It’s amazing the difference a listening ear and pair of nail clippers can make for someone’s health.

Carvan Jackson, one of Pope Francis Center’s guests in downtown Detroit, talked about how “very, very, very, very, very important” it is that Asha Shajahan, M.D., and medical residents come to take care of him and others there.

It means he can talk to someone and have them look at the sore on his leg from sleeping in his car. It means he can have someone treat his feet, soaking them in Epsom salt and clipping his nails ─ care he usually doesn’t have access to.

“We don't have many people who care about us,” Carvan said. “I thank God for Dr. Asha, and I appreciate her being here.”

Pope Francis Center provides vital services for people experiencing homelessness. On an average day, the center welcomes nearly 200 guests and provides meals, showers, laundry and access to doctors, dentists and more through free clinics.

Clinics like Dr. Shajahan’s, which helps hundreds of people a year. Clinics typically include wellness screenings, foot care, treatment of minor illnesses and injuries and other preventative care.

Dr. Shajahan goes to Pope Francis Center every Friday with medical residents. Working the shelter’s medical clinic is a built-in rotation as part of medical education and residents from Farmington Hills, Grosse Pointe and Wayne participate.

She has been doing this work for about five years and started her outreach literally biking the streets to care for people experiencing homelessness. She said providing this care takes you back to your roots. You’re not behind a computer, documenting what needs to be billed, but face-to-face with patients you’re tangibly helping.

“You don’t need a career, you need a purpose,” Dr. Shajahan said. “When I come here, I know I’m making a difference.”

There were 12 residents at Pope Francis Center on May 10, including Emmett Smith, D.O., a second-year Farmington Hills family medicine resident. It was his first time working at the clinic, and he said “it’s a good experience for me to open up my eyes,” to what these patients are experiencing.

On the other hand, Azeem Khatri, M.D., a second-year Wayne family medicine resident, was familiar with the population’s needs. He had done similar work while attending medical school at Wayne State University and said it was a big reason he pursued his specialty, to help bridge the need for this type of care.

“It’s great that in our residency training we’re exposed to this,” he said. “We need more stuff like this.”

Service is important to Dr. Shajahan, but she also wants to make sure the next generation of doctors learns about health care disparities as well. She teaches the residents to talk to the guests, help make them comfortable so they will be open about their health care concerns. The residents remember this experience and treat people like people, no matter their circumstances, she said.

“And that’s not something you can teach in a classroom,” Dr. Shajahan said.

See more photos from Pope Francis Center on The Well.