Medicine has always been a way for me to serve others, while also satisfying my scientific curiosity. My desire to serve extends beyond the clinic, so I have spent a good portion of my career serving in leadership, seeking out and developing philanthropic opportunities, and finding unique ways to give back to communities I am connected to outside of medicine.
For the last two years, I have had the opportunity to serve on the Boston Marathon medical team. I am an avid runner and have completed numerous marathons and half-marathons, so this was a natural fit. I completed the Abbott World Marathon Majors 6-star program in 2024 in Tokyo, and immediately thought, now what? I decided I wanted to find a way to give back to the sport utilizing my medical knowledge and unique perspective as a fellow marathoner.
Prior to arrival, I spent hours reviewing medicine for endurance sports, parathletes, triage, and Boston's very efficient systems for race day. Elite runners, Boston qualifiers, and charity runners can go from running the race they have dreamed of to becoming patients in need of medical help very quickly at any point during or after a marathon. Physicians, PAs, nurses, physical therapists, athletic trainers, mental health specialists, EMTs, and medical students come together in teams, most of which have never worked together, to care for thousands of runners over the course of many hours and across the entirety of the race course, extending from Hopkinton, MA to Boston. We treat dehydration, muscle cramps, cardiac arrest, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, hyperthermia and heat stroke, hypothermia, orthopedic injuries, blistering on the feet, and chafing in places you can’t imagine, sunburns, and more.
The change in pace and strategy in a medical sense is exciting. We never know what will come in the door from the medical sweep team assigned to the finish-line chute. The runners are so grateful knowing that everyone there is a volunteer, giving our time to take care of them, but truly they give just as much back to us. Hearing their stories about their race, how they got there, where they are from, or empathizing with them over a missed race goal, reminds me that we all have a story. We all seek connection and understanding, especially in a time of vulnerability. Our patients in dermatology do too, and sometimes it’s as simple as finding a common interest, like running, paired with a few extra moments to make those invaluable human connections that can make all the difference. It is always worth it!
Jennifer M. Conner, MPAS, PA-C has been a dermatology PA for over 19 years and practices in Indianapolis. She served in the U.S. Army for 11 years as a medic, Medical Specialist Corps officer, and battalion physician assistant. Jennifer is a past president of the Society of Dermatology PAs, founding trustee of the Dermatology PA Foundation, and is proud to be a founding member of the Elevate Derm Scientific Advisory Board.