Episode 47: Dr. John Jardine - Revolutionizing Athlete Treatment at the Falmouth Road Race

Every summer in Falmouth, Massachusetts, thousands of runners push their bodies to the edge in one of the most iconic road races in America. Behind the scenes, a world-class medical team stands ready to respond to everything from dehydration to life-threatening heat stroke. At the center of it all is Dr. John Jardine - Emergency Medicine Physician, Medical Director of the Falmouth Road Race, and Chief Medical Officer at the Korey Stringer Institute.In this episode, Dr. Cameron Roth and Andrew Rizza sit down with Dr. Jardine live from NATA 2025 to explore how decades of emergency medicine, research, and innovation have shaped the gold standard for athlete safety. From his early days as a New York EMT and Paramedic to leading medical operations at Falmouth for over twenty years, Dr. Jardine shares how real-world experience meets cutting-edge science in the treatment of exertional heat illness.He breaks down how his team developed and implemented cold-water immersion protocols that have saved countless lives, the evolution of on-site medical coverage for endurance events, and how collaborations with the Korey Stringer Institute are revolutionizing the care of athletes, laborers, and even warfighters worldwide.Dr. Jardine also offers insights into real-time analytics, field triage, and communication strategies that make large-scale events like Falmouth safer each year. His leadership and research continue to drive new standards in emergency response, proving that preparedness, precision, and passion can truly save lives.Meet The GuestDr. John Jardine - Emergency Medical Physician, Medical Director Falmouth Road Race, Chief Medical Officer Corey Stringer Institute Topics Discussed Falmouth RaceCold Water Emersion Revolutionizing Athlete TreatmentsHighlights:0:00 Intro0:30 Welcome to NATA 20250:33 Planning Medical Coverage2:48 Coverage Evolution4:55 Korey Stringer Institute6:40 Emergency response8:20 Implementing the standard9:55 Heat Illness Signs11:05 Starting Rapid Cooling15:10 Ambulance Communication16:30 Event Preparation17:45 Treating a visibly distressed athlete19:10 Chronic Conditions20:10 Expectation tips21:15 Integrating analytics22:35 Falmouth experience24:20 Success26:10 Future of Korey Stringer InstituteQuotes:3:04 “The world is heating up.”5:00 “The best and quickest way to cool somebody is cold water immersion.”10:21 “There really is no reason they shouldn’t be doing it.”12:11 “The organ system that’s first affected by heat is the central nervous system.”16:01 “Cold water immersion doesn’t necessarily have to be in a tub.”18:10 “Hypohydration or dehydration is certainly a precursor for heat stroke.”22:28 “We want a cooling rate that’s going to cool them as quickly as possible.”30:03 “We send 90% of our people home from the tent.”The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.Do you want to Get Well, Get Healthy, Look Your Best, Feel your Best? Then you need GeT Raw! A special blend, including ginger and turmeric to assist with Inflammation, Digestion, Immunity Cognition.Met One Technologies: Enhancing healthcare quality and patient outcomes through innovative medical device solutions, driven by a commitment to excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.