Brandon Chiedo was raised a Jacksonville Jaguars fan, but he hopes to have a medical career that benefits any professional sports team; the NFL is looking for more medical students like Chiedo as they aim to diversify sports medicine.
Chiedo is among several Morehouse School of Medicine students who are receiving on-field training through the NFL’s Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. He spent September learning from the medical team for the Atlanta Falcons.
“It was an honor to work alongside the entire medical staff of the Atlanta Falcons for that four-week experience,” said Chiedo. “It was cool to see how the physicians were able to balance their typical clinic schedules as well as their NFL responsibilities.”
He added that it was a dream come true to meet the Falcons football players and see how they prepared to perform for each game.
Chiedo, along with the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills, joined show host Rose Scott to discuss the initiative on “Closer Look.” Sills says this program is needed, because, like the rest of the medical workforce, sports medicine is falling behind when it comes to representation and diversity.
