Major: Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology
Minor: Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Jenna Diab is a Sid Richardson College sophomore majoring in Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology and minoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. As someone interested in pursuing a career in medicine and very invested in health from an exercise and nutritional standpoint, Jenna quickly found passion within the Kinesiology Department. After taking a few classes within the major and speaking with both faculty and students, she knew that Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology was the major for her.
In the summers of 2018 and 2019, Jenna was fortunate enough to participate in two Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills internships where she was able to learn various cardiothoracic procedures under many surgeons and had the opportunity to perform many congenital heart defect repairs on bovine hearts. When she is back home in Nashville, TN, Jenna volunteers at a local nonprofit called One Team One Goal where she is able to combine her love for both sports and service. She works with the founder to organize and coordinate various sporting events and games (soccer, football, basketball, cheerleading) for special needs children. From a young age, she has enjoyed spending free time helping her uncle at his pharmacies compounding and filling prescriptions. Jenna’s various experiences and early exposure to healthcare have inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.
Jenna has enjoyed all of the Kinesiology courses she has taken so far at Rice and cannot wait to get to explore many more. This past summer, Jenna and a fellow sophomore along with Department of Kinesiology professor Dr. Kabiri took the initiative to organize and found SARCOMERE: Students at Rice Committed to Optimizing Medical and Exercise Rehabilitation Education, a club organized with the intent of promoting networking amongst students within the major, professors and professionals as well as enhancing experiences and understanding within the fields of sports medicine, exercise and rehabilitation. She currently serves as Co President of the club and hopes to build SARCOMERE into a collaborative and educational environment for students within the major.
At Rice, Jenna is also a member of Rice Pre-Medical Society and American Medical Women’s Association and can often be found spending time with friends and around Sid, enjoying Houston sunsets or in line at Coffeehouse trying a new drink!
Jenna is extremely appreciative of the many opportunities she has received within her time at Rice and cannot wait to see the various things she will experience, knowledge she will gain and growth she will make. Jenna hopes to take advantage of her remaining 2.5 years at Rice before attending medical school and hopefully pursuing a career as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon or Dermatologist.