NFL chooses HBCU med students for sports medicine program

NEW YORK — June 25, 2024 — The National Football League, together with the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS), announced the roster of medical students who will participate in the third year of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative . Launched in 2022, the league-wide program aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine and, over time, help to diversify NFL club medical staffs.

Students from 21 medical schools have been matched with NFL clubs across the league for one-month clinical rotations focused on primary care sports medicine and/or orthopedic surgery. The rotations provide students with the opportunity to learn from and work directly with club medical staff as they deliver care to players across the league. Student clinical rotations will begin as training camps open for the 2024 NFL season next month.

“The NFL and clubs across the league are excited to welcome this year’s class of medical students and offer them the unique opportunity to complete clinical rotations with NFL club medical staffs,” said Dr. Allen Sills, NFL Chief Medical Officer . “We have an impressive group of participants joining us from a growing roster of medical schools this season as we continue our efforts to bring interested diverse and underrepresented medical students into the sports medicine professional pipeline.”

“The NFL Physicians Society is proud to be an integral part of this impactful program as we believe in the importance of diversity and inclusion in delivering best-in-class care,” said Dr. James Voos, MD , NFLPS President, Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns and Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals Cleveland. “Our players, staff and community represent a wealth of diverse backgrounds, enriching our organization and the quality of care we offer. We look forward to mentoring the 2024 class of students with the hope they will consider sports medicine careers.”

“The Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society is once again immensely proud to be a part of such an impactful program,” said Bryan “Flea” Engel , PFATS President and Vice President of Player Health and Performance for the Green Bay Packers. “Now entering its third year overall and its second as a league-wide expansion, the Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative speaks to the commitment that the NFL has in growing the opportunities in the areas of health and safety. The program creates unique experiences for medical students with diverse backgrounds within the NFL clubs’ medical staffs. This program is invaluable, not only to the students, but to the NFL medical staffs as well. It gives our staffs the opportunity to mentor these impressive students and recruit them towards a field providing the very best in medical care.”

The students participating in the program for the 2024 season include:

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