Jacob Freeman, a graduate of the postbaccalaureate pre-physician assistant program at Elms, provides medical support to the New England Patriots.

Jacob Freeman joined the medical staff at Massachusetts General Hospital. No small feat, considering MGH was recently ranked the #1 hospital on the East Coast, according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals. But for Jacob, his entry into professional medicine continued to skyrocket. How did he top MGH? By finding a way to also work for another well-known organization: the NFL.

In addition to working in MGH’s Sports Medicine Center, Jacob has the distinct privilege of serving as a physician assistant-certified (PA-C®) for six-time Super Bowl champs the New England Patriots.

“When my attending physician offered me the job, I was excited, surprised, and immediately humbled,” Jacob said. “I’ve always been a football fan, but rooting for the team is a little different now, because of the relationships I’ve made with the players.”

Originally from Longmeadow, MA, Jacob holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Lynden State College in Vermont and completed his pre-medical studies at Elms because the faculty and staff greeted him with “open arms.” His cohort — which was the very first class to take advantage of the Lyons Center for Natural and Health Sciences — thrived off of collaboration and constant communication. Jacob credits this supportive feedback loop with making his experience at Elms successful.

“We held study groups every day and made sure everyone understood the topic in full,” he recalled. “I felt like I was treated more like a professional rather than a student during my time at Elms.”

On any given day, Jacob spends his time in the orthopaedic clinic tending to athletes and non-athletes alike. His responsibilities run the gamut, from assisting surgeons in the operating room to ordering diagnostic scans like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. When attending physicians are pressed for time, it’s PAs like Jacob who nurture interactions with patients.

“As a PA it’s our duty to listen longer, be empathetic, do no harm, and respect everyone who walks in the door. A little kindness and listening goes a long way.”


Jacob holds himself to impeccable professional standards similar to those of the world-class athletes who are his patients. He’s always striving to learn something new, and was invited back to Bay Path University — his alma mater PA school — to interview prospective students to turn their passions into careers.

“I’m on the path to become a master in this field as a physician assistant,” he said. “I’ve devoted my life to athletics, so making the transition to sports medicine was an easy one.”

This story was published in the Fall issue of Elms Magazine.
Click here for more information about pre-physician assistant studies at Elms.