Upstate Medical University’s Mia Ruiz-Salvador has been honored by the Onondaga County Medical Society for her work with Housecalls for the Homeless and other community health endeavors.

Ruiz-Salvador won the Non-Physician Service to Medical Care award at the 2024 annual dinner in Syracuse.

“I am humbled and honored by being nominated for this award," Ruiz-Salvador said, “moreover, I am honored by the conjoined efforts of those working by my side: our street medicine providers, medical students, and both street outreach and shelter care management teams.”

Ruiz-Salvador and David Lehmann, MD, PharmD, founded Housecalls for the Homeless in 2018, an Upstate program that brings direct medical care to individuals living on the street in Syracuse. Lehmann and Ruiz-Salvador had just returned from a medical mission trip to Ecuador with the idea of bringing a street medicine program to Syracuse. They researched programs in other cities and teamed up with John Tumino, of In My Father’s Kitchen homeless outreach, and the program began.

“Mia is the beating heart of our program, ever focused on the mission to provide free medical care for our sisters and brothers experiencing homelessness on the streets and under the bridges in our community,” Lehmann said. “Her commitment is simply tireless and a joy to witness.”

Ruiz-Salvador oversees all aspects of the program including managing medical student and provider schedules and patient follow-up. In addition to her work with the Housecalls program, Ruiz-Salvador has overseen and coordinated the development of a team of female health care providers and support staff to offer care at the Salvation Army Women’s Shelter and permanent supportive housing program, Chadwick Residence, and Life House. Lehmann said the importance of having women care for and heal other women cannot be overstated, given the historical trauma experienced by women who are protected at these locations from domestic violence and sex trafficking from male predators.

Ruiz-Salvador, who has worked at Upstate for 19 years, said she finds her work deeply satisfying.

“I think the best part, aside from the amazing people I work with, both team members and patients, is that this work aligns well with my values and sense of integrity of being of service to others, protecting human rights, and offering practical and compassionate assistance, in general,” she said. “It’s a great thing to love what one does.”

In addition to Lehmann and Ruiz-Salvador’s work, Upstate’s connections to Housecalls for the Homeless includes the Upstate Foundation, which established an endowment for the program in 2023.

Caption: Upstate's Mia Ruiz-Salvador was honored by the Onondaga County Medical Society for her work with Housecalls for the Homeless.