Divisions
Social EM, Population & Global Health
Meet the Team
Heather Henderson, PhD
Director of Social EM
Bernice McCoy, PhD
Associate Director of Social Medicine
Enola Okonkwo, MD
Jason Wilson, MD, PhD, CPE, FACEP
Division Chief USF; Chief of EM TGH; Medical Director, Transitions of Care
The social emergency medicine section is a growing centerpiece of our resident education and faculty research that combines traditional and simulation based techniques in education, as well as collaborative interdisciplinary project design to benefit patients and the community.
The Social EM section is anchored by the Coordinated Regional Harm Reduction Continuum (CRHRC) but also includes work in structural competency; race/racism and medicine; social determinants of health; healthcare disparities; the role of medical anthropologists in clinical spaces; co-development of medical pathways with patients, physicians and social scientists; patient centered care; gender, diversity, equity and inclusion; and the role of the environment and climate in health/health outcomes.
The Social Emergency Medicine Section at USF/TGH works to integrate structural competency into medical education and patient care through innovative assemblages of new pathways that address underlying structural determinants of health and health disparities.
Our pathways are built through collaboration with social scientists, public health experts, physicians, other care providers, and patients. We believe that direct clinical involvement of social scientists is a novel key to our success.
Our work with infectious disease and substance use disorder best exemplifies early success of the model. In addition, we are excited to partner with the Crisis Center Tampa Bay, Gulf Coast JFCS Refugee Services, IDEA Exchange, USF Anthropology, and Tampa Bay Street Medicine.
"Your narcan program saved my life on 4/5/2021. God Bless."
We utilize a self Addressed stamped postcard when we distribute naloxone nasal spray at community events. The card has rescue breathing and instructions for naloxone use. We ask patients to return the post card if they use the naloxone to help track overdose rates.
Harm Reduction, Co-Located Care and Wrap Around Services
We provide co-located testing and co-located care across a harm reduction continuum. This includes HCV screening AND treatment, opioid use disorder treatment (simultaneously), as well as HIV screening and re-linkage of vulnerable patients
The IDEA exchange is a syringe services program but also a place where other structural vulnerabilities are addressed. Infectious disease testing and treatment are offered while addressing food insecurity and insurance navigation.
Our Social Medicine Programs
Mobile Safe Syringe Exchange
At IDEA Exchange Tampa, we are combatting drug-related health issues by offering a safe syringe exchange program. This initiative not only reduces the risk of transmitting infectious diseases but also connects individuals with critical health services.
ED BRIDGE
ED BRIDGE is our treatment pathway for people experiencing substance use disorders. Through this pathway, patients have access to medication, peer navigation, and warm handoff to community treatment.
Addiction Clinic
Our ED BRIDGE extends to Healthpark, where this clinic provides personalized office-based care and support for individuals battling substance use disorders, offering a pathway towards recovery through a range of treatment options and support services.
Sexual Health Clinic
We offer confidential and compassionate care at our Sexual Health Clinic, focusing on prevention, treatment, and education to promote overall sexual well-being.
Tampa Bay Street Medicine
TBSM, a student organization at USF Health, extends healthcare services directly to the homeless and underserved populations in the Tampa Bay area, emphasizing primary care and emergency health services right where they're needed most.
The mission of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay (CCTB) is to ensure that no one in our community has to face crisis alone. The CCTB offers comprehensive services spanning the entire spectrum of trauma with a breadth of expertise in the areas of trauma informed care, mental health support and counseling, care coordination, and sexual assault services. Dr. Okonkwo oversees the county’s only Certified Rape Crisis Center.
Refugee Services:
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by refugees, we provide specialized services to support their health and integration into the community, from medical care to social support. Faculty and residents have the opportunity to participate in refugee care through work with Dr. Okonkwo in her role as the Medical Director for Gulf Coast Jewish and Family Community Services and our partnership with the USF Refugee Clinic, led by Drs. Devi Yalamanchili, Lucy Guerra, & Lynnete Menezes.
USF Health's TBSM Clinic: Meeting Tampa Refugees' Healthcare Needs (youtube.com)
Through these programs, we are committed to not just treating illness, but also addressing the root causes of health disparities, fostering a healthier, more equitable community. Join us in our mission to extend the reach of emergency medicine beyond the hospital walls and into the heart of our communities.
ACEP E-QUAL
Global Health
Global Health
USF EM Global Health efforts are led by Dr. Enola Okonkwo in partnership with USF Health International. Our program places a strong emphasis on local and global collaboration, viewing partnerships as invaluable opportunities for mutual growth and understanding. Through shared experiences and knowledge exchange, we strive to train our physicians to be well-equipped to care for patients in an increasingly interconnected world. In addition, we have a nascent Global Health fellowship. Please visit the Global Health fellowship page to learn more about opportunities.