Community service takes many forms at Stony Brook Medicine.

One of the most  unusual is a group that has volunteered for the past two years at the New York City Marathon.

The team from Stony Brook Medicine comes to the aid of runners and walkers who venture through the five boroughs of New York.

This dedicated group of internal medicine residents, nurse practitioners from the Rapid Response Team, Emergency Room residents, nurses and pulmonary critical care fellows has served as medical team volunteers to help keep the thousands of runners on their feet.

The event offers a great opportunity to practice mass casualty situations, including how to triage patients quickly and efficiently.

The Stony Brook Medicine volunteers welcome the opportunity to showcase their talent on one of the largest stages in the sporting world. Their participation in the race serves as a reflection of the health care treatment at Stony Brook University Hospital, where various disciplines come together for the patients’ benefit and a common goal.

The New York City Marathon is a 26.2 mile race with a course that runs through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. More than 50,000 runners compete in the annual test of strength and determination.