Caption: Justice Marin outside of Alan Magee Scaife Hall at the University of Pittsburgh.
By Kat Procyk
Photography by Rayni Shiring/University of Pittsburgh
Justice Marin, a third-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has been an athlete for most of his life.
Growing up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, he participated in a variety of sports—from wrestling to track and field—but ultimately committed to lacrosse, playing both club and NCAA as an undergraduate at SUNY Purchase.
The hardest part? The injuries.
“Anytime I got hurt, I couldn’t fully contribute to my teams,” Marin said. “Those experiences gave me a personal appreciation for the role of orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians and rehabilitation specialists early-on. They helped me recover and return to competition.”
Marin paid that care forward while attending the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp this summer and working with the team’s medical staff as part of the NFL Diversity in Sports Medicine Pipeline Initiative. In the program, launched in 2022, medical students in the program complete a clinical rotation with NFL club medical staff, including orthopaedic physicians, athletic trainers, dietitians and mental health clinicians, across the league to gain basic medical knowledge and exposure to patient care in sports medicine.
“Working under the guidance of a sports medicine physician—and in close collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons—is both surreal and rewarding,” Marin said. “The environment is vibrant, fast-paced and full of energy. Patients here are actively involved in their care, and the level of trust and collaboration between them and their medical team is unlike any other clinical setting I’ve encountered.”
Marin observed the coordinated efforts between the entire medical team to prevent, assess and treat injuries. He expects that their collaboration will be invaluable to the career he is pursuing as a surgeon who specializes in sports medicine.
“One of my biggest takeaways from the program is how critical multidisciplinary teamwork is to ensuring optimal performance and recovery,” Marin said.
Marin’s goal is to approach patient care through a kinesthetic and proprioceptive lens to support individuals who engage with the world through movement and physical challenge. His mission is to collaborate with athletes at all levels to elevate performance while prioritizing long-term health and resilience.
Marin, whose family comes from Pittsburgh, considers himself a lifelong Steelers fan. Even while growing up in a neighborhood dominated by Giants and Jets fans, he and his family watched Steelers games weekly. Marin came to admire the intensity, focus and dedication the players demonstrated. In his first year of medical school, Marin learned about the sports medicine pipeline program through a former participant. The program immediately stood out as a chance to blend his lifelong passion for sports with his growing interest in orthopaedic surgery—all in the city he calls his second home
“It gave me a chance to support the team I love and care about so deeply,” Marin said.