The Temple Emanuel’s Social Responsibility Committee will be welcoming James J. O’Connell, MD, President, Boston Health Care for the Homeless (BHCHP) and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School to discuss Lessons From The Streets: Three Decades Caring for Boston's Rough Sleepers.

Dr. O’Connell is the founding physician of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, which now serves over 10,000 homeless individuals and families each year. With his colleagues, Dr. O’Connell established the nation’s first medical respite program for homeless persons. This innovative program now provides acute and sub-acute, pre- and post-operative, and palliative and end-of-life care in the freestanding 104-bed Barbara McInnis House.

The event is open to the entire community and will be offered both in person and on Zoom. Attendees are invited to bring mittens, gloves, socks, handwarmers or hats to donate. Andover Bookstore will also be on-site during the event to sell discounted copies of Rough Sleepers by Pulitzer Prize winning author Tracy Kidder, which features Dr. O’Connell’s work.

For those attending in person, there will be sandwiches and light snacks starting at 5:30 pm and desserts will be served following the presentation.