For Dr. Wong, the appeal of event medicine lies in problem-solving.

“There’s no manual for this,” she said. “Every event is different. You innovate, anticipate what might happen, and build solutions. That’s what’s fun about it. You want people to have fun, because that’s socially important. But you also want to keep them safe.”

Not every emergency physician planned to enter this niche. Dr. Prest didn’t. Early in her career, she thought she would pursue orthopedics or sports medicine. But during her residency at Indiana University, she was exposed to event medicine at the Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Colts games, and marathons. She was hooked.

“What I loved about it was the infrastructure, the planning of who’s there, where they’re placed, what kind of medical you have on site,” Dr. Prest said. “I have a very administrative brain, so I loved the problem-solving. And then the medicine itself was just so different. You’re resourceful, you’re collaborating, and you’re doing it in an environment that’s fun.”

When she relocated to Michigan, Dr. Prest pursued opportunities persistently, eventually joining the medical team at Electric Forest. Across events, certain patterns emerge, she said. Heat illness, dehydration, intoxication, and minor injuries are most common. Yet the possibility of cardiac arrest is always present.

Mr. Diienno said he has seen it all. His teams prepare for mass casualty incidents, ranging from crowd crushes to unexpected hazards. At Bonnaroo, one health care emergency came not from patrons but his own staff when a paramedic’s RV filled up with carbon monoxide gas. Four staff members fell unconscious inside. Luckily, a manager banged on the door when they didn’t show for their shift. They were treated on site.

That incident underscored just how quickly things can turn, he said.

This is one of the reasons Dr. Wong doesn’t love event medicine, although it would appear so since she’s logged 25 years’ worth of experience working in it. She worries too much.

“I do it because there’s a need.” she said. “These events are important socially, and if we can make them safer, that’s worth it.”

For Dr. Prest, it’s about joy.

“I like medicine best when it’s collaborative, resourceful, and connected to the community,” she said. “Event medicine gives me that. It’s fun. It’s meaningful. And it lets me practice medicine in a way that feels different from the everyday grind of the ED.”