William Galardi ‘15 recently had the opportunity to work with the Detroit Lions’ medical and performance teams as part of his clinical rotation with the NFL Sports Medicine Pipeline Program. Currently a fourth-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, William reflected on his experience, his path toward orthopaedic surgery, and the foundation he built at Catholic Central.

“During my clinical rotation with the NFL Sports Medicine Pipeline Program and the Detroit Lions, I collaborated with the team’s athletic trainers, orthopedic surgeons, and player health and performance staff, gaining firsthand insight into the daily coordination required to keep elite athletes healthy,” Galardi said. “This included learning the importance of injury prevention strategies and how sports science is integrated into training regimens. I observed player evaluations that highlighted the nuances of sideline medicine and the rapid, high-stakes decision-making essential to managing professional athletes.

“Being on the sidelines for team practices and preseason games at Ford Field provided a deeper appreciation for the seamless collaboration between medical staff, coaches, and players. Through observing return-to-play assessments and monitoring of practice loads, I developed a clearer understanding of how individualized recovery and performance plans are implemented in real time, which I never appreciated while watching the Lions at home every Sunday during football season. I feel extremely thankful that I was able to have this opportunity as a medical student and as a diehard Detroit Lions fan.”

The experience deepened William’s interest in orthopedics and reaffirmed his career goals. “I have always been interested in Orthopedic surgery because of the tangible results and immediate impact on the quality of life for a patient,” he explained. “This experience definitely reaffirmed my goal of working with high-performance athletes who are highly motivated and deeply committed to returning to peak performance, viewing their recovery as an extension of competition.”

Looking back, William credits Catholic Central with helping shape the habits and mindset needed for success in medical school. “I think the discipline and work ethic required to pursue a career in medicine can be directly attributed to my experiences at Catholic Central,” he reflected. 

“Much like CC, medical school is an extremely rigorous endeavor that fosters growth by being constantly challenged. Whether it was the discipline learned in Coach Griffin’s classroom or the push to think critically from Mrs. Files, the foundation I built at CC has been instrumental in shaping who I am today.”

As he completes his fourth year of medical school and applies for orthopedic residency, William continues to draw on that same foundation. “I am in the process of completing my fourth year of medical school at Michigan State College of Human Medicine, and am currently applying for orthopaedic residency,” he said.

He also offered words of encouragement to current students considering a future in medicine. “For current CC students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine or sports science, my advice would be to stay organized and continue developing a strong work ethic, which will be the foundation for success long before you ever start medical school. Medicine, and sports medicine in particular, is a really great way to combine a passion for athletics and competition with science, higher education, and specialized skills and training.”