most memorable experiences this spring was spending time at Washington Jefferson Park, where a friend and I handed out flowers and handmade cards. We sat with people, listened to their stories, shared conversations, then returned with thoughtfully assembled supply bags from the bus. Not everyone who needs support feels comfortable seeking it out, and that day reminded me how powerful a simple “hello” can be. 

The providers and student volunteers I work alongside embody the kind of person and future medical professional I hope to become. Someone who leads with compassion, respect, empathy, attention to detail, and a commitment to the well-being of every patient. 

– OM Volunteer, Amanda Osborn

On a recent Saturday, a patient sat down in my chair. She had with her a very friendly pitbull mix, Scooby, that she was watching for her friend. As soon as I sat down, Scooby came up to me and cleverly maneuvered his way onto my lap. I couldn’t stop laughing, which promptly began a much deeper conversation than the finger splinting she came for. She shared with me Scooby's background, who had quickly become very popular and received many pets, and she offered me advice. She told me that it was such a blessing to be a woman, and that we are deserving to advocate and stand up for not only ourselves but each other. 

     Reflecting on these moments that I experienced at Occupy has allowed me to develop a new perspective on the power of vulnerability. Growing up in a highly individualized culture, I worked as hard as I could to hide my struggles and be perceived as strong. I believed that asking for help meant failing, so I did everything it took to be the perfect student, friend, and peer, never allowing myself to fall short. When I first started coming on Saturday mornings, I came to give back to the community. I believed I needed to provide perfect care to each individual. But every clinic has shown me that I had it all wrong. 

     Each patient who comes to the clinic is there asking for our help, despite how uncomfortable or challenging it may be for them. Their vulnerability and willingness to seek help have challenged me to reevaluate my definition of strength. It isn’t in the moments of perfection, but rather it's about showing up and being willing to connect and be there for another person in their hardship. Strength is not about having the ability to do everything alone; it is about having the courage to be seen as you are and the willingness both to receive and give. And now when I come to the clinic, I’m reminded that the most meaningful thing I can offer isn’t perfection, but it’s simply in showing up, open and as myself.

– OM Volunteer, Mary Kate Kramper

Occupy Medical was the first connection I had in Eugene that made the city feel like home. Just a few weeks into my freshman year, I attended a pre-med club meeting with my friend Amanda. In a moment of serendipity, we met Brynn (the vice-president of Occupy at the time), and she encouraged us to apply to volunteer. A couple of friends and I sent in applications, and soon we were nervously heading to our first clinic. Up until this point, I had been having a hard time adjusting to living away from home: a new city, state, and thousands of new people. At my first clinic, I was immediately taken in. Now, Occupy Medical is inseparable from my college experience. Bonded by shared values and experiences, the volunteers at Occupy Medical have become my mentors, advisors, and friends.

     I am a firm believer that the most impactful action most of us can make is achieved through local service. While big ideas about “changing the world” are necessary, I think that they can feel intimidating and leave people in a state of action paralysis. The antithesis to this overwhelm is local, small-scale service. Homelessness and lack of access to healthcare are huge, global problems - trying to solve them is not something a single person can do. But you know what an individual can do? Give a foot soak to help relieve the pain experienced by a person living outdoors. Help a mother get medicine for her son. Recognize the humanity of people who are so often overlooked and ignored. 

     After over a year with Occupy Medical, my admiration for my peers and my dedication to this organization have only grown. While I am not certain whether my future lies in healthcare or research, I am sure that service will remain my guiding force - for what is the purpose of life if not to make sure that you leave the world a better place than you found it?

– OM Social Media Coordinator, Sophie McGinnis

Volunteering with Occupy Medical has given me the opportunity to turn my passion for healthcare into meaningful service for the unhoused community in my hometown of Eugene. It has been a privilege being able to provide free medical care while also building genuine relationships through conversation and trust. Through listening to people’s stories, I’ve come to understand that many individuals once lived lives like our own but were shaped by circumstances beyond their control.

     If I have learned anything through occupy medical, it is that healthcare is not always defined by complex medical procedures or long lists of prescriptions. More often, it is found in a heartfelt conversation, remembering someone’s name, or playing a quiet game of chess where the real victory is connection, not checkmate. Our mission reflects what I believe deeply: healthcare is a human right, and compassion is just as powerful as clinical skill.

– OM Triage Coordinator, Bo Nguyen

Volunteering with Occupy Medical on Saturdays feels like stepping into a space where compassion becomes practical. Setting up the mobile clinic and preparing for the day gives me a sense of purpose, a reminder that even small efforts can matter when people are struggling to meet their basic needs. Being part of a team that shows up consistently—rain or shine—grounds me in the kind of community care I believe in.

     The moments that stay with me are often simple ones: listening to someone who hasn’t been heard in a long time, offering free supplies, or sharing a conversation while making hot chocolate. Those interactions remind me that dignity is a form of healthcare too. I’ve learned that showing up with patience and respect can be just as healing as any treatment we provide.

     By the end of each shift, I’m tired in a way that feels meaningful. The work is emotional, but it leaves me with a deeper sense of connection to the community, to the people we serve, and to the idea that care should be accessible to everyone.

– OM Volunteer, Jasmine

At Occupy Medical, healing is a collective effort powered by a diverse family of volunteers, from students and healthcare providers to compassionate community members. While we offer essential medical services at our clinics, the true ecosystem of care extends far beyond our collapsable tables. In this space, the traditional line between provider and patient begins to fade, replaced by a shared humanity that defines everything we do.

     Our impact is often amplified by our patients themselves, who frequently take the initiative to share medical supplies and advice with neighbors unable to reach the clinic. By empowering individuals with these resources, we bridge the gap to those who remain outside the reach of traditional healthcare. This support transforms our clinic into a sanctuary of belonging.

     In a world where many of our patients feel invisible, we choose to see them. Whether it’s greeting a regular by name or remembering a detail from a previous visit, these small, human moments act as a powerful medicine. By treating every visitor with genuine compassion, we transform check-ups into gatherings of equals. Ultimately, our mission is built on the belief that when people feel seen and heard, they are empowered to seek the care they deserve, reminding us all that we truly belong to one another.

As a Eugene native, I have witnessed the realities faced by the unhoused population in our community for as long as I can remember. My first encounter with the Occupy movement came when I was eight years old, when my dad took me to Washington Jefferson Park to hand out bowls of chili to those living there. Even then, I found myself questioning why some people had more or less than others, and, more importantly, how we might collectively move beyond these differences as sources of division or exclusion.

     Since that early experience, I have felt a strong calling toward a life of service, a path that has guided me from the military to pre-medicine. Becoming involved with Occupy Medical felt like a natural extension of that journey, not only because it allows me to develop the interpersonal skills essential to becoming a compassionate, empathetic, and holistic physician, but also because it gives me the opportunity to serve the people who shape the place I call home.

     It is now a privilege to serve in a leadership role within Occupy Medical, where I can help ensure that our impact continues long after individual cohorts of volunteers have moved on. I am proud to be part of a deeply committed team that genuinely cares for those we serve and continually challenges me to grow as a leader. To me, Occupy Medical not only allows me to give back to the community that helped make me who I am today, but also enables me to carry forward a personal mission rooted in service, self-sacrifice, and faith.

– OM Vice President, Caroline Foskett

One day, a man came to the clinic seeking treatment for unmanaged hypertension and diabetes. When I asked more about what brought him in that day, he poured his heart out to me: he had been neglecting his health so that his two young daughters would have food and shelter. 

     Listening to him, I felt both deep sadness and admiration for his sacrifices. Seeing the volunteer physician then prescribe him his essential medications and set up follow-up care to bridge this gap in his care made me realize how medicine can be used as an instrument to advocate for those who have no other options. 

     As I worked at the clinic and saw long-term patient-provider relationships, I knew that I wanted to be a physician: specifically, one who addressed not only my patients’ medical diagnoses but also their social needs.

     It is these differences, both the ones made medically and the relationships created along the way, that fuel Occupy Medical and our volunteers to keep helping those when they need it most.

My first introduction to Occupy Medical was jarring, to say the least. I always pictured that medicine only exists in sterile hospital rooms with physicians running around in white coats. That image unraveled the moment I saw physicians treating MRSA infections on sets of picnic benches. My first experience at Occupy Medical was definitely not what I expected, but it truly stuck with me, and I kept coming back week after week. 

     Every clinic not only brought new patients, but also new stories. I met a man who put off his own medical care to make sure that his family would be able to afford theirs, another gentleman who ended up unhoused after losing both of his legs, and patients who struggled to access medical care because language barriers made the system impossible to navigate. Each of these stories is a poignant reflection of how easily the vulnerable in society can fall through the cracks, underscoring the importance of providing direct assistance to those who need it most. 

     Occupy Medical has been life-changing in how I hope to practice medicine in the future. I will continue to serve underserved communities, whether it is through free clinics, street medicine, or whatever care is needed most. Medicine, at its core, is a discipline meant to serve the overlooked. Occupy Medical exemplifies one of the fundamental reasons I want to be a physician one day: to work towards a cause much bigger than myself, alongside a team willing to do the same. 

– OM President, Ethan Nguyen

At our clinics, we’ve learned that sometimes the most powerful medicine isn’t a prescription, but is instead a little empathy and compassion.

      After looking through our clothing donation and choosing a handful of clothing that perfectly matched her personality, a patient at our St. Vincent de Paul Service Center clinic mentioned to two of our volunteers that “It was like the pain just went away.” We asked her what she thought made the difference. She told us that finally having someone who was willing to listen and who truly cared about her was enough for her to feel better, so much so that she even asked us to take a photo of her in her new, stylish clothing.

     This is just one of many examples that show how much the little things matter. Through our clinics, we create opportunities for our patients to feel heard and supported. In many cases, it's this combination of care and kindness that leaves them with a smile on their face and a newfound feeling of confidence. Our mission is deeply rooted in these moments, fueling our drive to keep helping those who need it most.

Joining Occupy Medical was a spur-of-the-moment decision. With previous experience working in clinical settings, I knew that I enjoyed direct patient interaction. Although knowing OM would be different, I was pleasantly surprised to find out why.

     What I found was a striking difference in patient connection from my previous experiences. When treating patients in more formal clinical settings, there is often a seeming automatic removal of affability – a sort of professional barrier that emphasised the medical issue at hand, not always the person. Being that we alternate between two locations, there are always familiar faces at each of our clinics. As such, I discovered that what made Occupy Medical so special was the deep, human connection that we can make with each of our patients. 

     What I will always support about OM is the fact that our patients are not just names on a chart; they are people. The majority of our patient interactions are asking about our patients' days or hearing about their pets, rather than just about their symptoms. With that small act, we help our patients feel a greater sense of dignity and community, feelings that can so easily get lost for those experiencing homelessness. It is this emphasis on human connection that motivates me to support the Occupy Medical Mission.

– OM Secretary, Jackson Coelho