Sports Medicine and Emergency Medicine Clubs Volunteer at the Chicago Marathon
Medical students assist professional healthcare personnel, learn intricacies of sporting events
- IL - Downers Grove
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students serve as spotters in the Chicago Marathon.
(From left): Kristine Flanagan (CCOM ’27), Elizabeth Boyer (CCOM ’27), Juliet Shelton (CCOM ’27), and Eriq Gasse (CCOM ’27).
The Midwestern University Sports Medicine Club and Emergency Medicine Club volunteered at the Chicago Marathon in a collaborative effort to assist medical personnel, supplement classroom knowledge with real-world experience, and gain insight into the experience of medical professionals during a sporting event.
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) student and Sports Medicine Club president Alice Li (CCOM ’27) said, “We were placed at the spotter towers that gave us a view of the crowd and runners coming. Most of us were stationed after the finish line in case someone was in distress. We would spot them and notify a nearby triage team.” She shared that if they observed incidents such as cramps, pulled muscles, dehydration, or vomiting following the race, then they notified the appropriate personnel. She also said their participation in the Chicago Marathon prepared students to recognize when someone is in distress.
A learning opportunity at a large event like the Chicago Marathon also supplements the educational experience for the future doctors. Medical student and Emergency Medicine Club president Eriq Gasse (CCOM ’27) said, “It is an opportunity to observe what goes into medically organizing something as large as the Chicago Marathon, how the triage teams work, and how the medical providers work within that system. You see the operation of what it takes, and I think that's good exposure for those of us who want to go into emergency or sports medicine.”
Alice and Eriq both highlighted the value of volunteering at the Chicago Marathon for medical students. Alice shared, “It gave us a glimpse of one aspect of sports medicine, which is race medicine. It was inspiring for us to see what we want to do in the future.” Eriq continued, “From the emergency medicine perspective, we saw some of the more common complaints you might see in an emergency department, so we practiced the fundamentals.” He added that observing how the providers respond and provide treatment in different types of situations, whether an incident is urgent or an emergency, was beneficial for the students.
Eriq further stressed the importance of the experience for those with limited clinical exposure before medical school. “I highly recommend this event to first-year students and anyone who is really trying to start ramping up their clinical foundations and ability to assess patients,” he said. Alice agreed, noting, “We were able to utilize our clinical skills and integrate what we learned in class in real life and do something good for the community.”
Opportunities like volunteering at the Chicago Marathon offer student doctors a chance to observe working medical professionals in various situations, identify race participants experiencing distress, direct medical personnel to their care, and increase their overall skills. Participation in clubs and organizations at Midwestern University also provides students with a variety of volunteer opportunities for them to give back to the community and become patient-centered future healthcare professionals.
