Meeting Student Athletes Where They Are 
Athletes in Medicine

April 6, 2026

On Thursday mornings, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine students from PCOM South Georgia step into a high school gym—not for their own training, but to teach young football players in Thomasville, Georgia, how to care for their bodies, understand nutrition, and imagine a future in medicine. The program, Athletes in Medicine, is a new initiative led by Dr. Jennifer Jenkins and the Office of Campus and Community Partnerships designed to introduce student athletes to careers in health care while building skills they can use now.

“We’re meeting them where they are—then showing them where they could go,” Jenkins said.

From the Field to the Future

Launched this year, Athletes in Medicine engages 80 football players every other Thursday through hands-on workshops led by PCOM students and faculty. Students receive equipment like resistance bands and foam rollers to continue practicing what they learn, and sessions include food demonstrations and guidance rooted in a “food is medicine” approach. Other sessions range from injury prevention and stretching techniques to nutrition education tailored by position—what a quarterback needs to fuel performance versus a lineman, for example.

“We’re not just teaching,” Jenkins said. “We’re giving the students real tools to take home and use in their lives.”

The Athletes in Medicine program also creates opportunities for PCOM students to apply their training in real-world settings—an intentional part of its design.

“When I build community partnerships, I’m always asking: what’s the return on investment for our students?” Jenkins said.

In this case, that return includes research. This summer, PCOM students will study hydration among participating athletes, using wearable hydration packs during practices to collect data and develop individualized recommendations—an especially important focus in South Georgia’s heat. Beyond research, the program offers exposure to communities students will one day serve.

“When they become physicians, it won’t be the first time they’re exposed to different communities,” Jenkins said. “Part of our mission is preparing students to serve all populations, and this is one way they begin to do that.”

The initiative also introduces athletes to career paths they may not have previously considered. Guest speakers—including athletic trainers, physical therapists and physicians in sports medicine—help students see how their interests in athletics can translate into healthcare careers. That early exposure is especially critical in rural Georgia, where physician shortages persist.

“The goal is to help them see that sports can remain a meaningful and lifelong part of their lives, while also opening doors to new opportunities beyond the game,” Jenkins said. “However their journey unfolds, there is always a pathway for them in health care.”

Opening Doors to Medical Careers

Complementing the Athletes in Medicine program, PCOM students have also participated in community-based career outreach. In partnership with Colquitt County Schools, students and faculty joined Career Day at C.A. Gray Junior High School, engaging eighth-grade learners in conversations about the medical field and sharing insights on pathways to careers in medicine. Additional outreach efforts have included participation in Thomasville High School’s Career Fair, Hahira Middle School’s Career Day and the Albany State University Career and Resource Expo, with plans to host Colquitt County High School healthcare students for a Reverse Career Fair on PCOM South Georgia’s campus on April 30.

Jada Daniels (DO ’29), who served as student lead for PCOM’s participation in Career Day, described the experience as both energizing and personal. The middle school students, she said, were engaged, curious, and eager to ask questions about careers in medicine and the path to becoming a physician. 

Coming from a rural background herself, Daniels saw the conversations as an opportunity to offer something she didn’t always have growing up—visibility into what that path could look like.

“I wanted them to understand that where they start does not limit where they can go,” she said. “My hope is that our conversations encourage them to dream big, stay motivated in school, and recognize that with dedication and hard work, a career in medicine—or any field they are passionate about—is possible.”

Where Education, Trust and Community Converge

For Jenkins, the impact extends beyond academics or career pathways; it is about preparing the next generation of leaders at every level. Community partnerships play a critical role, serving as a bridge between education and real-world practice, where medical students can actively engage, learn, and contribute. This model not only supports high school students but also enhances the co-curricular learning experience of medical students. As the program continues to grow, it is expanding to include conversations around mental wellness and performance pressure in athletics, in partnership with Resilient Communities of Southwest Georgia, further strengthening trauma-informed, community-centered care.

“We’re showing up as partners in schools, bringing additional resources and opportunities that support student success,” Jenkins said. “This work is about building trust in the community while inspiring and preparing the next generation of physicians.”

You May Also Like:

• PCOM South Georgia Celebrates 2026 Match Day
• DO Student Matches Anesthesiology Residency at HCA Kendall
• PCOM South Georgia Goes Full Speed with Bike and Toy Drive