In his second year at the College of Medicine, a Buckeye student-athlete is teaming with The James to take his triathlon career to new heights while spreading the word about Ohio State’s work to create a cancer-free world. Matthew Marquardt, a Cincinnati native, began competing in triathlons after completing his run as a collegiate swimmer during his undergraduate studies at Princeton University. The change has proved to be successful, with Marquardt winning several major amateur and age group competitions, including Ironman competitions in April, June and July of 2022. While working with The James, Marquardt plans to use his platform and knowledge to help educate the public on cancer prevention practices and other healthy behaviors. When he’s not running, biking and swimming, Marquardt pursues his true passion at Ohio State, where he works toward a career as a surgeon while helping to improve the health of people all over the world. Read on to meet Matthew, and learn more about his academic and athletic endeavors, and how he is supporting The James. What led you to pursue a career in medicine? “In my early college years, I was struggling to meet my athletic goals as a swimmer. In fact, I was getting slower with each season. This was very disappointing after winning three Ohio high school swimming state championships and competing at the 2016 US Olympic Trials. I experienced constant fatigue and poor performance despite my best efforts to maximize my training and recovery. After a year searching for a solution, I was evaluated by a sleep specialist, and the test results shocked me — sleep apnea. As a result of the personal growth, I experienced while navigating the diagnosis and treatment, I committed to becoming a physician. My struggle with sleep apnea taught me the incredible value of good health and helped me discover my sense of calling to help those who are sick through some of their hardest days to regain a good quality of life. “I ultimately chose The Ohio State College of Medicine because I believe that it is the highest value medical education available. I knew that coming to Ohio State would provide me with a broad exposure to different specialties and diseases while also allowing me to dive deep into whatever area I grew the most passionate about. Plus, I was excited by the prospect of having access to research opportunities and training at one of the largest cancer centers in the nation, The Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Ohio State was also very attractive to me because I wanted a high level of school spirit, and few institutions can beat Ohio State when it comes to school pride.” What inspires you to join the effort to create a cancer-free world? “Cancer has been a near constant presence in my life since high school when my childhood friend Kila was diagnosed with pediatric leukemia. It was heartbreaking to watch her life get turned upside down in a matter of hours — admitted to the hospital, unable to attend school or see friends. I knew little about cancer or how it was treated, so it was shocking to me that her treatments extended across days, weeks and then months. I was inspired at how much medicine was able to do for her, and all I wanted to do was find a way to help her and others in similar situations. “Since Kila was first diagnosed with cancer, a swimming mentor developed oropharyngeal cancer and then prostate cancer, and my uncle experienced bladder cancer. While treatment was challenging, each of them survived. Unfortunately, positive outcomes are not always the case, my grandma was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in February 2022. At the time of the diagnosis, I was frustrated it wasn’t caught sooner, sad that someone I love had to fight this challenge and determined to help her live out her final days with the highest possible quality of life. She was initially given three months to live, but after seeking a second opinion at a top cancer center, she received a treatment that extended her life by a few more months, during which she was blessed with great health and able to see the family and do the final things that she wanted to do. “Six months after the original diagnosis, my grandmother passed away peacefully an hour before the start of the opening ceremony for Pelotonia, making the next day’s ride one of the most impactful and emotional of my life. When I crossed the finish line, I couldn’t help but break down into tears thinking about her and everyone else who has been impacted by cancer.” How did you become involved in triathlon competition? “I participated in a few triathlons while I was growing up, and always assumed I would return to those competitions in my 30s or 40s. In 2021, though, my senior swim season was canceled because of COVID-19, so I was looking for something to train for and keep me in shape through college graduation. My college swimming teammate was training for a half Ironman race, so I decided that I might as well join him. In February 2021, I signed up for my first major triathlon race, Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast scheduled for May 2021. My friend connected me with his triathlon coach Andrew Yoder who has been instrumental in my success. I went into that first race believing that it would most likely be a “one and done,” but I finished 4th out of 1,400 competitors in a time of 4 hours 5 minutes and punched my ticket to both the national and the world championships.” “That summer, I spent around six weeks traveling and mountain biking out West before I raced in the USA Triathlon National Championship the day before I started medical school. I won a national title for my age group and placed fourth overall out of 2,200 participants. I then went on to win a silver medal at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, two months into my first year of medical school.” “With encouragement from my coach and some reflection, I realized that triathlon was an opportunity too good to pass up. We decided that I would train hard over the winter (~17-25 hours per week), see how the 2022 season went and if things went well, I would turn professional for the 2023 season. Maybe my coach saw it coming, but the 2022 season has gone way better than I ever imagined. While the 2022 season is not yet over, the highlight so far has been an overall amateur title at Ironman Lake Placid where I won by over 50 minutes in a time of 8 hours 25 minutes.” Why are you excited to partner with The James? “The opportunity to partner with The James is a dream come true. When it became apparent that I might be able to be sponsored for triathlon, I thought about how I could approach sponsorship differently. I wanted a partner who aligned with my personal values and goals, would help me use triathlon to make a difference in the lives of others and understood the unique challenges that I would face as a medical student-triathlete. The James fits all of those criteria and more. “More importantly, The James provides hope — hope for those individuals across Columbus, the state and the entire country who receive one of the most feared diagnoses of their life —cancer. The James provides hope that their lives are not over — hope for a future where cancer is no longer associated with words such as fear, pain and loss.” What are your goals for your medical career? “With each passing month, I feel increasingly certain that I will pursue a surgical specialty. From my early days building Lego creations, I have always enjoyed working with my hands. Plus, I love solving complex problems and creating innovative new approaches and solutions. This has led me to be particularly attracted to head and neck surgery and neurosurgery. Outside of the operating room, I will complete the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Global Health here at Ohio State to understand how to conduct medicine in low resource settings, and I am considering an MBA so I can learn valuable business skills and approaches and bring them to medicine. “During my medical career, I hope to work at an academic center like Ohio State’s with an environment energized by constant learning, cutting-edge research and innovation. A career in academic medicine will enable me to collaborate alongside other specialties, as well as to teach and mentor future generations of surgeons. My goals are not only to treat patients, but also to improve healthcare quality and delivery, advance medical education and enhance the greater community in which I live.”