The same week the Lions announced they were adding cheerleaders, another NFL team gave a woman an actual job.
According to Stephania Bell and John Keim of ESPN.com, Washington named Dr. Robin West the team’s director of sports medicine.
She’s the NFL’s first female head physician, though she has plenty of experience working with professional athletes. She’s also the lead team physician for baseball’s Washington Nationals, and has previously worked for the Steelers for 11 years.
On her first day, she also declared football as “safe as it’s ever been,” emphasizing unaffiliated neurological consultants and an independent injury spotters at games.
“We have a lot of eyes on the field looking and all the research,” West said. “The NFL puts tens of millions into concussion research as well as the technology behind preventing head injuries.”
She’ll work alongside famed orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who is on the team’s staff as a consultant.
Photo credit: Inova Health
