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When Vanessa Brooks joined the NBA in 2019, she broke new ground as the first Black woman dual-certified as a physical therapist and Athletic Trainer, realizing a dream that even her mentors doubted.
Her journey began with a passion for basketball that turned into a medical career following an injury.
"I always liked basketball. Unfortunately basketball did not like me. That’s when I found out a lot more about physical therapy.”
She has been all about shattering ceilings and forging paths in a field where Black women are notably underrepresented.
According to National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) data, Black women accounted for only 2%-4% of the total female membership from 2003 to 2016, reflecting broader diversity issues within allied health professions.
Brooks' career took her from an initial exposure to sports medicine at the University of Georgia to significant roles in professional sports teams and educational institutions. Before her NBA stint, she served as the Head Athletic Trainer and physical therapist for the Oklahoma City Blue, the G League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Her educational path included a doctorate from Emory University, where she also earned certifications in strength and conditioning and dry needling, culminating in several awards for community service and professional excellence.
Her work extends beyond the NBA; Brooks co-founded a preventive injury sports medicine program linking Durham's AAU basketball teams with Duke Sports Medicine. She also ventured into public health, starting an Athletic Trainers' Union in Atlanta and working as an EMT in the Ortho-Trauma unit at Grady Hospital.
Brooks describes her journey as demanding yet fulfilling, emphasizing the importance of persistence and resilience in pursuing one's dreams.
Her story is not just inspiring for those in sports medicine but for anyone facing barriers in their professional lives. Vanessa Brooks stands as a testament to the power of determination and the importance of representation in high-level athletics.
"Please do not let anyone tell you that you can’t do something."
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