Upcoming Event: Field Hockey at Boston College on October 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
/
6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey
at Boston College
Jennings Represents Duke on COVID-19 Frontlines
6/15/2020 3:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
All over the world, people are fighting COVID-19 in their own ways. Whether you're an essential worker in the healthcare field, law enforcement, transportation services, grocery stores, etc., everyone is doing their part, including Tara Jennings ('12).
Jennings, a 2012 Duke graduate and four-year starter on the field hockey team, is one of many representing the Blue Devils on the frontlines. She graduated from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and is in her first year of residency in internal medicine at Lankenau Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
"Our hospital has the highest number of COVID patients in Philadelphia, so we had a major surge," Jennings said. "I was on the general medicine floor team, so I was on the first-ever COVID team in our hospital – it was me, another resident and an attending."
Although her hospital had heard about COVID-19 at the beginning of the year, she says it's not something anyone could've predicted.
"We didn't know the extent of how hard we were going to be hit and how terrible this virus has been for the elderly or those with underlying medical illnesses," Jennings said. "It's just been really awful and I think that's the part I probably wasn't prepared for…having people that are so ill and passing away with none of their families able to be there with them."
While working through this unprecedented time, Jennings says residents are on service all the time. In the beginning, she would typically work six days a week or straight through 14 days. With larger cities like Philadelphia and New York getting hit so hard, schedules are made on a weekly basis and built around the capacity of the hospitals, which gives medical professionals more time to rest.
"I'm definitely working more than I would've been, but it's what we signed up for," Jennings said. "It's a time we can step up to the plate and do what is asked of us."
Jennings says medicine is humbling and like sports – one day you feel like you have everything figured out and the next is a completely new challenge you have to overcome, especially during a global pandemic.
"I was thinking about this the other day," said Jennings. "Sports is a microcosm for life. You have these moments where there is a lot of pressure emerging and crazy scenarios where you have to stay calm. You go through highs and lows but have to keep your cool. There is a team dynamic that you have to work your way through."
During her time on the playing field at Duke, Jennings played in 78 games in which she recorded 33 points from 10 goals and 13 assists. Off the field, she was involved with the Collegiate Athlete Pre-Medical Experience (CAPE) Program. The program gives firsthand experiences and mentorship to female student-athletes interested in various medical professions.
Being involved with the program ultimately led Jennings to choosing a career in medicine. She learned how the characteristics built while playing sports could translate into a career in the medical field. As a student at Duke and since her graduation, Terry Kruger or "TK", who is the Associate Director of CAPE, has played an important role in Jennings' life.
"TK was like a second mom to me at Duke," Jennings said. "I look back at that pivotal time in my life when I was choosing a career path while being so busy with sports and school, and she was always there to give me guidance and support. It was her encouragement and support that helped me get where I am today."
The feelings were mutual. Kruger couldn't say enough about how proud she is of what Jennings has accomplished.
"She's a fireball…she's an amazing kid and worked so hard to get where she is," Kruger said. "It was her goal and if there were things in the way, we figured how to get there. She worked the same as she did on the field hockey field. She would bull over people if they were in her way, because nothing stops her, and she was going to be a doctor."
Kruger's faith in Jennings never wavered. She never doubted that she was going to accomplish her dream and isn't surprised by the work she's currently doing during this global pandemic.
"I never doubted that she would be what she is," Kruger said. "If you put the task in front of her, she is going to complete it no matter what. She is a worker and a fighter."
Head coach Pam Bustin came to Duke before the start of Jennings' senior year. Although the pair only had a year to work together, Bustin is grateful for the opportunity and saw the same qualities that Kruger saw in Jennings.
"The exterior on that young woman…she's very sweet, open and easy to talk to, but she's tough," Bustin said. "Mentally and physically so strong. That is a combination that is hard to find and one that when you do find it, it's a gem. You want to make sure you foster it and nourish it so that you can do great things like Tara is now."
Jennings attributes the way she communicates not only at work, but in life, to Bustin. During her senior year, Bustin drilled the concept that communication is key, and you have to find a way to deliver the message – to lead by example.
"I often think about the way she [Bustin] would handle things and talk to people on a day-to-day basis – especially in medicine," Jennings said. "Doctors are just one part of the team. I keep the nurses informed, techs and other consults up to date. You have to juggle a lot of different hats to keep the ball rolling so that things get done for patients. The communication skills that Pam had are things I try to emulate in my day-to-day and make me a better doctor."
The most difficult part in all of this for Jennings has been seeing her patients without their families. A normal daily routine for her would be checking in with patients and their families in their rooms, telling them the prognosis of their loved ones and guiding them to making appropriate decisions. Instead, she's taking care of the patients and adding hours onto her days by calling families to update them.
"You train to be a doctor, learn all the diseases and treatments, but you don't learn how to face scenarios like this and have to have these tough conversations with families on a daily basis. That's been the most exhausting and tough part."
Fortunately for Jennings, she comes from a family of medicine. Her father, mother and brother are all trained surgeons. One of triplets, her sister Erin, is starting her fourth year of medical school at Temple and her sister, Rachel, is an emergency medicine doctor at Vanderbilt. On top of that, her husband just graduated from Penn and is starting a surgical residency.
She's grateful to have her family to explain situations to and understand how difficult it can be. Jennings also feels lucky to have close friends in the area that aren't in medicine, giving her time to get away from it all. Like most of the country, she's hopped on the Zoom train to catch up with friends and Duke alumni.
As states are reopening, Jennings' thinks that the most important thing is to listen to what our leaders are telling us. She sympathizes with people wanting to get back to normal, but emphasizes this is an important time.
"I want people to understand that we're at the point right now where we can really flatten the curve or start a second surge," Jennings said. "Obey the rules. Be updated and knowledgeable about the guidelines – being educated is key."
Jennings, a 2012 Duke graduate and four-year starter on the field hockey team, is one of many representing the Blue Devils on the frontlines. She graduated from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and is in her first year of residency in internal medicine at Lankenau Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
"Our hospital has the highest number of COVID patients in Philadelphia, so we had a major surge," Jennings said. "I was on the general medicine floor team, so I was on the first-ever COVID team in our hospital – it was me, another resident and an attending."
Although her hospital had heard about COVID-19 at the beginning of the year, she says it's not something anyone could've predicted.
"We didn't know the extent of how hard we were going to be hit and how terrible this virus has been for the elderly or those with underlying medical illnesses," Jennings said. "It's just been really awful and I think that's the part I probably wasn't prepared for…having people that are so ill and passing away with none of their families able to be there with them."
While working through this unprecedented time, Jennings says residents are on service all the time. In the beginning, she would typically work six days a week or straight through 14 days. With larger cities like Philadelphia and New York getting hit so hard, schedules are made on a weekly basis and built around the capacity of the hospitals, which gives medical professionals more time to rest.
"I'm definitely working more than I would've been, but it's what we signed up for," Jennings said. "It's a time we can step up to the plate and do what is asked of us."
Jennings says medicine is humbling and like sports – one day you feel like you have everything figured out and the next is a completely new challenge you have to overcome, especially during a global pandemic.
"I was thinking about this the other day," said Jennings. "Sports is a microcosm for life. You have these moments where there is a lot of pressure emerging and crazy scenarios where you have to stay calm. You go through highs and lows but have to keep your cool. There is a team dynamic that you have to work your way through."
During her time on the playing field at Duke, Jennings played in 78 games in which she recorded 33 points from 10 goals and 13 assists. Off the field, she was involved with the Collegiate Athlete Pre-Medical Experience (CAPE) Program. The program gives firsthand experiences and mentorship to female student-athletes interested in various medical professions.
Being involved with the program ultimately led Jennings to choosing a career in medicine. She learned how the characteristics built while playing sports could translate into a career in the medical field. As a student at Duke and since her graduation, Terry Kruger or "TK", who is the Associate Director of CAPE, has played an important role in Jennings' life.
"TK was like a second mom to me at Duke," Jennings said. "I look back at that pivotal time in my life when I was choosing a career path while being so busy with sports and school, and she was always there to give me guidance and support. It was her encouragement and support that helped me get where I am today."
The feelings were mutual. Kruger couldn't say enough about how proud she is of what Jennings has accomplished.
"She's a fireball…she's an amazing kid and worked so hard to get where she is," Kruger said. "It was her goal and if there were things in the way, we figured how to get there. She worked the same as she did on the field hockey field. She would bull over people if they were in her way, because nothing stops her, and she was going to be a doctor."
Kruger's faith in Jennings never wavered. She never doubted that she was going to accomplish her dream and isn't surprised by the work she's currently doing during this global pandemic.
"I never doubted that she would be what she is," Kruger said. "If you put the task in front of her, she is going to complete it no matter what. She is a worker and a fighter."
Head coach Pam Bustin came to Duke before the start of Jennings' senior year. Although the pair only had a year to work together, Bustin is grateful for the opportunity and saw the same qualities that Kruger saw in Jennings.
"The exterior on that young woman…she's very sweet, open and easy to talk to, but she's tough," Bustin said. "Mentally and physically so strong. That is a combination that is hard to find and one that when you do find it, it's a gem. You want to make sure you foster it and nourish it so that you can do great things like Tara is now."
Jennings attributes the way she communicates not only at work, but in life, to Bustin. During her senior year, Bustin drilled the concept that communication is key, and you have to find a way to deliver the message – to lead by example.
"I often think about the way she [Bustin] would handle things and talk to people on a day-to-day basis – especially in medicine," Jennings said. "Doctors are just one part of the team. I keep the nurses informed, techs and other consults up to date. You have to juggle a lot of different hats to keep the ball rolling so that things get done for patients. The communication skills that Pam had are things I try to emulate in my day-to-day and make me a better doctor."
The most difficult part in all of this for Jennings has been seeing her patients without their families. A normal daily routine for her would be checking in with patients and their families in their rooms, telling them the prognosis of their loved ones and guiding them to making appropriate decisions. Instead, she's taking care of the patients and adding hours onto her days by calling families to update them.
"You train to be a doctor, learn all the diseases and treatments, but you don't learn how to face scenarios like this and have to have these tough conversations with families on a daily basis. That's been the most exhausting and tough part."
Fortunately for Jennings, she comes from a family of medicine. Her father, mother and brother are all trained surgeons. One of triplets, her sister Erin, is starting her fourth year of medical school at Temple and her sister, Rachel, is an emergency medicine doctor at Vanderbilt. On top of that, her husband just graduated from Penn and is starting a surgical residency.
She's grateful to have her family to explain situations to and understand how difficult it can be. Jennings also feels lucky to have close friends in the area that aren't in medicine, giving her time to get away from it all. Like most of the country, she's hopped on the Zoom train to catch up with friends and Duke alumni.
As states are reopening, Jennings' thinks that the most important thing is to listen to what our leaders are telling us. She sympathizes with people wanting to get back to normal, but emphasizes this is an important time.
"I want people to understand that we're at the point right now where we can really flatten the curve or start a second surge," Jennings said. "Obey the rules. Be updated and knowledgeable about the guidelines – being educated is key."
What It’s Like to Be a Blue Devil
Friday, June 13
End of Year Recap
Friday, December 13
CoachBustin Postgame: North Carolina
Sunday, November 17
Coach Bustin & Frederique Wollaert Postgame: Maryland
Friday, November 15
