Rams, NFL find diversity in medical program

THOUSAND OAKS (News4usonline) – The Los Angeles Rams have teamed up with the NFL to do their part to bring more diversity to the league’s medical staff this summer.

Through the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, the goal of the program is to encourage medical students with diverse backgrounds to consider sports medicine as a possible career alternative.

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science student Nonye Ikeanyi was selected to work with the Rams medical staff this summer. Ikeanyi is expected to work closely with Reggie Scott, vice president of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Rams. The guidelines of the programs call for a one-month clinical rotation with NFL ballclubs.

Ikeanyi said she is excited to have this opportunity.  

“It is so rare to get the opportunity to work with elite-level athletes,” Ikeanyi said. “Having the chance to work with the care team that keeps the athletes healthy is even more special. The NFL is changing what I thought was possible for black women in orthopedics and I am beyond grateful to be a part of this initiative.”

This is the second year of the program, which included students from four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). All total, there were 14 medical students taking part in the program in 2022. Those students attended Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Meharry Medical College.   

The initial year of the program was such a success that the NFL expanded the number of students attending 19 medical schools in 2023. Reaching back into the community is something the Rams have always done.

Whether it’s participating in a flag football initiative or passing out turkeys during the holidays, you can count on the Rams organization to find ways to engage the Southern California community.

This summer that community effort has landed on their doorsteps in the former of partnering up with the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) to bring in a local medical student and give them an opportunity to work with their medical staff.

With women and minorities grossly underrepresented in the field of medicine, particularly sports medicine, the league is trying to close that gap by coming up with its medical initiative. The good news is that the numbers are improving.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, enrollment of students from different ethnic backgrounds is on the rise. Black students enrolled in the medical field went up by 9 percent during the 2022-23 school year. Students who are Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin saw an increase in their numbers by 4 percent.   

Ikeanyi said she is looking forward to working with Scott and the Rams medical staff.             

“I have so much respect for the discipline and dedication that it takes to reach the professional level,” she said. “I hope to apply what I learn from the physicians, trainers, nutritionists, and all the other staff members to my community practice during residency and beyond. As an aspiring pediatric orthopedic surgeon, I am looking forward to working with student-athletes and doing all I can to keep them injury-free while they play the sport they love!”