This year, more than 30,000 runners participated in the prestigious 2025 Boston Marathon held in April. With 31,670 entrants and 28,284 athletes completing the race, 98.4% of starters completed the formidable challenge-a large-scale crowd by any standard. The world-renowned athletic event required the support of 1,900 medical staff. National University of Health Sciences (NUHS)-Florida had an unprecedented opportunity: faculty and students served as part of the medical team.
While chiropractic expertise was important in the past, this was the first year that a chiropractic university was invited to assist the event, giving students a truly unique learning experience. NUHS faculty members Carlo Guadagno, DC, DACBSP, associate professor and Vasilios Nenos, DC, DIBCN, Clinical Sciences Instructor, along with 23 NUHS students (many of them members of the Sports Council) lent their leadership and chiropractic skills to support the marathon. Team NUHS served alongside allopathic members of the event’s medical team, giving students unique vantage point from which to professionally interact with their future health care peers.
For the past 13 years, Dr. Karson Mui has supported the Boston Marathon as a chiropractic physician. This year, he served as the Branch Director for Medical Sweep, with responsibility for more than five city blocks of the course, leading 130+ of the 260 medical sweep staff. Thanks to Dr. Mui’s invitation last year, Dr. Guadagno enjoyed his first year serving the Boston Marathon. His international reputation for serving Olympic teams and committed community outreach may have helped secure the opportunity for NUHS students this year.
“To put things in perspective,” said Dr. Mui, “the entire medical staff at the Boston Marathon is 1,900 strong. With our 32 faculty and students, Chiropractors and students made up 1.6% of the medical staff this year.”
“It is wonderful to see our incredibly talented NUHS faculty and amazing team of students and interns participate in an event of this caliber; I could not be more proud,” said Daniel Strauss, DC and NUHS Dean of the College of Professional Studies- Florida.
“A huge shoutout to our rockstar student leader, Liza Marszalek, who made it all possible,” said Dr. Strauss. “Without her hustle and organization, none of this would have happened.” Ms. Marszalek, a native of the Boston area, assisted by coordinating team participation and accommodations for the trip.
Dr. Mui added his praise, “The best compliment I received was the ‘students in the black hats are always smiling and happy’ – you all made me proud, and I am fortunate to call you all my equals. Dr. Guadagno and Dr. Nenos, you two are doing something right. I cannot thank you all enough! Thank you from the bottom of my heart; I am forever grateful.”
Most of the injuries students assisted in treating included sprains and strains requiring soft-tissue modalities. However, Dr. Mui commended NUHS student Dylan Parshall personally: “Dylan, I threw you into the fire and you saved a life! That runner would have died if you hadn’t jumped in and blasted through the crowds with a branch director holding c-spine, a division supervisor parting the seas and a team leader assisting on the side.”
In Illinois and Florida, NUHS students participate in community service initiatives year-round. Service projects unique to Florida include mental health, wellness and nutritional support at Vincent House; the Annual Pinellas Park Medical District Backpack Drive; the Dragon Boat Races; support (soft tissue modalities) for the employee teams at Bay Pines VA Health Center who serve veterans, and more.
“Our involvement in the Boston Marathon Medical Team showcases how NUHS is shaping the future of integrative health professions while earning respect along the way,” said Joseph P.D. Stiefel, MS, EdD, DC, President of National University of Health Sciences. “This experience not only enhances our students’ growth and learning but also makes a meaningful impact on the communities we serve through both active participation and strong leadership.”
For more Boston Marathon insights, read a medical team student’s perspective.
