Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Final
Women's Soccer
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vs #1 Stanford
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
Groff's Dual Passion for Soccer and Medicine
11/4/2024 6:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.-- Balancing a rigorous academic lifestyle on top of a rigorous athletic program can be seen as nearly impossible for many. For those who truly put their minds and best efforts into taking on both of these factors are hard to find, but these student-athletes are not all that impossible to find.
Katie Groff fits this mold.
Balancing her rigorous soccer schedule with her aspirations in the medical field, Groff has charted a path that intertwines both passions seamlessly.
As a member of the Duke women's soccer team and a newly certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), she embodies the spirit of determination and versatility.
Groff's journey into the medical field began last summer, inspired by her involvement in Duke's CAPE Program. Collegiate Athlete Premedical Experience, or "CAPE", is a unique mentoring program at Duke that provides female student-athletes unparalleled exposure to the field of medicine.
Groff recognized the need for hands-on experience, specifically patient interaction, and decided to pursue EMT certification.
"I knew I wanted to try and become an EMT last summer, but the program overlapped with finals, and I ended up doing the CAPE internship instead. So I knew I wanted to do it, but it ended up working out better for this summer because it was a really intensive time commitment. The reasoning behind it was that I've been in the CAPE program a while, and have been speaking with doctors and being introduced to more specifics of medicine, but I haven't had real patient interaction. So I thought that this would be a unique way to get some clinical experience of actually taking patients in my own hands and helping them in the field."
The training was intensive, spanning three weeks with a demanding schedule, with the first 10 days being 10 hours straight on Zoom, followed by 11 days of in-person training in Wilmington. The experience culminated in practical exams, where Groff practiced using medical equipment and stabilized patients in simulated scenarios.
Upon passing her exams, she officially became a certified EMT.
But Groff's ambition doesn't stop at just becoming an EMT. She has her eyes set on a future in medicine, potentially as a doctor.
The thrill of emergency medicine and immediate patient care captivated Groff, where her initial ride-along experience solidified her decision.
Responding to a trauma call, Groff was faced with a real-life emergency -- a man who had fallen from a height, presenting with severe injuries.
"You show up and there's no time to react or you know you kind of have to just immediately start treating the patient. As an EMT, you don't have to make any diagnosis. Our priority is to stabilize the patient, minimize pain and get them to the hospital. So, it was really interesting to be involved in that on one of my first ride a longs where I saw something where I was like, 'Oh, that would be the moment, immediate treatment kind of experience'," she recalled.
Groff's passion for medicine runs deep in her family.
Her mother, an OB-GYN who completed both her undergraduate and residency at Duke, along with her grandfather, a pediatric surgeon, and her grandmother, a nurse, have all profoundly influenced her aspirations in the field.
"I've grown up hearing their stories and knowing about the commitment that doctors have to their patients and that never really scared me," she shared. "My mom works as an OB-GYN, people have babies all the time, on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, I've witnessed, she prioritizes that at times in her life. It never seemed scary to me to have to think about doing that in the future, but inspiring."
Groff's journey through Duke's CAPE Program has enriched her understanding of the medical field and allowed her to forge valuable connections.
The community she has built within Duke has provided her with a supportive network as she navigates the challenges of being both a student-athlete and an aspiring medical professional.
"It's been so fun and just an experience that I don't think I could have had at any other college. The doctors that come to the CAPE meetings provide so much information to us. But then the CAPE internship itself let me shadow a different doctor and a different specialty for six weeks, so I saw 30 different people and made those connections, and whether it was something I felt like I could totally see myself doing or not, I gained something from that day," recalled Groff. "Having the connections in the CAPE program has been so amazing. and I'm saying it's fun too, because I gained that community from being a female athlete at Duke, which I just don't think many people have the opportunity to do."
Groff recently had the opportunity to ride along as a third rider, meaning that there was a paramedic and an advanced EMT. As luck would have it, the advanced EMT was a Duke grad who offered advice on gaining footing in the medical industry.
Groff reflected on her experience on this ride, saying:
"This was my first ride being an official certified EMT, and so they trusted me when we got the patient in the ambulance to go ahead with the next steps, getting baseline vitals and talking the patient through what we were doing. The patient was a seven year old boy, so I felt like it was one of those moments where he trusted me and trusted all of us that were taking care of him."
The young boy suffered a leg laceration, relying on Groff to not only aid in his injury but to also calm his nerves.
"I was talking to him taking baseline vitals and the guy I was working with, that's also the Duke grad, was awesome with the kid. He would take those latex gloves you have and he would blow them up to make like animals," laughed Groff. "It helped calm the kid down and when we got to the hospital and set him up there, you could just tell that from the moment that we arrived on scene to getting him bleeding, controlled latex glove animal in hand, he had really calmed down and felt safe and taken care of, and so that was super rewarding to be a part of that ride."
The opportunity to grow within the medical field has also allowed for Groff to grow in her own personal life, especially this past year with her family.
Groff's grandmother had suffered a stroke and hip injury over a year ago, causing assistance to be deemed necessary.
Initially, Groff was hesitant to step in and aid in the process of moving her grandmother around, but upon gaining her experience within her EMT training and CAPE Program, a new confidence was discovered.
"With my EMT training, I felt more confident in helping my family move her around from hospital bed to wheelchair to getting her over to the table for dinners that I can go to because I live close by. So even though I'm not going on many rides with my EMT certification, I have that confidence to be involved in her care a little bit more."
Groff as been doing all of this while also competing for the No. 1 ranked Duke women's soccer team. Groff helped the Blue Devils capture just the fourth ACC Regular Season title in program history and leads Duke into the ACC Championship semifinals Thursday, Nov. 7.
Over the last five seasons, Groff has started 76-of-86 matches and helped lead Duke to an impressive 48 shutouts on the defensive end. She has also scored two goals in each of her last four years while adding seven assists from the defensive side.
As her fifth-year progresses, Groff is focused on refining her skills both on the soccer field and in the ambulance.
With her sights set on gaining further EMT experience while continuing to excel in soccer, she exemplifies the balance between ambition and passion. As Groff continues to weave her two passions together, she serves as a reminder that with determination, it's possible to pursue multiple dreams and make a meaningful impact in both the athletic and medical fields.
Duke next faces fourth-seeded North Carolina Thursday at 8 p.m., live on the ACC Network at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Katie Groff fits this mold.
Balancing her rigorous soccer schedule with her aspirations in the medical field, Groff has charted a path that intertwines both passions seamlessly.
As a member of the Duke women's soccer team and a newly certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), she embodies the spirit of determination and versatility.
Groff's journey into the medical field began last summer, inspired by her involvement in Duke's CAPE Program. Collegiate Athlete Premedical Experience, or "CAPE", is a unique mentoring program at Duke that provides female student-athletes unparalleled exposure to the field of medicine.
Groff recognized the need for hands-on experience, specifically patient interaction, and decided to pursue EMT certification.
"I knew I wanted to try and become an EMT last summer, but the program overlapped with finals, and I ended up doing the CAPE internship instead. So I knew I wanted to do it, but it ended up working out better for this summer because it was a really intensive time commitment. The reasoning behind it was that I've been in the CAPE program a while, and have been speaking with doctors and being introduced to more specifics of medicine, but I haven't had real patient interaction. So I thought that this would be a unique way to get some clinical experience of actually taking patients in my own hands and helping them in the field."
The training was intensive, spanning three weeks with a demanding schedule, with the first 10 days being 10 hours straight on Zoom, followed by 11 days of in-person training in Wilmington. The experience culminated in practical exams, where Groff practiced using medical equipment and stabilized patients in simulated scenarios.
Upon passing her exams, she officially became a certified EMT.
But Groff's ambition doesn't stop at just becoming an EMT. She has her eyes set on a future in medicine, potentially as a doctor.
The thrill of emergency medicine and immediate patient care captivated Groff, where her initial ride-along experience solidified her decision.
Responding to a trauma call, Groff was faced with a real-life emergency -- a man who had fallen from a height, presenting with severe injuries.
"You show up and there's no time to react or you know you kind of have to just immediately start treating the patient. As an EMT, you don't have to make any diagnosis. Our priority is to stabilize the patient, minimize pain and get them to the hospital. So, it was really interesting to be involved in that on one of my first ride a longs where I saw something where I was like, 'Oh, that would be the moment, immediate treatment kind of experience'," she recalled.
Groff's passion for medicine runs deep in her family.
Her mother, an OB-GYN who completed both her undergraduate and residency at Duke, along with her grandfather, a pediatric surgeon, and her grandmother, a nurse, have all profoundly influenced her aspirations in the field.
"I've grown up hearing their stories and knowing about the commitment that doctors have to their patients and that never really scared me," she shared. "My mom works as an OB-GYN, people have babies all the time, on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, I've witnessed, she prioritizes that at times in her life. It never seemed scary to me to have to think about doing that in the future, but inspiring."
Groff's journey through Duke's CAPE Program has enriched her understanding of the medical field and allowed her to forge valuable connections.
The community she has built within Duke has provided her with a supportive network as she navigates the challenges of being both a student-athlete and an aspiring medical professional.
"It's been so fun and just an experience that I don't think I could have had at any other college. The doctors that come to the CAPE meetings provide so much information to us. But then the CAPE internship itself let me shadow a different doctor and a different specialty for six weeks, so I saw 30 different people and made those connections, and whether it was something I felt like I could totally see myself doing or not, I gained something from that day," recalled Groff. "Having the connections in the CAPE program has been so amazing. and I'm saying it's fun too, because I gained that community from being a female athlete at Duke, which I just don't think many people have the opportunity to do."
Groff recently had the opportunity to ride along as a third rider, meaning that there was a paramedic and an advanced EMT. As luck would have it, the advanced EMT was a Duke grad who offered advice on gaining footing in the medical industry.
Groff reflected on her experience on this ride, saying:
"This was my first ride being an official certified EMT, and so they trusted me when we got the patient in the ambulance to go ahead with the next steps, getting baseline vitals and talking the patient through what we were doing. The patient was a seven year old boy, so I felt like it was one of those moments where he trusted me and trusted all of us that were taking care of him."
The young boy suffered a leg laceration, relying on Groff to not only aid in his injury but to also calm his nerves.
"I was talking to him taking baseline vitals and the guy I was working with, that's also the Duke grad, was awesome with the kid. He would take those latex gloves you have and he would blow them up to make like animals," laughed Groff. "It helped calm the kid down and when we got to the hospital and set him up there, you could just tell that from the moment that we arrived on scene to getting him bleeding, controlled latex glove animal in hand, he had really calmed down and felt safe and taken care of, and so that was super rewarding to be a part of that ride."
The opportunity to grow within the medical field has also allowed for Groff to grow in her own personal life, especially this past year with her family.
Groff's grandmother had suffered a stroke and hip injury over a year ago, causing assistance to be deemed necessary.
Initially, Groff was hesitant to step in and aid in the process of moving her grandmother around, but upon gaining her experience within her EMT training and CAPE Program, a new confidence was discovered.
"With my EMT training, I felt more confident in helping my family move her around from hospital bed to wheelchair to getting her over to the table for dinners that I can go to because I live close by. So even though I'm not going on many rides with my EMT certification, I have that confidence to be involved in her care a little bit more."
Groff as been doing all of this while also competing for the No. 1 ranked Duke women's soccer team. Groff helped the Blue Devils capture just the fourth ACC Regular Season title in program history and leads Duke into the ACC Championship semifinals Thursday, Nov. 7.
Over the last five seasons, Groff has started 76-of-86 matches and helped lead Duke to an impressive 48 shutouts on the defensive end. She has also scored two goals in each of her last four years while adding seven assists from the defensive side.
As her fifth-year progresses, Groff is focused on refining her skills both on the soccer field and in the ambulance.
With her sights set on gaining further EMT experience while continuing to excel in soccer, she exemplifies the balance between ambition and passion. As Groff continues to weave her two passions together, she serves as a reminder that with determination, it's possible to pursue multiple dreams and make a meaningful impact in both the athletic and medical fields.
Duke next faces fourth-seeded North Carolina Thursday at 8 p.m., live on the ACC Network at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
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