People need the ability to perform at their best for the opportunities they have – whether clearing their pasture, tossing a Frisbee with grandkids, or tackling a 225-pound running back.
That’s the philosophy of Birmingham native Jeremy Towns, M.D., a physician with UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine who also helps care for the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions football team. His position is symbolic of his full-circle journey from standout high school athlete to NFL player to UAB Medicine physician. This uncommon path influenced how Dr. Towns connects with all of his patients.
Childhood memories
Dr. Towns remembers being mesmerized by a stethoscope as a child. “Not the instrument itself, but how it seemed to reassure people in the hands of a doctor,” he said. One Halloween, he even dressed up as doctor, wearing a set of scrubs that said “Emergency” on them – ironic, given that he also specializes in emergency medicine.
He tucked these moments away as he grew into a formidable athlete. A Wenonah High School football standout, he received a scholarship to play defensive tackle at Samford University under legendary Coach Pat Sullivan.
Despite those early successes, Dr. Towns’ mother provided a healthy dose of reality and insisted that he prepare for life beyond football. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in sports medicine and applied for medical school as he also prepared for pro day, which is an opportunity to attract interest from NFL scouts. “My acceptance letter to medical school came in the day before pro day,” Dr. Towns recalled.
He attended a rookie minicamp for the New York Jets but didn’t get an immediate offer, so he went on a mission trip to Dominica – a last detour before medical school. When he returned home, however, he found a six-day-old voice message inviting him to try out for the Washington Commanders. He was relieved to discover that the team was still interested, and he received an offer to play. However, his first priority was making sure that his spot in medical school would be safe once he was ready. “I was literally in the locker room calling the admissions folks,” he said.
Professional moves
For two years, Dr. Towns moved among several NFL rosters and developed a unique perspective on the challenges of staying healthy and navigating the ups and downs of most professional football careers.
“It was such a great opportunity that kids dream about, but at the same time, a lot of the guys who were grinding it out would say how much they envied me for having a next thing lined up,” Dr. Towns said. “At some point, I realized I’d get more fulfillment out of keeping these guys healthy than being one of them.”
After finishing medical school at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Towns assumed he’d go north for his residency. He considered programs in Ohio, Kentucky, and New York, where he still had close connections. But when he interviewed at UAB Medicine, something just clicked.
Coming home
“The program director talked with me about legacy, and it struck a chord,” Dr. Towns said. “I had a lot I wanted to do back home here; I had started a college ministry, and all of my family were here. Plus, the expertise available to me at UAB went toe to toe with any other program.”
Emergency medicine clicked for Dr. Towns, as he enjoyed the urgency and adrenaline of stabilizing critical patients. After three years at UAB Medicine, he pursued non-operative sports medicine training at Andrews Sports Medicine. UAB then gave him a unique opportunity to practice both specialties.
Today, Dr. Towns splits his time between practicing sports and exercise medicine at UAB Medicine Primary & Specialty Care of Gardendale and working in the UAB Hospital Emergency Department. Each patient receives the same level of care that he provides to Birmingham Stallions players.
“Whether you are back and forth between the NFL and USFL or on the verge of that next opportunity to succeed, an injury can be devastating,” Dr. Towns said. “Nobody schedules time to be injured, and a lot of us don’t have substitutes for our positions – folks need to get back to what they do.”
Those positions could be athlete, weekend warrior, or a mom dealing with wrist pain while caring for a newborn. “Everybody’s performing to do something,” Dr. Towns said. “I want to help them make the most of it.”
Click here to learn more about UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine.