University Hospitals Named Title Sponsor of the Cleveland Marathon

Innovations in Orthopaedics Summer 2025

This May marked University Hospitals' first year as the official title sponsor of the Cleveland Marathon. The multi-year commitment furthers the longstanding relationship between the two organizations. Since 2015, the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute has served as the official health care provider for the event.

Jeffrey Luk, MD

James Voos, MD

“While we have been involved with the Cleveland Marathon as their medical partner for many years, this is the first time we have had the opportunity to serve as the title sponsor,” says James Voos, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals, the Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at University Hospitals and Executive Director of the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center. “The event brings out the best sports medicine experts at University Hospitals and our UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute, who come together to take care of the athletes and make sure race day is as safe as possible.”

Since 1978, half a million runners have taken part in the Cleveland Marathon. The event ranks among the 50 oldest marathons in the U.S. and annually generates over $15 million to support the Cleveland community. This year, more than 11,000 racers participated in Northeast Ohio’s premier distance running event, held on May 18. Races included a marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K, Kids’ Fun Run and the Challenge Series.

Jeffrey Luk, MD, continues to serve as medical director for the marathon. Dr. Luk is a physician specializing in emergency medicine and EMS. He serves as Director of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and is an Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

“The Cleveland Marathon is a highlight for participants that brings people to our city,” Dr. Luk says. “The weather was quite good this year, which was fortunate in terms of limiting medical complications.”

Approximately 100 specialists from University Hospitals were available on race day this year to handle medical incidents, ranging from minor scrapes and strains to more serious events, such as heat stroke or cardiac events. “We are very well staffed with fixed and mobile assets,” Dr. Luk says. “This is a robust medical program that we are continuously improving.”

Embedded along the course are emergency and sports medicine physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, event medicine nurses, paramedics, athletic trainers and physical therapists, as well as fellows, residents and students. “In addition to our main medical staging area, we co-locate medical stations at each of the 14 water stops,” Dr. Luk says.

Specialized equipment — including an ice dunk tank and mass casualty kits — is on hand, along with staff monitoring the course on bicycles and all-terrain vehicles. Physicians Ambulance partners on race day to provide emergency transport if needed.

A centralized number for emergency communications is augmented through a partnership with Amateur Radio Emergency Services. “The marathon is a sporting event, but it is also a mass gathering, with tens of thousands of runners and spectators along a 26.2-mile course,” Dr. Luk says. “From an event medicine perspective, we focus on the operational layout, communications and staffing to make sure everyone has a safe race day.”

Health & Fitness Expo

On Friday and Saturday of race weekend, University Hospitals presented the Cleveland Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, a free event open to the public that showcased race sponsors, health screenings, wellness information, apparel and other vendors. Among the 50 booths were representatives from University Hospitals, including:

• UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute
• UH Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute
• UH Digestive Health Institute
• UH Cutler Center for Men
• UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

“We were proud to have many of our medical specialties in attendance,” Dr. Voos says. “The expo provided a great opportunity to raise awareness of our programs that help deliver comprehensive care for these runners and their families.”

UH Team Members Join the Races

In addition to the coordinated efforts of University Hospitals volunteers to keep everyone safe, many others showed up as participants. “It was exciting to see so many of our employees running in one of the events,” Dr. Voos says. “The Cleveland Marathon showcases our wonderful city, and it is inspiring to not only provide world-class care for the athletes but also celebrate our team members who join in the race.”

For more information, contact Dr. Luk at Jeffrey.Luk@UHhospitals.org.

Contributing Experts:
Jeffrey Luk, MD
Director, Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
Program Director, EMS Fellowship
Distinguished Attending Physician/Senior Attending Physician
EMS Medical Director, UH EMS Training and Disaster Preparedness Institute
Director, Event Medicine, UH Sports Medicine Institute
Lead Emergency Response Physician, Cleveland Browns
Medical Director, UH System Emergency Management
Department of Emergency Medicine
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Associate Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

James Voos, MD
Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Executive Director
University Hospitals Haslam Sports Innovation Center
Jack and Mary Herrick Distinguished Chair, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Charles H. Herndon Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Head Team Physician, Cleveland Browns
Medical Director, Cleveland Ballet