Zach Zenner: NFL player by day, researcher by night. Well, not exactly, but the Philadelphia Eagles running back and former SDSU Jackrabbit does spend a considerable amount of time in the research lab during his off-season.
Although Zenner was accepted into the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, his admission is currently deferred due to his busy football career. However, while still playing football, he will stay involved with Sanford Health during his off-season.
Zenner recently visited Sanford Health’s research facilities and faculty in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to explore the available opportunities for his future. He will be working with Sanford Health remotely, as his career and family are in Michigan.
“One of the reasons why I came out here was just to meet with those people, and the leaders of those labs, and kind of see if there was a place in one of those where I fit in and could help out,” Zenner said.
To remain involved with the projects, he will familiarize himself with the science through data analysis. His role will revolve around sifting through data received from experiments and decide which information should be used to convey the results.
This isn’t Zenner’s first experience with a lab. He previously worked in a research lab in Michigan, and had his work published.
“It’s a fun little reward, and what it means to me in the future, I’ve been told by my mentors that it’s going to mean a lot,” he said.
While visiting, Zenner also went to the Sanford Sports Science Institute and took part in its sweat test, which measured his body’s output of sodium, potassium and chloride while engaging in physical activity. He said it will be useful to know the numbers, especially for future practices so he can determine what his body needs to recover from a workout.
Although he’s still determined to eventually go into the medical field, Zenner plans to play football as long as he can but recognizes it comes with constraints.
“I’ve already gotten one concussion, and that’s not something I’m going to play around with and get an accumulation of those,” he said.
He also acknowledges that it’s not always the player’s choice in how long he plays. Unexpected situations like injuries or contract changes may occur. Zenner said his plan is to continue to play football as long as he’s healthy and still enjoys it.
Like Zenner, some of his teammates are also preparing for a second career.
“If you go around the locker room, you’d be surprised at how many there are that are doing really neat things in their off-season,” he said.
Numerous players are heavily involved with philanthropy work, and one of them just published a book, is working on his master’s in theology and is an accomplished carpenter.
Through this next adventure, Zenner said he’s looking to learn new techniques and develop skills and a mindset that will prepare him for his future health care career. He’s keeping his mind open rather than focusing on a specific track in medicine.
“When I do get to that point and something catches my eye, I won’t be afraid to go in that direction and chase that down,” he said.
Zenner said he’s thankful for the relationship he has developed with Sanford Health over recent years because it’s helping him prepare for life after professional football.
“That’s been a huge part of that stability and that second career,” he said.
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Posted In Health Information, Orthopedics
