NYMC and Touro Medical Volunteers Go the Distance at NYC Marathon
Students and Faculty from New York Medical College and Touro University Joined Thousands of Medical Professionals to Support More Than 50,000 Runners
Along the sidelines of the New York City (NYC) Marathon are not only the friends and families cheering on the more than 50,000 runners who race to the finish line 26.2 miles away from Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, but thousands of medical volunteers prepared to assist at a moment’s notice. It takes a village to support the runners from around the globe. This year, physicians, physical therapists, podiatrists, nurses, EMTs, other health care professionals, and students took their marks at the medical tents ready to treat hundreds of patients on November 2.
New York Medical College and Touro University students and faculty were among the medical volunteers stationed at the various mile markers. For students, participation in one of the world’s major marathons provides a unique educational experience, allowing them to observe sports-related injuries firsthand within a dynamic, nontraditional clinical setting. The CPR-certified student volunteers worked alongside health care professionals from various specialties, assisting with patient triage and completing medical documentation.
“I am really interested in hands-on medical care,” said Grace Meara, SOM Class of 2028, left, who was stationed at mile 26. “I completed the Summer Emergency Medicine/Disaster Medicine Program, where we were trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and learned from paramedics about providing care in the field during emergencies. Having learned some of these skills made me feel more confident to join the medical team.”
Matthew Melamed, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of emergency medicine, knows firsthand how valuable it is for medical students to experience a high-pressure, high-reward environment early in their training. He first volunteered at the NYC Marathon as a medical student and has returned nearly every year since—serving nearly 20 races.
“I've been volunteering for years now. What brings me back each year is how we support such an amazing race and feat for 50,000 runners,” he said. He always looks forward to cheering on the racers between taking care of patients.
Medical volunteers can work up to 12 hours, tending to runners who experience dehydration, muscle cramps, and exhaustion. Despite the cold weather, Meara encountered patients who were hyperthermic to upwards of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. She and her team were able to cool them down and get them across the finish line.
“It was really awesome. I got to meet nurses, physical therapists, residents, and EMTs from all over NYC and the Greater New York area,” said Meara. “The day was electric and was a great opportunity to get some hands-on experience as a medical student. I will definitely be back next year.”
More Words from Touro University’s Team Touro Medical Volunteer Group
“Volunteering at the marathon is important to me because it represents a meaningful way to connect with the broader New York community while putting medical knowledge into practice in a real-world setting. This year marks my fourth time volunteering, and each experience reinforces how vital teamwork, preparedness, and compassion are in medicine,” said Leah Verebes, D.P.T., PT, GCS, assistant professor at Touro School of Health Sciences.
“I think volunteering at the marathon is an awesome opportunity to learn so much in such a short time. I love living and going to school in New York City so giving back to the city is exciting,” said Kaitlyn Bogucki, Touro School of Health Sciences D.P.T. Class of 2027.
“As a Touro student, giving back to my community is an integral part of my D.P.T. training, as I believe that as physical therapists, we play a crucial role in helping our community members move better and feel better daily. Getting to be on site at the marathon and help in any way I can as a medical volunteer is important to me , because I believe this opportunity gives us critical hands-on experience that I wouldn't receive otherwise. It is a great opportunity to not only learn from others but also help those in my community,” said Rebecca Donnelly, Touro School of Health Sciences D.P.T. Class of 2028
“Volunteering at the marathon is important to me because I am able to help people achieve their goal of safely completing the marathon,” Leah Wohl, Touro School of Health Sciences D.P.T. Class of 2027.
“It is important to give back to the community because these are the people we see everyday in practice. Whether we are seeing the runners themselves, or their friends or family. Getting involved is a great way to build connections and meet new people. Physical therapy is a profession where you see your patient often many times a week, so getting comfortable interacting with the community is vital to our training,” said Hunter Linnen, Touro School of Health Sciences D.P.T. Class of 2026.
“At Touro, we’re pushed to serve, think on our feet, and work as a team. In class and lab, we practice musculoskeletal assessment, red-flag screening, first aid basics, communication, and BLS. On race day, students support the medical team, helping with intake and observation, simple first aid and comfort measures, crowd flow, and handing runners off when they need a higher level of care. It’s the perfect bridge from classroom reps to real people,” said Shrey Dhiman, Touro School of Health Sciences D.P.T. Class of 2027.
