About Us
OUR STORY
In 2013, our founder, Matt Pierce was living in Haiti working on a new community health program to help people who had suffered from a massive earthquake. His experiences there changed his perception on healing, community, and the world. From then on Pierce worked in Haiti, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States, to develop sustainable health programs, like mobile clinics, that serve vulnerable and marginalized people.
THE CONTRAST
While Pierce was running a clinic in a very poor, isolated community in Haiti, he learned what it was like to be incredibly vulnerable and marginalized. People were living in small shacks, on dirt floors, without electricity. But their health was pretty good. They had poor access to basic care, but they were hard working and their bodies were resilient. When Pierce returned to the United States to run a mobile clinic for the homeless, he discovered something. Many of the patients he was taking care of on the streets of Salt Lake City were worse off than his patients in Haiti...
TRAUMA
He wondered why this was. How could his patients here in the United States, with all it's wealth, healthcare system, and infrastructure be worse off than his patients living in shacks in Haiti.
And then it dawned on him. His patients on the streets had all experienced horrible emotional and psychological trauma. Things like abuse, violence, neglect, rape, etc. had caused serious harm. Yes, his homeless patients had poor access to healthcare in general, but what they were really lacking was connection, and healing from emotional trauma.
SOCIAL MEDICINE
Through all of his study and experience, Pierce developed Social Medicine International as a way to bridge this gap. He saw that physical health care was an opportunity to help people engage in their psychological healing as well. By bringing trauma informed, relationship based medicine to people in very dire circumstances, Social Medicine International is able to not only access people who don't access needed care, but also develop trust with them. Through those trusting, healing focused relationships, people begin to feel their self-worth again, and engage in emotional healing from the trauma that has kept them stuck for so long.
OUR MISSION
To bring Freedom, Peace, and Healing to the most vulnerable and marginalized people in the world through mobile, social medicine.
Who We Are
Drew Pierce
Founder & Executive Director
Pierce studied medicine at the University of Utah. He is a public health professional and has clinical experience in general medicine and mental health. Over the last 7 years, Pierce has served on, built, and managed both local and international community health programs, mobile medical clinics, and training programs centered on helping vulnerable and marginalized people access health care. He has served as the Vice President of the Utah Academy of Physician Assistants. He is the founder of Social Medicine International, and now serves as a the executive director.
Brett Bunker
Board of Directors - Chairman
Brett Bunker is a father, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. His experience stems from several years of humanitarian service in Guatemala at the end of a civil war. He is a prolific entrepreneur, with a thriving business in North Salt Lake City. He has served in leadership positions for other local nonprofits, and his service has taken him all over the Western Hemisphere. He currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for Social Medicine International, and he is very much connected and involved in the daily work of our organization.
Dr. Monique Derr
Board of Directors - Vice Chair
Dr. Derr brings an academic acumen to our organization as a professor of sociology. She completed her PhD work in Human Science with a specialization in Social Transformation. She is a wife and mother of 4 children and serves in various positions in her community. She has been integrally involved in the development of Social Medicine International and continues to stay closely connected to our daily work.