NFL announces 2024 class of Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative
NEW YORK — The National Football League, together with the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS), today 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:
| Name | Medical School | NFL Club |
|---|---|---|
| Craishun Hart | Morehouse School of Medicine | Arizona Cardinals |
| Jerry Yue | Morehouse School of Medicine | Atlanta Falcons |
| Allen Opoku | Georgetown University School of Medicine | Baltimore Ravens |
| Moriah Martindale | Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo | Buffalo Bills |
| Alexis LeMone | Wake Forest University School of Medicine | Carolina Panthers |
| Aisha Suhaiba | University of Illinois College of Medicine | Chicago Bears |
| Dave Delima | Morehouse School of Medicine | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Rachel Gardenhire | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | Cleveland Browns |
| Mohit Bandla | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Dallas Cowboys |
| Marquisha Myles | Michigan State University College of Human Medicine | Detroit Lions |
| Richard Ingram | Meharry Medical College | Green Bay Packers |
| Amanda Davis | McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston | Houston Texans |
| Eden Obomeghie | Morehouse School of Medicine | Indianapolis Colts |
| Sydney Woods | Meharry Medical College | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Elizabeth Holmes | University of Kansas School of Medicine | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Gemma Lagasca | Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Michael Baham | University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Raimel Brooks | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles Rams |
| Antonio Lopez | FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine | Miami Dolphins |
| Jessica Nelson | Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine | Minnesota Vikings |
| Kyra Caldwell | Howard University College of Medicine | New England Patriots |
| LaMiah Hall | LSU Health New Orleans | New Orleans Saints |
| Austin Carey | Morehouse School of Medicine | New York Giants |
| Joel Sacris | Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University | New York Jets |
| Faith Kehinde | University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Michelle Xiao | Stanford University School of Medicine | San Francisco 49ers |
| David Orlando | University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Cara Ford | Meharry Medical College | Tennessee Titans |
| Caleb Parrish | Howard University College of Medicine | Washington Commanders |
A complete roster of 2024 participating students can be found here.
During their one-month rotations, students will observe and participate in the care of NFL players, working directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians, athletic trainers, dietitians, mental health clinicians, strength & conditioning coaches, equipment managers, and others to gain medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine. Students will also become familiar with return-to-play protocols and on-field treatment considerations for NFL players. 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.
Since expanding the initiative league-wide last season, the NFL has been working to include additional disciplines and roles from the its player care “Team Behind the Team” in the program, including physician assistants, certified athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists and behavioral health clinicians. The NFL, NFLPS and PFATS are also partnering with clubs to help expose high school students to the field of sports medicine through community events.
The Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative is 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.
