Morehouse medical school among 4 HBCUs joining NFL diversity initiative

Black Organ Transplants-Initiative

The Morehouse School of Medicine building is seen on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Students from four Historically Black College and University medical schools will be selected for clinical rotations with NFL team medical staffs this year.

The joint program with the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS) aims to diversify the pipeline in sports medicine, including at NFL clubs. It is open to medical students interested in primary care sports medicine and/or orthopedic surgery from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles; Howard University College of Medicine in Washington; Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta; and Meharry Medical College in Nashville.

“We always have students interested in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, and this is an additional avenue,” said Dr. Digna Forbes, the interim dean of the school of medicine at Meharry. “The more opportunities we have for these subspecialties, it will increase diversity in those. This is important.