Beyond the classroom: NEOMED medical students serve as 2026 UH Cleveland Marathon volunteers

Volunteer opportunities at large-scale endurance races provide medical students with hands-on exposure to emergency response, hydration support, injury assessment and patient communication in a fast-paced environment.

Several NEOMED medical students supported the 2026 University Hospitals Cleveland Marathon earlier this month as volunteers for the event. These students are members of the Sports Medicine Interest Group (SMIG) at the University. They gained valuable real-world experience while helping ensure the health and safety of thousands of participants during one of Northeast Ohio’s premier athletic events. University Hospitals of Cleveland is a major NEOMED clinical partner. 

Here are the NEOMED students who participated on race day:

"I volunteered at the Cleveland Marathon because I wanted to gain firsthand experience in the field of EM [emergency medicine] and sports medicine. It was an amazing opportunity to be a part of the team and work with some of the best physicians in the area. In addition to this, I really enjoyed seeing people achieve a goal that they’ve worked so hard for — and being able to support them and help as they do it." - Andrew Bostick, M1

"Volunteering at the Cleveland Marathon is exactly what SMIG is all about: watching physicians, medical staff and students seamlessly coordinate across the finish line was a masterclass in how sports medicine teams operate. Congratulations to every racer, and a huge thank you to the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute and all the physicians who made this such a special experience."  - Aidan Kraan (M1), President of NEOMED's Sports Medicine Interest Group