The mission of the Willow Clinic is to improve the health and well-being of the homeless population of Sacramento by helping to meet the psychiatric and medical care needs of this underserved population, as well as to provide a unique platform for medical & undergraduate student education.

Using a holistic approach toward patient care, the goals of the Willow Clinic are:

• Primary and secondary disease prevention via patient education and screening
• Detecting and aiding in the treatment of mental and physical illness.
• Advocating for the continued care of our patients while serving as a safety net
   to bridge the gaps in follow-up care of existing health care systems.
• Promoting and facilitating the utilization of community services.

In addition to the use of somatic, medication-based treatments for illness, there is an equally important focus on brief psychotherapeutic techniques aimed at developing more adaptive coping skills and supporting positive lifestyle changes.

This approach exposes medical students to the unique integration of psychiatry and general medicine and offers hands-on experience and firsthand insight into the hardships and diverse health care needs of the homeless community. Undergraduate students interested in the health professions are introduced to holistic health care delivery, with a focus on both practical experience and educational talks provided by medical students.

The Willow Clinic operates on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month from 9 am -1 pm at the Salvation Army homeless shelter in downtown Sacramento. Run by undergraduate and medical student volunteers, and supervised by attending physicians trained in psychiatry and general medicine, the Willow Clinic is dedicated to bettering the community it serves. The student commitment is small, impact is big, and the need is great!