As a professor at Drexel University's College of Medicine, Dr. Steven Peitzman leads a busy life. His specialty is kidney diseases, and the East Falls resident teaches his students in various settings.

One of those settings is quite unusual. For almost three hours each Tuesday evening, he works at a clinic in Roxborough, where he treats people with a history of addiction problems. And he does this on a volunteer basis.

The addictions run the gamut. "It's mainly alcohol, but also heroin, cocaine, and smoking," he said. The one-room clinic is on the grounds of a Salvation Army rehab residence for those recovering from addiction. The Roxborough facility can accommodate 130 residents, and they usually live here for six to 12 months.

Drexel College of Medicine is affiliated with the clinic through its community outreach program. The Roxborough facility on Pechin Street is one of three free clinics in this program.

On Tuesday evenings, the residents of the Salvation Army facility get free medical care from Peitzman and a core of Drexel medical student volunteers.

"We're not dealing with the addiction directly," the doctor said. "But we support the recovery with general medical care, so that they stay well and gain success in conquering their demons."

Like Peitzman, the students do this as volunteers. Usually, a small group of five or six students sign up for an evening. They are first- and second-year medical students, and they're supervised by Peitzman and several other Drexel physician volunteers.

First, a medical student interviews each patient. If the patient has not been to the clinic already, a detailed medical history is taken. Then, after checking vital signs, a patient is brought to Peitzman or one of his colleagues, and the student explains the case to him.

Peitzman then asks more questions, examines the patient and makes a recommendation, while the medical student observes the entire process.

"It's a very hands-on experience, much more than in their curriculum," he said. "And it also gives them experience in community service."

That aspect of service is especially important to Peitzman. He's committed to the concept of a doctor's responsibility to serve the community.

The doctor has worked with the clinic ever since three Medical College of Pennsylvania students started it 16 years ago.

Peitzman was then on MCP's faculty and he signed on to work at the clinic. MCP since has merged with Drexel.

"I wanted to do something in the community," he said. The program began with a medical director, Dr. Michael Barrett, and with two volunteer physicians. Dr. Peitzman was one of them.

His interest in the doctor's role in the community also led him to join the Philadelphia chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. Headquartered at 704 N. 23rd St in the Art Museum area, this organization encourages social activism for physicians and other health-care professionals.

The membership includes both doctors and medical students. As a professor who works with students, Peitzman especially is interested in having them develop a socially responsible perspective.

"PSR encourages medical students to embrace a broader understanding of medicine as a human endeavor, beyond the obvious elements of diagnosis and treatment," he said.

For instance, on Oct. 4, PSR held a brunch titled "The Socially Responsible Physician: Activism and the Soul of Medicine." It brought together doctors and other health-care providers as well as students. At this annual brunch - which this year celebrated the Philadelphia chapter's 10th anniversary - awards were given to medical students for special achievement in taking a socially responsible role.

In another part of the program, students shared anecdotes about experiences that changed their perspectives on doctor-patient interactions. One student told of building a relationship with a patient about to have surgery. The patient felt so trusting of the medical student that he wanted him with him in the operating room, even though this is not typical procedure.

"He was scared, and this medical student was someone he'd come to trust," said Dr. Peitzman. "Hearing stories like this gives the students validation to think and act more humanistically."

The PSR event gave Peitzman a chance to interact with doctors from other medical schools who share his commitment to community service. "It's an interesting mix of doctors across the spectrum " he said. "We all share an interest in the social responsibilities of medicine, and the need to understand it as an endeavor that involves more than technical skills."

His volunteer work at the Salvation Army clinic is evidence of his own commitment. He's not only providing free medical treatment to recovering addicts but he's also helping medical students to gain valuable experience that expands on what they learn in medical school.

For instance, a few weeks ago, a medical student did the initial questioning of a 45-year-old woman who had designed highway bridges as a civil engineer. "But here she was, bottomed out," said Peitzman. "The student saw that addiction can happen to anyone."

The students gain other insights, too. "They see hard-core addicts who are trying to get their lives back," said Peitzman. "And they see doctors dealing with these folks respectfully."

Then, too, the hands-on work at the clinic gives students a chance to practice the basic medical skills in a low-tech atmosphere. "In this setting, we have to go as far as we can using the traditional craft skills such as taking a medical history and doing a physical exam," said Peitzman.

Although his weekly stints at the clinic add to an already busy schedule, this committed doctor welcomes the chance to give back to the community.

"I enjoy working with the students in a collegial atmosphere," he said. "And this is my way of doing community service. So it's extremely rewarding."

For information on Physicians for Social Responsibility at 704 N. 23rd Street, call 215-765-8703 or visit www.psrphila.org.**