Taking It to the Streets: Physician-author brings the lives of Boston’s homeless out of the shadows

For the past three decades, James O’Connell ’82 has spent his days, and often his nights, bringing health care to Boston’s homeless population. As the founding physician of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, O’Connell practices medicine among those who are often overlooked. He was seeking such a purpose when, at age 30, he arrived at HMS, eager to learn and to find his place in medicine.

For the past three decades, James O’Connell ’82 has spent his days, and often his nights, bringing health care to Boston’s homeless population. As the founding physician of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, O’Connell practices medicine among those who are often overlooked. He was seeking such a purpose when, at age 30, he arrived at HMS, eager to learn and to find his place in medicine.