Bears Join NFL's Initiative for Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline
As part of an ongoing mission to diversify the medical field within the NFL, the league, in conjunction with the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS), recently released the roster of medical students participating in the NFL's Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative for its second year.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to increase diversity among students pursuing sports medicine careers and subsequently enhance the variety of medical staff within NFL teams. The program, after an auspicious debut year in 2022, expanded this year to offer 19 students a chance to engage in a month-long immersion with an NFL team's medical crew, up from the 14 students who participated last year.
Among the 2023 participants is Tyler Kelly, a student from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine � Greenville. She's set to join the Bears' medical team on August 1, to help provide top-notch medical care to NFL athletes.
Tyler expressed her excitement about the opportunity: "I am beyond thrilled to learn from a multi-disciplinary sports medicine care team through this holistic experience." As a Black woman, she emphasized the significance of the NFL's commitment to diversifying sports medicine, mentioning the impact of representation on healthcare.
Kelly initially learned about the initiative from an NFL press release in May 2022. After realizing her eligibility for this year's class, she applied to a program that led her to the Chicago Bears, with NorthShore Hospital System also playing a role.
In her own words, Kelly is eager "to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a healthcare provider within a professional sports medicine team," and she is looking forward to being "completely immersed in that world."
With an undergraduate degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and now in her fourth year of medical school, Kelly's interest in sports medicine was sparked by a "greater sense of purpose and community" sports and physical activities often bring to life. A lover of intramural flag football, running, and roller skating, she views her role in sports medicine as advocating for the health and well-being of her loved ones.
The NFL's Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative was sparked by the historical underrepresentation of diverse medical students. Nevertheless, the Association of American Medical Colleges reports a rise in diverse student enrollments for the academic year 2022-23.
With the expansion of this initiative, the NFL, NFLPS, and PFATS remain dedicated to fostering this upward trend, specifically within the realm of sports medicine.
Kelly, expressing her gratitude, shared her hope of inspiring others: "The opportunity to be a source of encouragement and be that person that someone sees and says, 'I may want to do that too,' or 'that may be possible for me,' is something I'm completely humbled by."
| POLL | ||
19 JUILLET | 38 ANSWERS Bears Join NFL's Initiative for Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Will the Bears win a Super Bowl before 2028? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 76.3 % |
| No | 9 | 23.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
