Our story

Where empathy meets clinical excellence.

Hearts for the Homeless International is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations through free heart health screenings, preventive education, and clinical outreach opportunities for the next generation of medical students.

Hearts for the Homeless volunteers in action at a community screening

compassion in action

Visibility

Millions live in our cities, yet remain completely unseen.

Homelessness is often viewed as a housing crisis, but it is equally a healthcare crisis. Without an address or insurance, preventive care becomes impossible and minor, treatable conditions escalate into life-threatening emergencies.

We exist to bridge that gap. Not by waiting for vulnerable people to navigate complex clinical systems, but by bringing the clinic directly to them.

A Hearts for the Homeless volunteer handing supplies to a person during street outreach

60k+

Lives impacted

42+

US chapters

Countries

2015

Year founded

What drives us

Our core values.

The foundational principles that guide every screening, every chapter, and every interaction with the communities we serve.

Compassion

Every screening begins with empathy. We treat every individual with absolute dignity and respect.

Education

Empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders through hands-on, deeply impactful clinical experience.

Equity

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. We actively work to eliminate systemic barriers to essential care.

Global vision

From Orlando to Amman, we believe in a world where no one is forgotten by the clinical establishment.

Our journey

The evolution of impact.

2015

The spark at UCF

Founded by Andrew Aboujaoude, Jennifer Carvel, and Alexis Ghersi as a local student effort providing blood pressure screenings at Orlando shelters.

2017

National recognition

A pivotal win at the Clinton Global Initiative University secured seed funding from The Resolution Project to formalise our operating model.

2019

Going international

Launched our first international mission in Amman, Jordan, providing cardiovascular screenings to thousands of Syrian refugees.

Today

A global network

Active chapters in more than 12 countries, impacting over 60,000 lives through dedicated student mobilisation.

How we operate

The anatomy of an NGO.

Eight departments keep a student-run organisation running across three continents.

Expansion

Guiding new universities through chapter formation and managing global relationships.

Medical Information

Integrating health screening tools alongside physiological assessments for holistic care.

National Chapter Operations

Overseeing organisational policy, governance, and internal compliance.

International Chapter Operations

Empowering student leaders and acting as a liaison for active national chapters.

Research Department

Managing the IRB and carrying clinical and translational studies from first question to publication.

Finance And Grants

Securing grants and allocating resources across chapters.

Human Resources

Recruiting passionate leaders and managing volunteer onboarding globally.

Marketing

Amplifying impact through digital media and telling community stories.

Leadership

Meet the board.

The people steering the future of global clinical volunteering.

Dr. Andrew Aboujaoude, President and Founder

Gerard Dinith Mendis, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Jennifer Daley, MSc, MPH, Chief Scientific Officer

Eric Lee, Chief Medical Information Officer

Sarah Haddad, BDS, Chief Operating Officer

Sastha Rajamanikandan ,Chief administrative officer

Global missions

Where we have made history.

Crisis response — 2022 to present

Ukraine

Immediate medical supply deployment and sustained trauma care support for displaced populations during acute conflict phases.

Mission — 2019 to present

Jordan

Proactive cardiovascular screenings and care pathways for refugee communities, in deep partnership with local health ministries.

Dr. Andrew Aboujaoude, Founder and President

We started with three students and a blood pressure cuff. Today we are a global force, but the mission has never changed: see the unseen.

Dr. Andrew Aboujaoude, MD — Founder and president

Ready to make a difference?

Join the movement

Whether you are a pre-med student, a healthcare professional, or simply someone who cares, there is a place for you at Hearts for the Homeless.

Become a volunteer Start a chapter