Courtesy of Morehouse School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and the Professional Football Athletic Trainer Society (PFATS) announced today, that it has selected three medical students to participate in the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. MSM students Omolayo Dada, Paolo Gilleran and Eddie Gontee have been chosen to participate in the inaugural class of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. The groundbreaking NFL initiative aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine and, over time, help to diversify NFL club medical staff.
“Morehouse School of Medicine is honored to have three of our students in the inaugural class of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative,” said Adrian Tyndall, MD, MPH, Dean and Executive Vice President, Morehouse School of Medicine. “Omolayo Dada, Paolo Gilleran and Eddie Gontee are shining examples of the academic excellence at Morehouse School of Medicine. Having access to this specialized clinical rotation with NFL club medical staffs not only demonstrates the League’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, but ensures our participating students are trained at the highest level in orthopedic and primary care sports medicine.”
The students’ one-month clinical rotations will begin as the 2022 NFL season kicks off in September. During their rotations, students will observe and participate in the care of NFL players. Students will work directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians and athletic trainers to gain basic medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine. Additionally, students will become familiar with return-to-play guidelines and on-field treatment considerations for NFL players. Students may attend home games and be present on the sideline for observation. By the end of the rotation, students will understand the basic elements of all facets of care provided to NFL players from an orthopedic, primary care sports medicine and athletic training perspective.
“I am thrilled to welcome these outstanding medical students to our clubs this fall,” said NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills. “This program will be an opportunity not only for these students to learn from NFL club medical staff, but for all of us to learn from them. As we embark on the first season of this initiative, I am hopeful that our efforts to diversify the pipeline of students interested in sports medicine will have long-lasting positive effects on the medical care athletes receive well beyond NFL players.”
Omolayo Dada, a fourth-year medical student at MSM, has been assigned to the San Francisco 49ers for her clinical rotation. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Dada relocated to Aurora, Colorado, at an early age. She attended Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she played volleyball and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She earned a Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree at Morehouse School of Medicine in 2016, followed by matriculation into the Doctor of Medicine program.
Paolo Gilleran, a fourth-year medical student at MSM, has been assigned to the Atlanta Falcons. Gilleran immigrated from the Philippines at a young age and grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Georgia State University in Atlanta and has six years of nursing experience in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Eddie Gontee, a fourth-year medical student at MSM, has also been assigned to the Atlanta Falcons.  Gontee was born in Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa, but grew up in the metro-Atlanta, Georgia area. Prior to medical school, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, and a Master of Science in Medical Sciences degree from Morehouse School of Medicine.
