It started as a simple project in the Hill District in October: helping a child that’s been “dinged up” on the football field, cleaning scrapes, placing bandages and providing concussion education. Now, Faith Kehinde is preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will combine her passions for sports medicine and community engagement — joining the Steelers’ medical staff.

Kehinde, a third-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, was selected as one of 29 students from 21 medical schools across the country as an NFL Diversity Fellow, per a news release. Later this summer, she will work with the Steelers’ medical staff for a monthlong clinical rotation as part of the NFL’s Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative.

“[You] get the opportunity to work with the athletic training staff in evaluating the athletes, and I think that’s the most exciting thing for me,” Kehinde said. “I know there’s going to be a lot of observing and hopefully a lot of hands-on stuff as well, so I’m just super excited.”

Launched in 2022, the league-wide program aims to increase the pool of students interested in sports medicine careers, ultimately diversifying NFL club medical staffs, according to the release. By the end of the rotation, the goal is for students to understand the basic elements of care from orthopedic, primary care sports medicine and athletic training perspectives.

Kehinde was nominated for the fellowship by Pitt School of Medicine’s Chenits Pettigrew Jr., associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, and MaCalus Hogan, professor and chair in the department of orthopedic surgery. Her rotation with the Steelers is set to begin Aug. 26.

Read the full story at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here.