Redskins hire Dr. Robin West as first woman to lead NFL medical staff

Sao Tome and Principe

In a landmark hiring, the Redskins named Dr. Robin West as their director of sports medicine Wednesday.

West becomes the first woman to be the top doctor for an NFL organization, according to ESPN.com. She’s also the head physician for the Washington Nationals.

The medical director of Inova Sports Medicine in Fairfax, Virginia, West has a long resumé in sports medicine. She served as the Steelers assistant orthopedic team physician for 11 years.

“People talk about the sports gene. Well, Robin has the sports surgeon gene,” said Dr. James Bradley, the Steelers head team physician who worked with West at the University of Pittsburgh.

West said Wednesday that the NFL is as “safe as it’s ever been” with regard to concussions, citing the independent neurological consultants and concussion spotters on the sidelines.

“We have a lot of eyes on the field looking and all the research,” West said.

It’s nice to know that someone, regardless of gender, with an understanding of concussion protocol is being promoted in the NFL.

And while the Redskins are under fire for their team nickname, they deserve credit for their groundbreaking move on Wednesday.

[Pro Football Talk]
Arrow to top