We all are impacted by, and reap the benefits of, medical research discoveries. From over-the-counter drugs, to healthcare policies and educational interventions, many of these advancements are a result of incredible feats, decades of work, and sometimes serendipitous events. Join us as we sit down with Harvard researchers to discuss these captivating behind-the-scenes stories of research.
July 25, 2025
The NFL & Community-Engaged Research
How does growing up with two NFL football players spark a career in research? In this re-airing of our May 2022 interview with Alicia Whittington, PhD, of the Football Players Health Study, Whittington shares how her upbringing helped lead her to her current work in health equity and community-engaged research.
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Alicia J. Whittington, PhD, MPH, is the assistant director of engagement and health equity research for the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, a comprehensive research program dedicated to addressing the health and wellbeing of former National Football League (NFL) players. She is also co-lead of a new research initiative, Family Experiences Managing Football Lives, also known as FEM-FL. Whittington has several years of research experience, including her role as project director for a global research consortium, and was previously a healthcare consultant. She received a PhD in health systems management from Tulane University, where she focused on health disparities, health outcomes, and sports injuries. She completed her dissertation research on “Concussion Education and Perceptions of Injury Risk among High School Football Players.” Whittington additionally received her master of public health degree in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University, and a bachelor of arts in public health from Wellesley College.