Running for Disaster Medicine Preparedness

How do you tell a man his life will never be the same?

I walked into the ICU room with the same introduction I’d used a hundred times before: calm, steady, practiced. Today felt different. He sat there, a young man upright in his hospital bed, with his face swollen and bruised from an excavator’s arm that had swung too far, too fast.

I asked him how he was feeling, though I already knew the answer.

His chart told a clear story: multiple facial fractures, vision loss in one eye, and a long road of surgeries and therapy ahead. But nothing captures the gravity of what he had lost, or the resilience it would take to rebuild his life.

I left the room reminded of the urgent need for preparedness in medicine. These disasters strike without warning, demanding systems, training, and resources ready to respond.

Support the Center for Disaster Medicine at MGH

My name is Ian Shogren, and I am a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Emergency Department at Massachusetts General Hospital. Every day, I witness the life-saving care MGH provides and the difference it makes in our patients' lives. Before this role, I worked as an EMT, where I learned firsthand how moments of crisis define the care we deliver—and how vital preparedness is to saving lives. This year, I am running the Boston Marathon with a goal of raising $8,000 to support the Center for Disaster Medicine (CDM) at MGH, combining my passion for healthcare with this meaningful cause.

The CDM leads efforts to ensure readiness for emergencies, whether it’s a natural disaster, a public health crisis, or a large-scale accident. Their work strengthens communities locally, regionally, and nationally, from training responders to consulting with hospitals worldwide.

Donations make this possible. They fund the equipment, supplies, and training that disaster responders need to save lives.

For me, supporting the CDM is personal. Patients like the young man I met in the ICU remind me how crucial this work is—not just for those in immediate crisis but for the resilience of entire communities. By supporting the CDM, you’re strengthening healthcare systems across the United States and ensuring that more lives can be saved when disaster strikes.

When you contribute, you’re building a future where we’re all better prepared for the unexpected. Thank you for being part of that.

FAQ:

What is Mass General's tax Identification number?

EIN: 04-1564655

How can I submit an offline donation?

Offline donations can be mailed or delivered to the following address:

Mass General Marathon Team

c/o MGH Development

125 Nashua Street, Suite 540

Boston, MA 02114

Checks should be made payable to MGH.

Please be sure to include the name of the runner (Ian S.K. Shogren) in the memo of the check or with a note accompanying the check.