Bethany Women’s Center recently hosted a Foot Care Clinic, led by students from the Georgetown School of Medicine. With supervision from a local podiatrist, the students provided compassionate, hands-on care to support the foot health of women at N Street Village. They offered individualized treatments, including foot washing, nail cutting, and wound treatment. Women also had the opportunity to take home shoes and Dr. Scholl’s inserts as needed.
Kristin Turner, a leader of the clinic, explained that foot health can often be overlooked. “People don’t always think ‘I should get my feet checked out,’ but it’s actually kind of a window into things like early symptoms of diabetes and manifestations of high blood pressure. So, I think it can be an important thing to bring to the community as something people aren’t thinking of themselves.”
Ali Qadri, a podiatrist based in Southern Maryland, dedicates his time to overseeing the HOYA clinic because he knows that foot care can make a meaningful impact on the daily lives of women experiencing homelessness. He explained that these women often walk long distances in their daily lives.
“If we can keep them on their feet for as long as possible, pain free, that’s the best thing we’re providing for them,” he said. By helping clients improve their mobility, the clinic helps improve their quality of life.
The care these students provide through this clinic is aligned with the Georgetown School of Medicine motto: cura personalis, which is Latin for “care of the whole person.” Twisha Kurlagunda, another student, believes that phrase is especially relevant to the students’ experience at N Street Village. She says, “the person is not just the medical conditions that they come in for, they are also the circumstances that end up leading them there.” This attention to holistic care complements N Street Village’s approach to helping women heal and regain stability.
Reflecting on their work at Bethany Women’s Center, the students shared how they were positively impacted as well. Co-leader of the clinic, Anoushka Kathiravan said, “This site, in particular, has been really fulfilling for us because everyone who’s come in has just been so sweet and lovely, and you can tell when you’re making a difference. You can tell when you’ve given someone something that’s able to alleviate their pain or just make them feel more comfortable throughout the day.”
