Students Step in to Help Save a Life

Three students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) and one from the School of Health Professions, along with Associate Professor of Family Medicine Matthew Heller (B.S. ’08, D.O. ’11), provided lifesaving medical care at The Beat Down 15, a mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing event hosted in Wantagh, N.Y.

What started as an effort to keep an eye out for anyone needing medical attention quickly turned into an all-hands-on-deck situation as a 19-year-old male athlete collapsed during the second round of a kickboxing bout.

As the bout was stopped, third-year medical student Sabrina Paolo, fourth-year medical students Rohan Sundaran and Michael Akhavan, third-year physician assistant studies student Nicholette Benke, and Heller jumped into action alongside emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

On initial evaluation, the athlete was unresponsive, posturing (making involuntary body movements), and had a weak pulse. Akhavan manually stabilized the athlete’s head and neck, assisted the other students in removing his headgear and securing a cervical collar, and placed automated external defibrillator (AED) pads on his chest, but the kickboxer became limp and exhibited no signs of life.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated while the team ensured the AED’s proper placement and connection. After nearly 10 seconds of CPR, compressions were paused to allow the AED to analyze the heart rhythm; during this time, the athlete gasped for air and spontaneously resumed breathing, although he remained unresponsive. Akhavan then placed an oxygen mask and monitored his airway.

The students helped secure the patient to a backboard and navigated him onto a stretcher. Prior to his ambulatory departure, the athlete became responsive and alert, answering questions and becoming aware of his situation.

“I feel extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to learn these medical skills, and I’m deeply proud that I was able to apply them effectively when it truly mattered,” Akhavan says. “This was a powerful experience that demonstrated just how integral clear communication, composure, and seamless teamwork are during a life-or-death crisis.”

In addition to supporting the emergency response, Benke communicated with the kickboxer’s coaches and team members throughout the emotional, high-stress moment.

“Being involved in a real-life cardiac emergency was both intense and incredibly meaningful,” Benke reflects. “In school, we spend a great deal of time learning how to recognize and respond to medical emergencies, but being present when those skills are needed in a real situation puts that training into an entirely different perspective.”

Heller connected with the athlete during his recovery and reports that the man feels well and has not experienced any apparent complications from the incident. The kickboxer awaits medical clearance before returning to training but remains uncertain whether he will pursue competitive fighting in the future.

“The students’ actions demonstrated exceptional composure, teamwork, and professionalism under challenging circumstances,” Heller says. “The team’s ability to recognize the severity of the situation, initiate CPR without hesitation, attach the AED, and work effectively alongside EMTs was critical to providing the athlete with timely emergency care.”

Heller notes that how the athletic event unfolded underscores an essential responsibility of healthcare professionals: actively serving communities. He says the night demonstrates the importance of physicians’ commitment to community service and to advancing lifesaving initiatives such as CPR education and awareness.

“You never know when you will be needed to jump into action in your role [as a medical professional],” says Paolo. “This experience taught me that in a life-threatening situation, effective teamwork depends on each person knowing their responsibilities, communicating clearly, and being prepared to act when needed.”

Matthew Heller contributed to this article.