As a Class of 2026 D.O.-Ph.D. student at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Jazib Gohar is no stranger to long, grueling journeys. But this fall, he's adding another ambitious goal to his plate: running three of the major marathons in just nine weeks — all while raising thousands of dollars for cancer research.
Gohar, who completed his Ph.D. in Epidemiology last May and is now a third-year medical student at Corewell Health Lakeland, will be participating in the Sydney Marathon in Australia, the Chicago Marathon and the New York City Marathon. These aren’t just athletic challenges — they’re deeply personal missions tied to his passion for oncology.
“I love challenges, I love growth,” Gohar said. “I love pushing myself to the next level and seeing how far my mind, my body and my spirit can take me, even if it feels like I've hit my max.”
Gohar’s passion for oncology began before he started his medical school journey. At the age of 12, he lost his grandmother to breast cancer. In high school, he watched his AP English teacher’s journey with Stage IV esophageal cancer. He passed away during Gohar’s senior year. Now, as Gohar works toward becoming a physician-scientist, he is channeling that same passion into raising funds to support cancer research around the globe.
Each of the three marathons will benefit a different organization:
- Sydney Marathon (August 31): Gohar is raising $600 for the Children’s Cancer Institute in Australia.
- Chicago Marathon (October 12): Gohar aims to raise $1,500 for the American Cancer Society.
- New York City Marathon (November 2): Gohar’s goal is to raise $5,000 for the American Cancer Society.
In particular, Gohar’s commitment to the American Cancer Society (ACS) is special. Following the losses of his grandmother and AP English teacher, he channeled his grief into action through Relay for Life, a signature ACS event, and eventually rose to become president of Northwestern University’s chapter and served on the national ACS committees.
“The things that the American Cancer Society does throughout the entire spectrum of cancer and cancer care have only become more and more salient to me as I've grown as a medical student and researcher,” Gohar said. “I’m seeing my fundraising dollars go into the research that I was doing at Emory, which is so cool. It's full circle.”
Gohar’s training is driven by more than just a competitive spirit — it’s fueled by purpose. He said that every time he goes on a long run, he remembers his connection to oncology.
“I think about my grandmother. I think about my AP English teacher. I think about those in my life who have beat cancer,” he said. “There's so many mental, physical and emotional interconnections between running and oncology, and I feel like it's such a perfect fit for me.”
Balancing long training runs with research and medical school is no easy feat, but Gohar remains undeterred. He’s even inviting the Spartan community to join him in the cause by donating to his fundraising pages.
To support Gohar’s efforts or learn more about his fundraising campaigns, visit: