Dr. Faizan Shakeel, Medical Director for Advocate Sherman Hospital's emergency department, is no stranger to hard work. And he's taking on a new challenge – running his first marathon in this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon Oct. 13.
As an avid basketball player and soccer dad, Dr. Shakeel appreciates the level of time, training and discipline required to conquer the grueling 26.2 miles. After a successful test run at the Chicago Spring Half Marathon earlier this year, he feels ready to tackle the full course.
"It's a bucket list item for sure," Dr. Shakeel says. "It’s always been something I’ve wanted to do, and the half-marathon proved I can go the distance without crashing and burning."
A friendly sibling rivalry is fueling Dr. Shakeel's marathon ambitions. His older sister, an experienced marathon runner, has long been known as the family's resident runner. Now, Dr. Shakeel is lacing up his sneakers to see if he can go the distance.
“It’s all love, competing against my sister,” Dr. Shakeel explains. “Her drive inspires me to set new and challenging goals for myself unapologetically, and this year’s race is just the beginning of us embracing challenges together.”
Despite his erratic ED schedule of early mornings, late nights and weekend shifts, Dr. Shakeel is committed to training every moment he can to ensure his body is in peak condition for the event. He hits the pavement at least three days a week, often zoning out to audiobooks, to prepare for race day.
In addition to running his first marathon, Dr. Shakeel is fundraising for Advocate Health Care’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs, aiming to strengthen these essential services and expand access to specialized care for those who experience sexual assault. SANE trained nurses provide compassionate care to survivors, supporting them both emotionally and physically during the critical evidentiary exam.
"SANE certification requires at least 40 hours of advanced training beyond nurses' regular health care expertise," Dr. Shakeel explains. "I'm running with Team Advocate to help cover the costs of this crucial training, ensuring every nurse has the skills to deliver the sensitive, comprehensive care these patients need."
SANE nurses ensure survivors receive the support and guidance they require, without being further traumatized by the exam process. They collect higher-quality forensic evidence, which can be crucial if the patient decides to pursue legal action.
"Every survivor deserves access to compassionate, professional care after a traumatic assault,” Dr. Shakeel says. “As an emergency department physician for the past 10 years, I've witnessed a significant shift in the care provided to survivors. Hospitals are now allocating more resources toward this special patient population, and I want to be a part of this important movement.”
Advocate Health Care provides comprehensive, no-cost emergency forensic care and support services for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking – all delivered by SANE-certified nurses across Illinois.
"We are deeply grateful to Dr. Shakeel for recognizing and validating the vital work our SANE nurses do in supporting every patient who experiences sexual or domestic violence," says Belinda Boyle, Director of SANE/FNE services for Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. "Dr. Shakeel's awareness that these resources are crucial for survivor recovery, and his vocal support, will serve as a catalyst to encourage other physicians to get excited about and bring awareness to this crucial mission."
Support Dr. Shakeel and other Team Advocate runners with a donation to their cause today.