KEY PEOPLE
Committed to the Cause
Since our founding in 2018, CMU Street Medicine has developed and grown in a positive direction. We’re very proud of the diversity of our team, and their abilities to contribute their own unique experience and skills to our success. Find out more about some of our team members below.
BETHANY BROWN
Faculty Advisor/Medical Director
Dr. Brown graduated from the University of Michigan with her RN and MSN as a Nurse Midwife/Nurse Practitioner. She then started a nurse midwifery clinic in Muskegon, Michigan and was the practice manager there for 7 years. At that time, she completed her doctor of nursing practice degree at Frontier Nursing University and began teaching in nursing and medical schools. She returned to the University of Michigan's School of Social Work and obtained her certification in sexual health counseling and education. Through training in holistic health as a nurse and her practice experiences, she became passionate for the underserved populations. Currently she serves as the faculty advisor/Medical Director for CMU Street Medicine, the Assistant Director of Nursing for Central Michigan University and a Sexual Healthcare provider for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
YASMEEN MANN
President
I truly was the product of the term "raised by a village." This taught me that in a community, no one gets left behind. I have witnessed the barriers that many homeless community members face in accessing health services and improving health outcomes. The Street Medicine movement works to bring health care directly to underserved community members.
CHRISTAL CLEMENS
Vice President
.
WHITNEE ESSENMACHER
Financial Director
Whitnee is from Bad Axe, MI. She got involved in CMU Street Medicine to help those who need access to health care and is pursuing her education to become a Family Medicine Physician.
ERENY DEMIAN
Technology Director &
SMI representative
I am third year medical student at Central Michigan University. I am from Clawson, Michigan. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biology at Oakland University. With previous volunteer work at free clinics and homeless shelters and seeing the impact it has on the community, I am thrilled to be part of Street in Medicine organization to bring health care to the underserved communities here in Mount Pleasant and Saginaw. I aspire to serve in the healthcare as an internist providing the care needed for the underserved.
TRUSHA PATEL
Research Director
Trusha is a third year medical student who is passionate about mental health and the right to healthcare for all. Working with CMU Street Medicine fuels her desire to help the community around her and give better access to healthcare for those in need.
HENRY ROBERT HALEY
Mt. Pleasant Coordinator
My name is Henry Haley and I am from the small town of Dexter, Michigan. When I was a pre-medical student I volunteered for a free medical clinic (Hope medical clinic) that provides care to uninsured patients. I found this experience extremely rewarding and I wanted to continue to help people in need during my time in medical school. I am unsure of my plans for residency, however, I hope that my clinical rotations in my M3 year will help guide my decision.
LAURIE MARIE AIELLO
Mt. Pleasant Communications Coordinator
For about ten years I volunteered at a low-income elementary school where I saw kids at recess in the winter without hats and gloves, teachers having to instruct 30+ kids of multiple grade levels at once, and kids being sent home with a small bag of food with the hopes it would get them through the weekend. This experience opened my eyes to the lack of resources available for certain populations and this drove me to take part in Street Medicine here at CMED. I hope that this program not only helps the population we are serving get medical care, but I also hope that it inspires the local community and other communities across the country to start a similar program to provide resources to everyone that may need them.
ELISE EDWARDS
Saginaw Coordinator
My name is Elise Edwards-Cavalieri and my home town is Iron Mountain, MI. I became involved with street medicine because of past volunteering with other underserved groups abroad. I am excited by the idea of CMU students giving back to the communities where we are learning, becoming more aware of the realities associated with social determinants of health, and refueling the compassion and empathy that originally drew me to medicine by making real change. I am hoping to match into an ObGyn residency soon and will graduate in May 2020!
IBRAHIM BAIDA
Mount Pleasant Volunteer Coordinator
Why got involved: As an undergraduate at The University of Texas, I volunteered my time at a local free health clinic where I had the opportunity to work with socioeconomically disadvantaged members of the community. During my time with this clinic, I learned so much about community health clinics and the process of operating them that I knew it was something I wanted to continue doing. I also enjoyed listening to people’s stories and wanted to do my part in creating a healthier and more vibrant community.
Future aspirations: I would like to one day own a practice and also manage a local community clinic where my colleagues and I can volunteer our time to serve those in the community who need it the most.
KYLA WALWORTH
Saginaw Volunteer Coordinator
Kyla is from Holt, Mi. I signed up for Street Medicine because I knew that I could help people with their health concerns while refining my own clinical skills. I hope to become an obstetrician- gynecologist.