Jacob was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2005 when he was 17 in Armenia. Since his diagnosis, he has competed in the marathon, obstacle course runs, 200-mile relay run races, and triathlons. In 2018, he trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp. After his trek, he attended DTC as a camper in Atlantic City and has been a dedicated DTC alum and ambassador ever since. Jacob studied Exercise Science at Skidmore and then went on to get his masters in Kinesiology at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Jacob recently completed his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology at Syracuse University with a research focus on heart disease risk in firefighters, police, and military service members. He now teaches at the University of Rhode Island.
