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 screening opportunities, preventive education, and clinical outreach 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

180k+

Lives impacted

US chapters

Countries

2015

Year founded

What drives us

Our core values.

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

Compassion

Every screening opportunity 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 screening opportunities 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 screening opportunities to thousands of Syrian refugees.

Today

A global network

Active chapters in more than 12 countries, impacting over 180,000 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

Carrying clinical and translational studies from first question to publication, under independent IRB review.

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

Executive VP and CIO Gerard Dinith Mendis

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 screening opportunities 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

In short

About Hearts for the Homeless International.

Everything people usually want to know about Hearts for the Homeless International in one place: who runs it, what actually happens at a screening opportunity, where we work, and how to join.

Who runs Hearts for the Homeless?

Volunteers, most of them students. A nine-member executive committee holds the senior portfolios, eight departments run the day-to-day work, and every chapter is led by students on its own campus. The full structure is published on our governance page.

What happens at a screening opportunity?

Chapters bring the clinic to the community rather than waiting for people to reach one. Volunteers take blood pressure readings, talk through what the numbers mean, and connect anyone with a concerning result to a partner clinic or food share nearby.

Where does Hearts for the Homeless work?

Twelve countries: 53 chapters across the United States and 11 abroad, with international operations directed from Amman, Jordan. Past missions have included cardiovascular screening opportunities for Syrian refugees in Jordan and medical supply deployment in Ukraine.

Is it only for medical students?

No. Pre-med and medical students make up much of the network, but chapters need people who can organise, write, fundraise and analyse data just as much as they need people taking readings. No clinical background is required to start.

How is the work funded?

Through donations and grants, stewarded by the finance and grants department. Annual reports and impact statements are published so supporters can trace a contribution to the field, and our IRS filings are publicly searchable.

How do I get involved?

Students can start a chapter through the expansion team or join an existing one through human resources. Healthcare professionals, partner organisations and donors each have a route in as well, and the contact page sends every enquiry to the right team.

External references

University of Central Florida →

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