After a rare view inside the world of professional sports and orthopedic medicine through a clinical rotation with the Houston Texans this summer, Analisa Narro, a fourth-year student with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, brought back key lessons from the enriching experience.
The rotation was part of the NFL's 2023 Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative, which aims to increase and diversify the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in sports medicine and, over time, help diversify NFL club medical staffs. McGovern Medical School was among 19 medical schools in the U.S. to participate in the program in its second year.
A day in the life A typical day at NRG Stadium involved Narro observing the attending physicians performing physicals on the Texans, after which she would stand on the sidelines during practice to monitor for injuries and observe any treatment of players. The athletic trainers also discussed a variety of sports medicine topics with Narro, ranging from blood-flow resistance training to taping ankles, which Narro was able to practice on one of the trainers.
I had never been to an NFL game before, but now I don't think I'll be able to match it. Getting to see the game so close, and how team physicians manage different injuries, was exhilarating and inspirational." Making connections When she wasn't at the stadium, Narro shadowed some of the team physicians and other orthopedic surgeons in clinic as well as the operating room, giving her a clearer picture of a career in sports medicine.