The Street Medicine Team
Mahdi Diab, MD MSPH
Founder & Director
Dr. Diab is the founder and director of SoCal Street Medicine. He is a family physician, humanitarian, and artist who dedicates much of his time to serving underserved populations both locally and globally. He worked on malaria prevention and food security projects while in the U.S Peace Corps in Zambia, and on medical, educational, and public health projects in Kenya and Dominica. Dr. Diab is the founder of Light on Lives, a multi-media advocacy project that uses video production and photography to advocate for environmental and social justice. His medical career is focused primarily on addressing health disparities through direct outreach—meeting people where they are—to promote empowerment through better health and wellness. In southern California, he is focused on medical service to unsheltered individuals and families, asylum seekers, refugees, migrant farmers, and victims of human trafficking.
Danielle Richardson, MD
Dr. Richardson is a family medicine physician. She lives and works just miles from the San Diego/Tijuana border and dedicates much of her time to serving the border population of Southern California. She understands that health and wellness are directly impacted by one's ability to access safe sleeping, food, housing and hygiene, and that the current medical system does not meet the needs of many people, including those with housing insecurity. Dr. Richardson’s passion extends beyond the role of a physician; she is a proud activist and believes that a strong community has the power to nurture, protect, and provide for each other. She wants to see her community thrive and focuses on making sure the most vulnerable people have their basic needs met. She and her partner host the Imperial Beach Community Fridge and Garden. It is a safe space for unsheltered people to rest, recharge, eat and garden. The neighborhood comes together to compost, garden, grow pollinator flowers, and stock the fridge.
Lauren Debski, PMHNP
Lauren completed her training at The George Washington University and holds two board certifications as a nurse practitioner in family practice and psychiatry. She has served as a mental health provider at the Imperial Beach free clinic. She is focused on providing comprehensive care to patients and their families from all walks of life, with a goal of holistically treating trauma, substance use, and at-risk patients, while also offering detoxification services. In addition to her medical experience, Lauren is a public speaker on the effects of sexual assault and trauma on an individual’s mental health. She has spoken on many university campuses and was key note speaker at state summits throughout the United States. Lauren is extremely passionate about helping others transform their trauma into thriving not just surviving. Outside of her work life, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and dog.
Lauren Gaw, RN
Lauren is a registered nurse and has a master's degree in sustainable international development. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings. During the COVID pandemic she worked in the intensive care unit, later transitioning to outpatient care, including providing triage care to migrants who have recently crossed into the US. Lauren cares deeply about all people being able to access healthcare and maintain their health.
Jordan Searls
Jordan is a local activist, humanitarian, photographer, and musician. Jordan has done work at the southern border providing humanitarian aid to asylum seekers held in open air detention sites by CBP, providing food, shelter, warm clothes, blankets, basic medical attention, and mobile power charging stations. They went on to work with Al Otro Lado as a Humanitarian Aid Coordinator in the Jacumba desert where they served as the organizations designated liaison and lead for receiving and coordinating the care of asylum seekers. Jordan also has experience working as an Outreach Specialist with PATH, providing case management to our unsheltered community at encampments around San Diego, providing services such as food, hygiene kits, harm reduction, documents, referrals for medical treatment and transportation, and assisting them in finding and securing housing.