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Gabby Thomas has shared her lifelong dream of opening a hospital, combining her passion for healthcare and health equity with her influential platform as an athlete to address disparities.
Triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas has always been more than an elite athlete; she is a force for social change with a passion for healthcare.
Beyond her victories on the track, Thomas is making strides toward transforming health access and battling racial disparities in healthcare.
The 27-year-old sprinter and medical professional is as focused on addressing healthcare inequities as she is on winning races.
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In a recent episode of the podcast Set and Pace, recorded live at the TCS New York City Marathon Expo, Thomas spoke passionately about how her platform as a professional athlete allows her to champion health equity causes.
“Well, having this platform has been incredible because it does give you the opportunity to raise awareness and kind of start conversations that I've been always kind of passionate about,” Thomas shared.
“So before I became a professional athlete, I wanted to go into healthcare, and I wanted to go into non-profit space, and one day, run my own hospital, and address health disparities.”
Thomas, who graduated from Harvard University with a degree in neurobiology and global health and later earned a master’s in public health specializing in epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center, has always dreamed of combining her love for healthcare and community service.
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When she is not competing Thomas serves at the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic in Austin, Texas, where she provides medical care to people without access to traditional healthcare.
The talented sprinter discussed her aim to combat healthcare disparities and promote health equity.
“So there are so many racial disparities in health care that exist today that I wanted to go and combat,” Thomas explained.
“And so [I] began by having a platform to talk about those issues, to share with people what I do in epidemiology, what I do with healthcare, what I do at the clinic in Austin, which is provide people with healthcare who don't have access to it.”
Her expertise in neurobiology, which she describes as critical to her success as an athlete, also aids her pursuit of broader health goals.
Following her stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, where she clinched three gold medals—one in the women’s 200m and two in relay events—Thomas credited her academic background for her ability to excel under pressure.
“I have a really strong foundation on that, and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to pursue neurobiology as my major,” Thomas told CNN.
“Having that deep understanding of it I think has really helped me in my track career as well because I understand what it takes to get to this level.”
Her efforts off the track are fueled by her belief in a healthcare system without discrimination. Health equity, for Thomas, is not just a professional interest but a personal mission.
“I understand the mindset, I understand all those little things that make a big difference, and the mindset is a difference stream to being on the podium or not,” she said.
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In a conversation with NBC News, Thomas described how balancing her healthcare career with athletics enriches her life and fuels her competitive edge.
“Having a career outside track and field has helped in my success as a professional athlete,” she shared.
She firmly believes that her dual roles not only strengthen her athletic performance but also empower her to be an agent of change in healthcare.
Her dream of one day running her own hospital to tackle healthcare disparities reveals a champion’s heart not only in sports but in service.
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