Sidney Kimmel Medical College Student to Complete Medical Rotation With the Jets
Sidney Kimmel Medical College student Joel Sacris has been selected for a medical rotation with the New York Jets as part of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. The program aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine and, over time, help to diversify NFL team medical staffs.
Sacris is the second Jefferson medical student to participate in the initiative, following recent graduate Azra Dees, who worked with the Jets last season.
“I’m excited to learn from some of the foremost leaders in sports medicine,” says Sacris, one of only 29 students selected. “As a future family medicine physician, I hope to incorporate the lessons I learn from this experience into my daily practice and to share this knowledge with patients across the full spectrum of musculoskeletal primary care.”
During his one-month rotations from August to September, the fourth-year med student will observe and participate in the care of NFL players. Sacris will work directly with and under the supervision of the orthopedic team physicians, primary care team physicians, athletic trainers, dietitians, mental health clinicians, strength and conditioning coaches, equipment managers and others to gain medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine. In addition, he will become familiar with return-to-play protocols and on-field treatment considerations for NFL players.
By the end of the rotation, he 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.
“Sidney Kimmel Medical College is committed to training future generations of the healthcare workforce that is reflective and responsive to the communities we serve,” says Dr. Said Ibrahim, the Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College. “Therefore, we’re glad to partner once again with the NFL in this important educational mission.”
The NFL and teams across the league look forward to welcoming this year’s class of medical students and offering them the unique opportunity to complete clinical rotations, says Dr. Allen Sills, NFL chief medical officer. “We have an impressive group of participants joining us from a growing roster of medical schools this season as we continue our efforts to bring interested diverse and underrepresented medical students into the sports medicine professional pipeline.”
Launched in 2022, the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine initiative is a collaboration between the NFL, the NFL Physicians Society and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society.