Evanston, Illinois – Aug. 2, 2023 – NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) is proud to welcome medical student Tyler Kelly from the ­­­­NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. For the month of August, Kelly will complete a clinical rotation under Mark Bowen, MD, Division Head of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine for NorthShore and Head Team Physician for the Chicago Bears. NorthShore, part of NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health, is among a handful of health systems partnering with the NFL, NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS), Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) and medical schools nationwide to improve diverse representation in sports medicine.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, diverse student enrollment is rising, so the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative has expanded to enable more students to pursue their interest in sports medicine. NorthShore is thrilled to partner in this program and host Kelly, who is one of 31 students in the 2023 cohort.

“As a black woman, I know what it means to feel unseen and underrepresented and the far-reaching implications this has on healthcare,” said Kelly, a student at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville. “The opportunity to rotate with the NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute through the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Initiative will elevate my understanding of patient care within a world-class sports team.”

“This initiative is a tremendous opportunity for both these medical students and the field of sports medicine as a whole. We need to welcome diverse perspectives, experiences and cultivate these bright young minds to flourish as medical professionals,” said Dr. Bowen.

For more information about the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, click here. 

NorthShore’s involvement in this program demonstrates a larger commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) by improving opportunities for historically underrepresented identities in medicine. NorthShore joins this initiative with the goal of creating a medical staff that better reflects the diverse community it serves and is in line with the philosophy that our strengths reside in our differences. To learn more about NorthShore’s DEI commitment, click here.