Medical student turns soccer into service

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.

“People kept being excited about playing soccer, and we thought, ‘If there’s all this enthusiasm, we can do something good with it,’” Roethling said.

That “something good” 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 the UNC School of Medicine.

What began as a student club evolved into an official 501(c)(3) organization in July 2023 that uses athletics as a gateway to health, wellness and community. Health Professional Athletics at Carolina hosts soccer tournaments, volleyball tournaments and social mixers with the Duke School of Medicine and the UNC School of Dentistry to raise money for the UNC Children’s Hospital.

Over the last two years, they’ve raised an estimated $5,000 for the Farm Fund for Patient and Family Assistance.

“Medical treatments are so expensive, and if we were able to raise a few thousand dollars, it might only go to one dose of something,” Roethling said. “But 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.”

Members of the group carved out time to make it a priority due to the community’s response.

“The most impactful thing to me is seeing how many people want to be involved now that we’re transitioning,” Roethling said. “We 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.”

(Submitted photo)

Providing service to others

Over the last four years, the Goldsboro native has learned to listen to patients and connect with them at their level.

Roethling spent his 16-week family medicine rotation with Dr. Richard Moore, a Durham physician, a mentor and the doctor Roethling said he could point to and say, “I want to be like him.”

“Charlie is a generous spirit,” Moore said. “He 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.”

Roethling’s commitment extends not only to patients but also to the UNC School of Medicine.

“Whether 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,” said Dr. Kenan Penaskovic, medical school assistant dean for student affairs and interim chair of the psychiatry department. “I can’t wait to see him match and look forward to hearing how many lives he impacts in the future.”

With guidance from Penaskovic, Roethling is aiming to match into internal medicine on Match Day, March 21.

“Of course, there’s a little bit of anxiety, but I’m definitely excited,” Roethling said. “I’m in a situation where, regardless of the outcome, I’m going to be happy with the options I have in front of me.”

Read more about Charlie Roethling.