The NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS) have launched an initiative to aimed at diversifying staffs across sports medicine, including the NFL.
Fourteen students from HBCU medical schools have been chosen to work on the staff of NFL clubs this season.
ESPN reports that the students will be working with eight teams: Atlanta, Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Rams, LA Chargers, New York Giants, San Francisco, Tennessee, and Washington.
Paolo Gilleran and Eddie Gontee of the Morehouse School of Medicine will work with the Falcons, while Kadarius Burgess and Felipe Ocampo of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will help the staff of the Rams.
Four Howard University College of Medicine students were chosen. Regan Burgess will be with the Bengals, Jason Moore with the Chargers, Justin Moore with the Commanders and Alexandra Cancio-Bello with the Giants.
Omolayo Dada of Morehouse and Andrew Nakla of Meharry Medical College will work with The 49ers. Two more Meharry students Yomiyou Geleta and Kelsey Henderson will be working with the Titans.
According to ESPN, The one-month clinical rotations will begin as the 2022 season gets going in September. Students will work under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians and athletic trainers.
Morehouse School of Medicine student Felipe Ocampo is hoping his selection in the program will be an inspiration for the youth, “My biggest hope through this experience is to inspire youth, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue professions like medicine where they can do incredible things such as sports medicine with the NFL.”
