Military Medical Experts Served at the Ironman World Championship

Faculty members and students from the Uniformed Services University applied their military medical expertise in the field to support athletes at the Ironman World Championship held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

At the grueling endurance race held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, approximately 300 medical personnel and volunteers served. In this context, Retired Army Colonel Dr. Francis O'Connor served as the physician in charge managing a section of the tent, while Army Lieutenant Michael Kim and Navy Ensign Paige Sim joined the medical operation.

The team tackled unexpected conditions faced by athletes, such as severe muscle cramps, hyponatremia, and gastrointestinal issues, alongside extreme heat and humidity. This process highlighted the similarities between endurance sports medicine and military operational medicine.