There aren’t many people who can say they became a Rhodes Scholar, a professional football player, and a neurosurgeon. Well, Myron Rolle can! Rolle has exceeded both academically and athletically, maintaining a 4.0 GPA in high school, rising to the #1 football recruit in 2006, and graduating college early. The former Florida State football All-American delayed going into the NFL draft to study medicine at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master’s degree in medical anthropology.
After playing two seasons in the NFL and being released by two teams, Rolle decided that it was time to hang up his cleats and pursue his other dream of becoming a neurosurgeon full time. “I still received interest from a few teams, and it didn’t have to be over. Then I said to myself, ‘I can knock my head against the wall for 8-9 years or move on to medicine’, said Rolle. “I was leaving the game with no concussions and dexterity in both my hands, where I could be a neurosurgeon one day.”
Now, 4 years after enrolling in the Florida State University College of Medicine, Rolle has been matched to Harvard Medical School, where he will start his neurosurgery residency program. On Friday, Rolle took to social media to announce the exciting news.
What made the moment even more special, was that among family and friends, Rolle’s mother read his Match letter.
“Seven years of neurosurgery is a big deal, something I wanted for a long time, really excited about it. Today is just great, it’s remarkable.”
Congratulations, Myron! Thank you for showing us all that it’s possible to pursue more than one dream.
Rolle is set to start his residency program July 1.