Women are rising through the ranks in professional soccer, gaining positions of power in a space that has long been dominated by men. We’ve seen many women breaking barriers in the sport, but what are the stories behind the headlines? Who are the women shaping and influencing the NFL today? Answering those questions is the goal of the Next Woman Up series. While the Q&As discussion has been shortened for clarity, this is a forum for women affected to share their experiences. enough words Without further ado, we reveal:
Kelsey Henderson
Case in point: A fourth-year student at Meharry College of Medicine who recently completed a month-long clinical rotation with the Tennessee Titans staff via in the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. To see also : Playoffs, rematches and rivalries: Inside Sunday’s 28-game Sports Equinox.
It happened very quickly. I heard about it in April when Meharry announced that the NFL is working with four Historically Black Colleges and University medical schools for a program that will help increase diversity in sports medicine at the level professional. Part of that is exposing medical students early in their careers to that experience.
I was a third year at that time and many of us did not know that the program was for the 2022 NFL season, so we appreciated the two-years and encouraged them to apply and take advantage of the opportunity before residence Then I got an email that said, “We know you’re applying for surgical clinics this year. We’re interviewing applicants to be part of the pilot program. Let me know if you’re interested.” It was a surprise.
I am a Kinesiology major at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, so I always say that I learned medicine through the language of sports and human movement, so this opportunity was more than home for me. I wanted to have this experience to learn about sports medicine from a medical perspective.
We were against the Tennessee Titans, so it was about a four month process from the time I found out about the program to my first day with the Titans.
What are some things you did and/or learned during the lunar transition?
I spent time with medical specialists, including Dr. Thomas Byrd and Dr. Damon Petty. I knew that Dr. Byrd and the team before I started the tour. He is a titan in our industry, so I was very scared but I was happy when I found out that he will be one of the doctors I will work with. In addition to them, I worked with the training staff – physical therapy, athletic training, nutrition, etc. – so I was able to see and learn about all the different professions of the Titans staff.
A typical day was divided between time and Dr. Byrd’s or Dr. Petty’s practice with the Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance is in addition to their work with the Titans. We see their patients, including sports, from 7 a.m. until the Titans start practicing at the facility. We participated in practice and experienced contact injuries, and we watched the athletic training staff work in practice and help out a little bit. them. After practice, injured players were evaluated in the doctor’s office and we assisted with treatment for players on the injured or rehabilitation list.
Does that mean this was a real thing that happened at that time?
Yes, sure. I was able to see what the doctors did every day, and the trainees were very welcoming. In medical school, we were referred to physical therapy but I didn’t see exactly what the specialist did when I got that referral. With the Titans, they showed me exactly how they use the treatment plan and schedule, including the difference in the appearance of a patient who is returning to work or a person play professionally to return to the field. They allowed me to take advantage of this experience by learning what all the departments do and how to help the health of the players.
I got to go to the Colts-Titans game on my last day of the tour. It was bittersweet because we won but it was the end of my tournament, so I was struggling with a lot of emotions. The game is very different from the day-to-day work because the staff often evaluates someone quickly. Usually, doctors see a patient the day after the injury. On game day, you actually see the process of the impact and the injury itself, so you get the athlete’s perspective but you also have the visual experience of the doctor to know. what caused the injury and what injury may have existed before. you evaluate the player. It was great to be there and observe everything that happened around me. There is a lot of energy from a medical point of view, and you should be able to improve your skills while the fans are screaming and cheering to your left. It’s a great environment to be in, but at the same time, serious work and attention to detail are paramount.
No one had to take it out thankfully. I noticed during the game, but let’s say there was a player injured in the first half. That person was evaluated in half, and we got pictures of everyone who had what appeared to be less than a mild injury. After the adrenaline, sometimes the players realize that their hands are hurting or something, and we evaluate them after the game. I was able to help with some of these.
What a last day for you. What was your favorite moment from the tour?
Sports day. I knew it was going to be fun, and it was rewarding to see players who were injured when I started the tournament now playing the game. I saw them doing their treatments and pushing to be healthy and able to play, so it came full circle. The coaching staff is quick to manage the needs of the players.
I also met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL official Allen Sills, and they wanted to know my experience and ways to improve it. It was nice to see that kind of investment in making this pipe work.
That’s great. And what was the best thing you went to from the last month?
This program emphasizes the importance of exposure when it comes to specialties such as orthopedics. I received that early exposure as a first-year medical student, so it really helped me plan my time on how to become a candidate for residency. Now being exposed not only to sports medicine but to professional sports in my four years gave me things that you don’t get from traditional medical education.
Also, making connections and seeing the culture of working in professional sports, it’s a special environment but everyone was welcoming and eager for me to be there and learn. That was something that really impressed me. Everyone at Titans takes their jobs very seriously, but the culture is one of the most fulfilling and fun work environments I’ve ever seen. There was a lot of mutual respect between people and departments, people used each other as sounding boards for their skills, and there was a lot of humility. I like the team approach and it’s nice to see that kind of approach in a professional setting. It also taught me the kind of culture I expect in a residency program, so they set the bar high. When you love what you do and the players know that the medical staff is really invested in their well-being, it creates a good environment for everyone involved.
Before this change, did you consider working in professional sports as a medical career?
I knew this was a career path, but I didn’t know I could get into it. There was no specific path for people who wanted to work for a professional sports team. I was exposed to this opportunity to work in sports during my graduation. I had an assistant professor at UT who invited me to shadow his family medicine practice at the hospital, and he also worked for the Knoxville Bears hockey team. That was my first experience of seeing sports medicine up close, and I was able to tour the training facilities and rehabilitation facilities. I thought it was cool, but it never occurred to me that it was something I could do.
Now that I’ve had this experience, I’ve really reconnected with all the teachings in sports medicine and looking at them in the context of a career in special surgery. I am very happy to be a job now, especially after seeing how Dr. Petty and Dr. Byrd helps professional athletes and people who just want to do everyday activities. They involve many people but they are all related to the quality of life.
Do you have any mentors? And what advice have you received from them?
Meharry didn’t have a program at home for physical therapy, so I had to rely on several therapists who ran our program. It has been given by Dr. Wayne Johnson gave me a glimpse of what I am doing or should be doing to prepare for residency. It has been given by Dr. Joe Minchew at Duke gave me the perspective of a first-generation medical student and helped me learn what it takes to be a great doctor abroad. what I have learned in the classroom. Dr. Tonya Dixon, Dr. Nichelle Enata, Dr. Kirsten Ross is my other mentor.
They are my toolbox of people who support and guide me. The most common advice they give me is not to lose myself – like my knowledge and what makes me unique so I can relate to my patients – in the application process. They also encouraged me to be humble enough to ask for help, and as you can see from the number of people I mentioned, I kept it in my heart.
I strongly believe that you should have mentors at each stage because having a resident, brother, participant or someone at different levels of practice can give you different perspectives that can be help you make wise decisions.
I read that you founded the Meharry Mentoring Program. How did that come about?
One of the goals of our student government association is to have an inclusive education program. Most organizations have their own mentoring section, and our school has tried several times but failed. But during the pandemic, people became more available so that students could connect virtually with people in the staff. We have matched over 200 students with mentors within the first year and a half of the program. The truth is that I have resigned from being the head of the program because of the busyness of this year, but being the chairman is still satisfying.
