During their rotations , students will observe and participate in the care of sports medicine patients in NFL club settings . Students will work directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians , primary care team physicians and athletic trainers to gain basic medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine . Additionally , students will become familiar with return-to-play guidelines and on-field treatment considerations for NFL players . Students may also have the opportunity to attend home games and be present on the sideline for observation . By the end of the rotation , students will understand the basic elements of all facets of care provided to NFL players from an orthopedic , primary care sports medicine and athletic training perspective .
These efforts are part of the league ’ s broader commitment to ensure that staff and leaders in the league office and at NFL clubs reflect the racial and gender makeup of America . Among NFL club medical staffs , the initiative builds on existing efforts to recruit and hire diverse medical staff when positions become available across all roles , and to increase diversity across NFL medical committees .
imperative for us as a league . This initiative is an example of how we can lend our platform for a societal benefit . I ’ m proud that our league can help inspire the next generation of sports medicine professionals .”
Through this program , the NFL , NFLPS and PFATS are not only working to diversify NFL club medical staffs , but also to increase health equity for athletes across the country . The importance of diversity and representation on medical care teams is well-established in scientific and medical literature : diverse medical staff lead to improved patient outcomes .
“ We have significant work to do to ensure that the NFLPS membership more closely mirrors the player population we treat every day ,” said NFLPS President and San Francisco 49ers head team physician Dr . Timothy McAdams . “ It begins here – by broadening the pipeline and encouraging medical students from diverse backgrounds to consider the possibilities of a career in sports medicine .”
The expansion of this pipeline initiative in 2023 will broaden to disciplines beyond primary care sports medicine and orthopedic surgery . Some of the roles that may be included are physician assistants , certified athletic trainers , physical therapists , occupational therapists , nutritionists and behavioral health clinicians . Additionally , while the inaugural season of this program is focused on providing Black medical students with exposure to careers in sports medicine , the NFL , NFLPS and PFATS will also work toward widening the sports medicine pipeline for other people of color and women in the seasons ahead .
“ I greatly look forward to welcoming exceptional HBCU medical students to our medical staff this fall ,” said Reggie Scott , PFATS President and LA Rams Vice President , Sports Medicine and Performance . “ The representation that will come from seeing more people of color treating players on NFL sidelines has the potential to inspire people of color from around the country to pursue careers in sports medicine .”
2022 Annual Report Charles R . Drew University of Medicine and Science
27