Timothy Howard is a triathlete who last year was battling a hiatal hernia while trying to accomplish his goal of completing an Ironman race. While Timothy was exploring his medical options he met Dr. Steven Mong, a general surgeon who also has a love for endurance sports. “It’s nice when you connect with a patient, not only with the disease process that you enjoy fixing, but then when you connect with them on an endurance sports standpoint,” said Dr. Mong, who is and avid marathon runner. “His was a cool case where we have a surgical fix, a one-time intervention that could really align with his training and racing aspirations.”