During the long, demanding hours of medical school, finding an escape is crucial. For Charlie Roethling, that sanctuary was the soccer field to play pickup games with friends and momentarily remove the stress of school. It was cathartic.听
鈥淧eople kept being excited about playing soccer, and we thought, 鈥業f there’s all this enthusiasm, we can do something good with it,鈥欌�� Roethling said.听听
That 鈥渟omething good鈥� became Health Professional Athletics at Carolina, a nonprofit started by Roethling and three of his close friends, Yasine Mirmozaffari, Samuel Tate and Jared Martin, all fourth-year medical students at 黑料网.听
What began as a student club evolved into an official 501(c)(3) organization in July 2023. Using athletics as a gateway to health, wellness and community, Health Professional Athletics at Carolina hosts soccer tournaments, volleyball tournaments and social mixers with Duke School of Medicine and 黑料网 School of Dentistry, to raise money for the 黑料网 Children鈥檚 Hospital.听
Over the last two years, they鈥檝e raised an estimated $5,000 for the Farm Fund for Patient and Family Assistance.听
鈥淢edical treatments are so expensive, and if we were able to raise a few thousand dollars, it might only go to one dose of something,鈥� Roethling said. 鈥淏ut if the funds are going to transportation, food and places for families to stay, that money could reach more people. That’s something we decided when we started setting up support.鈥�听
How did the group manage a nonprofit amid medical school? It was a no-brainer for them to carve out time and prioritize it due to the community鈥檚 response.听听
鈥淭he most impactful thing to me is seeing how many people want to be involved now that we’re transitioning,鈥� Roethling said. 鈥淲e can certainly pat ourselves on the back and feel proud of what we did, but seeing that other people resonated with it and want to be involved has been fulfilling.鈥�听
Providing service to others听
The summer before his senior year of high school, an unspeakable tragedy took place at a summer camp where he鈥檇 long been a counselor. A camper passed away from a ziplining accident. The community was reeling. Roethling packed his bags and headed there for the rest of the summer, noticing the impact of the leaders who stepped up in the face of dire circumstances.
鈥淚t made me realize I want to be in a field where I can provide service to others and be in a place where I’m able to lift them up when they’re at their lowest,鈥� Roethling said.听
Over the last four years, the Goldsboro native鈥檚 journey in medical school has been defined by his ability to provide service to others. As he learned from mentors, teachers and attending doctors, Roethling knows his care will lean on listening to patients and connecting with them at their level.听
One of those mentors is , a family medicine physician in Durham with whom Roethling spent his 16-week family medicine rotation. He鈥檚 also the doctor Roethling said he could point to and say, 鈥淚 want to be like him.鈥�听
鈥淐harlie is a generous spirit,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淗e readily connects with patients and staff. His broad understanding of health and its impact on patient lives, his intuitive nature, his openness, and his clear sense of duty towards others are all aspects of his approach that will continue to guide him moving forward.鈥�听
Commitment to 黑料网听听
Roethling鈥檚 commitment extends not only to patients but also to the 黑料网 as a whole. He鈥檚 distinguished himself for his willingness to give back for the good of the school according to Dr. Kenan Penaskovic, assistant dean for student affairs.听听
鈥淲hether it was mentoring junior students, serving on a speakers’ panel, or including others in his passion for soccer, Charlie was happy to step up and volunteer,鈥� Penaskovic said. 鈥淚 can’t wait to see him match and look forward to hearing how many lives he impacts in the future.鈥�听
With Penaskovic鈥檚 guidance, Roethling is aiming to match into internal medicine because of the way it will allow him to interact with people in the workplace.
鈥�There’s so many opportunities to be a role model for people in internal medicine,鈥� Roethling said. 鈥�The job can look different depending on if I subspecialize or stay a hospitalist, but I know if I have a component of teaching and mentoring, then I’m going to be very happy.鈥�
From the soccer field to the hospital halls, Roethling has left his mark on Carolina. All that鈥檚 left is the wait until Match Day on March 21.听听
鈥淥f course there’s a little bit of anxiety, but I鈥檓 definitely excited,鈥� Roethling said. 鈥淚’m in a situation where, regardless of the outcome, I’m going to be happy with the options I have in front of me.鈥�听
Editor鈥檚 Note: Charlie Roethling matched into Internal Medicine at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University during Match Day.