Myron Rolle: From Football Field to Operating Room – A Story of Excellence
Myron Rolle's journey is a testament to the power of dedication, intellect, and service. From his early academic achievements to his success in college football, his time as a Rhodes Scholar, his brief stint in the NFL, and ultimately his pursuit of a career as a pediatric neurosurgeon, Rolle has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in all his endeavors.
Early Life and Academic Foundation
Born in Houston, Texas, on October 30, 1986, Myron Rolle's roots trace back to The Bahamas. After a brief return to Nassau following his birth, his family permanently settled in the United States. Raised in Galloway Township, New Jersey, Rolle's upbringing instilled in him a strong work ethic and a passion for both academics and athletics. His parents, Whitney and Beverly Rolle, emphasized the importance of education and service, values that would shape his future.
Rolle's academic prowess became evident early on. He attended the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, where he not only excelled in football, basketball, and track but also showcased his diverse talents by playing the saxophone in the school band, singing in a school play, and serving as the sports editor of the school newspaper. He later transferred to the Hun School of Princeton, where he continued to thrive academically and athletically, maintaining a remarkable 4.0 GPA.
At The Hun School of Princeton, Myron's athletic achievements on the football field gained national recognition. In 2006, recruiting services ranked him as the No. 1 high school football prospect in the country.
Collegiate Career at Florida State University
With a staggering 83 scholarship offers from Division I institutions, Myron chose to attend Florida State University (FSU). He was impressed by the school's capacity to allow him to excel both academically and athletically. He wanted a school that he enjoyed watching play football, that would accept all his Advanced Placement credits, and that had a medical school on campus.
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At FSU, Rolle excelled both on and off the field. He played as a safety, completing all necessary pre-medical requirements while earning his bachelor's degree in Exercise Science in just 2.5 years with a 3.75 grade point average. In 2006, he earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors and was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 2008, he earned Associated Press 3rd team All-American honors and was named 2nd team All-ACC by the Football Writers Association of America. Following the 2008 regular season, the FSU coaching staff presented him with the Bill McGrotha/Spirit Humanitarian Award.
During the 2008 season game versus the University of Miami Hurricanes, Seminoles defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews remarked that Rolle played the best and most complete game he has ever seen a safety play at Florida State University in his 25 years of coaching.
The Rhodes Scholarship
Myron Rolle's academic achievements, strength of character, and instinctive leadership skills culminated in him being awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship upon graduation from FSU in 2008. This scholarship enabled him to study at Oxford University in England. He became the fourth Florida State student and second school athlete to receive the honor, as well as the only FSU football player to do so.
His interview for the scholarship was originally scheduled at the same time as Florida State was to play at Maryland. The NCAA decided to allow Rolle to take a chartered plane from his interview in Birmingham, Alabama to College Park. He was awarded the scholarship less than three hours before the Florida State vs. Maryland game, which Florida State won 37-3.
Rolle announced on January 12, 2009, that he would first study at Oxford University for the 2009-10 academic year in order to earn an M.Sc. in Medical Anthropology.
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NFL Career and the Pull of Medicine
Rolle was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract on June 14, 2010. Rolle never appeared in a regular-season game for the Titans in 2010 and 2011.
In 2013, Rolle announced his intent to leave the NFL to attend medical school. He enrolled at Florida State University College of Medicine and graduated in May 2017. Rolle matched to a neurosurgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Currently, Rolle is a Global Neurosurgery Fellow at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Rolle credits his dedication, determination, preparedness, and adaptability forged on the football field for having primed him to successfully transition from a professional football career to a career in medicine.
Philanthropic Endeavors
Always a philanthropist, Dr. Rolle volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in high school where he helped build homes in Florida and West Virginia. He started the Myron L. Rolle Foundation in 2009, dedicated to the support of global health, wellness, educational, and other charitable initiatives benefitting children and families in need. In conjunction with the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida National Guard, Dr. Rolle provides mentorship and support to foster children in the state of Florida. Dr. Rolle is also building a free health clinic in Exuma, Bahamas, the homeland of his grandparents, to better service the residents of the family island. And most recently, Dr. Rolle was appointed by the Florida Speaker of the House to the Florida Healthy Choices Board and to the Knight Commission Board on Intercollegiate Athletics.
Recognition and Awards
Myron Rolle has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including:
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- Circle of Gold inductee by the FSU Alumni Association (202_)
- Associated Press Football All-American (2008)
- BET Male College Athlete of the Year (2008)
- Rhodes Scholarship (2008)
- All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors (2006)
- ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2006)
- Bill McGrotha/Spirit Humanitarian Award (2008)
The 2% Way: A Philosophy of Small Improvements
Dr. Myron L. Rolle has written a book titled "The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery". In this inspiring book, Dr. Rolle tells the story of his remarkable journey, revealing how a strong work ethic, deep faith, and the family values instilled by his Bahamian immigrant parents set the stage for the transformative life philosophy that enabled him to overcome adversity, defy expectations, and build a life of meaning and purpose.
The book reveals how he:
- Pursued academic excellence in his formative years despite economic and social pressures
- Navigated the challenges of playing football at the most elite levels
- Committed to a life of servant leadership for the most vulnerable populations
- Carved the unique path of training for the NFL draft while studying at Oxford
- Thrived in the high-pressure environment of neurosurgery
- Discovered the secret that making small improvements yields big results
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