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Fourth-year medical student Schyler Morton is preparing to join the New Orleans Saints — her hometown NFL team — on the field.
Well, kind of.
The Meharry Medical College product is one of 31 diverse medical students to participate in the second year of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. The program aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students with access to sports medicine careers, as well as jobs with NFL franchises.
“This initiative will provide me with invaluable experiences and opportunities to learn from both industry professionals and athletes, which will help me develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this highly competitive field,” said Morton, who is pursuing a career in pediatrics with a focus in general sports medicine.
She will join the Saints on July 31.
Meharry will also send Tampa native Nicholas Cavil to the Miami Dolphins, Dallas native Imari Parham to the Dallas Cowboys and Maryland native Adrianna Hayden to the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, Morgan Williams will remain in Nashville — she will report to the Titans.
“I am thrilled to uniquely combine my experience as an athlete with my passion for medicine on one of the largest stages in sports, Williams said.
Program participants hail from 19 medical schools, including four medical schools at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
“As a fan of Dallas sports, medicine and the human body, this is a Dallas kid’s dream come true,” said Parham, who is heading to the Lone Star State. “I hope this program and others like it in the future continue to improve diversity in the realm of sports medicine.”
Said Cavil: “Orthopedic surgery is widely known to be a highly competitive residency program to match into. That is why I was thrilled to have been chosen for the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. This program has given me the opportunity to learn from some of the most distinguished surgeons in the field of sports medicine.”
During clinical rotations, the medical students will work directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians and athletic trainers, gaining medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine.
“The NFL and our club medical staffs are thrilled to welcome these impressive medical students from around the country to the league this season,” said NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills. “The league-wide expansion of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative this season demonstrates strong interest in sports medicine from diverse and under-represented medical students and is indicative of our clubs’ commitment to diversity in all facets of the game.”
When the program launched in 2022, the season was comprised of students from four Historically Black Colleges and Universities medical schools – Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine and Meharry.
The Association of American Medical Colleges reported during the 2022-23 academic year, Black or African American medical students (9%), as well as Hispanic, Latino or students of Spanish origin (4%) matriculated at a higher rate than in 2020-21.
To see the full roster of participating students and universities, visit nfl.com.
“I am beyond grateful and excited to be a part of this program,” said Hayden, who is heading to the NFL’s franchise in Denver. “As an athlete and aspiring sports medicine physician, I am thrilled for the opportunity to work alongside some of the best athletes and their medical teams.”
Diana Leyva covers breaking and trending news for The Tennessean. Connect with her by email at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on twitter at @_leyvadiana
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