By Haley Tenore 

Working in a large trauma center is about stamina, quick thinking, and calm response – a steady heartbeat is necessary for optimal performance. 

It’s the ideal arena for marathon runner Beth Broering, MSN, RN, program director of the Level I trauma center at VCU Medical Center.  

Beth Broering has competed in many competitive running races, including the New York City Marathon. (Contributed photo)Her fast-paced lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but Broering constantly seeks out the best – having high expectations for herself, her team and the quality of care her patients receive. Besides her career, Broering has another passion: running. She has become a leader in Richmond’s running community and has participated in marathons across the globe.  

“Beth brings the same intensity to her running as she does to her work, and so she's dedicated to both in that aspect,” said Michel Aboutanos, M.D., the medical director of VCU’s Level I trauma center and the Trauma System Network and director of the VCU Injury and Violence Prevention Program. 

Broering’s story starts in the Midwest. Born in Cincinnati, she attended graduate school at Duke University and Carolina’s Center trauma program and then worked at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she managed the trauma program at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.  

“In 2013, I was recruited to come to VCU,” Broering said. “I was impressed by the commitment that this organization has to patients, quality, and safety. After learning the vision for VCU, as a trauma center, that's what really allowed me to say, ‘Yes, this is the organization that I want to be a part of.’” 

Running wasn’t Broering’s first love in terms of recreation. Broering has participated in different hobbies to stay active – lifting weights, recreational softball, to name a few. Her interest in running started around 2009. Running, she thought, would be a wonderful way for her to make new friends when she moved to Richmond. 

“For anyone moving to a new city, finding activities or ways to meet individuals socially can be a bit challenging. The fact that Richmond has so many different running groups, it was a natural way to connect with others,” Broering said.  

A year after moving to Richmond, she got involved with Sports Backers and began training for marathons. Sports Backers is a Richmond organization that creates events and programming surrounding fitness.  

Broering is now one of the lead coordinators of City Stadium Runners, a local group that meets up for runs on Saturday mornings. This group welcomes runners of all backgrounds, ages and levels of fitness and holds weekly meetups from December to July. It serves to keep Richmonders active when marathon season isn’t in session.

We are bombarded all day long by challenging situations... I feel like we all must have that outlet – how do we decompress? How do we afford ourselves to step away and not think about everything that we have to do at work? 

Beth Broering, MSN, RN, program director of VCU’s Level I trauma center 

Aboutanos calls Broering his “right hand.” He said she leads a tight ship at the trauma center and helped guide the center through verification to remain at a Level I trauma center. Her dedication ensures the highest quality of care for her patients.  

“She is 100% committed, 100% dedicated to what she does. She gives everything that she has into the center. It's not about her at all. It's all about the team, and it's all about achieving what we can best achieve for our patients,” Aboutanos said. 

Aboutanos assumed the leadership of the trauma center in 2013 and recruited Broering to ensure that the trauma center was running at the highest level possible. Funny enough, when Aboutanos first contacted Broering about the role, she was out of the country running a race. 

“Beth has an extremely high standard of for herself and for the team. She’s so incredibly loyal to VCU, to what we do, but that never takes precedence ahead of what's best for the patient. These are rare qualities that she has, and it really has been an honor to work with her,” Aboutanos said. “Another aspect for her is she is consistent. There is no change depending on the weather or the mood or stress. She's consistent in her approach. And, therefore, what you see is what you get.” 

As the program director, Beth Broering oversees staff training and daily operations of the trauma center. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Running and marathon training bring a sense of work-life balance 

In 2016, Broering ran her first international race in Paris. Then, in 2019, she ran her first World Marathons race in Berlin. This race is part of seven races included in the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Broering has since completed six of the seven races in the series.  

“My training program includes running four days a week. So, I typically run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I cross-train two days a week with an elliptical, a stationary bike, a road bike, or a rowing machine. Then I also occasionally will do some weightlifting,” Broering said about her marathon training regimen.  

Running marathons isn’t just a hobby for Broering, it’s a way for her to give back. When runners sign up for certain marathons, they are required to raise money for charity. She donated the funds from one of her marathons to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in honor of her father, who died of lung cancer in 2009. 

“The Dana Farber Cancer Institute does a tremendous amount of research, just like we do here at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. They're all contributing to significant improvements in treatments and protocols and overall cancer care for all different types of cancer diagnoses,” Broering said. “Being able to, first of all, honor my father and a number of my relatives and a lot of my friends who have been treated for cancer at some point in their lifetime was a way to hopefully raise awareness, but also to give back in some way for the journey that they had to go through and to honor them.” 

[Beth] gives everything that she has into the [trauma] center. It's not about her at all. It's all about the team, and it's all about achieving what we can best achieve for our patients.  

Michel Aboutanos, M.D., the medical director of VCU’s Level I trauma center 

Running has provided Broering with a social outlet and a way to bring awareness to causes important to her. It has given her a way to balance the stress that can sometimes come with caring for trauma patients. 

“We are bombarded all day long by challenging situations. Sometimes they are difficult physically, but also mentally and emotionally,” Broering said. “We're caring for patients who have devastating injuries and potentially catastrophic illnesses. I feel like we all must have that outlet – how do we decompress? How do we afford ourselves to step away and not think about everything that we have to do at work?”

When Broering is running, it gives her a chance to explore the city, to discover new cafes or neighborhoods. Focusing on the little things throughout Richmond makes an enormous difference in Broering’s outlook.  

Sometimes, having that outlet is all someone needs to find the right balance to show up fully for those who need them the most. 

Beth Broering has raised money for cancer research while running marathons. She said these opportunities help to honor her father, loved ones and friends who have been treated for cancer. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

This story is part of a VCU Health News series called “At the Heart of Health,” which spotlights VCU Health and VCU team members whose passions outside of the workplace inspire and support the community.  

What does it mean to have a Level I trauma center? Discover what it takes to care for patients with severe trauma or burn injuries.

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