For Hannah Russell, 32, and Dana Weaver, 29, Tufts Medical Center is much more than just a hospital. It's where they met, where they fell in love and where they've built their careers—together. This year, they're adding another milestone to their journey: running the Boston Marathon for Team Tufts MC.
Where it all began
Their story started in 2019 on North 6, an inpatient Cardiology unit at Tufts Medical Center. Hannah was working as a registered nurse, caring for patients with complex cardiac conditions, and Dana had just started his first job out of college as a clinical care technician. When Hannah left shortly after to become a travel nurse, they kept in touch. Soon, what began as a workplace friendship turned into something more.
Hannah returned to Tufts Medical Center in 2022. They enjoyed their jobs, but both had bigger dreams for their professional futures.
Taking the leap
With each other's support and encouragement—and that of Tufts Medical Center—Hannah and Dana went back to school. Hannah studied to become a Nurse Practitioner while Dana worked toward his Physician Assistant degree. Balancing full-time jobs while studying for advanced degrees wasn't easy, but they made it work.
Their hard work paid off. Dana graduated in May 2025, and Hannah followed in July 2025. This past fall, everything came full circle. Dana was offered a position as a physician assistant at Tufts Medical Center’s Cardiomyopathy Center in October, and a month later, Hannah accepted an NP role in the Cardiac Care Unit. They signed their contracts on the same day and now even share some of the same patients.
Running with purpose
Neither Hannah nor Dana are huge runners—this will be their first Boston Marathon, though they did run the Maine Marathon together in 2023. But they wanted to do something meaningful to give back to the hospital that supported their growth and brought them together.
Joining Team Tufts MC for the 2026 Boston Marathon was the perfect way to say thank you and share their story. They've dubbed themselves the "Tufts Marathon Sweethearts" and created an Instagram account (@TuftsMarathonSweethearts) to document their training journey and fundraising efforts. Their story was recently featured on WCVB, highlighting what Tufts MC means to them.
"Running the Boston Marathon for Team Tufts MC is deeply meaningful to us," Dana and Hannah shared. "It embodies everything we believe in—perseverance, community and heart. Every mile we run and every dollar we raise is our way of saying thank you to the hospital that shaped our careers, supported our growth and brought us together. This is our way of giving back to the community that laid the foundation for our lives."
As they prepare to cross the finish line in Boston this April, Hannah and Dana carry with them the gratitude and determination that has defined their journey from the very beginning.
