New partnership enhances, expands KC’s original running event
The newly formed UMKC Health Sciences District will serve as the presenting sponsor for the Hospital Hill Run scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2.
Hospital Hill Run has a long history with many of the healthcare providers and facilities that comprise the new UMKC Health Sciences District. Partnership in the city’s oldest running event is a natural extension of those existing relationships. Participants will benefit from this expanded relationship as health providers will be working with Hospital Hill Run over the coming months to provide training tips, health and wellness information and more leading up to the event. And as in years past, medical volunteers from Truman Medical Centers, Children’s Mercy and UMKC School of Medicine will be on site for the weekend’s events to address any medical needs.
“The UMKC Health Sciences District includes a dozen health institutions along the Hospital Hill Run race routes. All of the district partners and the run share a long history of promoting health and wellness in our community, so it’s a strong, natural partnership.”
-Margaret Gibson, Hospital Hill Run medical director, assistant professor for the UMKC School of Medicine, physician affiliated with Children’s Mercy and Truman Medical Centers and the team physician for UMKC Athletics
The UMKC Health Sciences District, formed in 2017, is a cooperative partnership of 12 neighboring health-care institutions on Hospital Hill: the University of Missouri-Kansas City and its School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Health Studies, School of Pharmacy and School of Dentistry; Truman Medical Centers; Children’s Mercy; Kansas City (Mo.) Health Department; Missouri Department of Mental Health Center for Behavioral Medicine; Jackson County Medical Examiner; Diastole Scholars’ Center; and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. The district collaborates on research, grants, community outreach and shared wellness for employees, faculty, students and surrounding neighborhoods.
Now in its 45th year, Hospital Hill Run has hosted world-class runners, Olympians and more than 170,000 athletes of all levels from across the globe. This new partnership ensures that Hospital Hill Run will continue to enhance its legacy as one of the premier endurance events in the United States.
“The Hospital Hill Run was founded by Dr. E. Grey Dimond, founder of the UMKC School of Medicine, to promote health and fitness in Kansas City. This exciting partnership with the UMKC Health Sciences District will continue his vision of bringing health and wellness to the Kansas City region.”
-Beth Salinger, Hospital Hill Run race director