Tampa. Fla. - USF defensive end Kirk Livingstone is having a strong start to the season for the Bulls. Kirk had a key tipped ball that led to a game-sealing interception against Georgia Tech. He also helped lead the USF defense in a second half comeback against Illinois last week.Away from the field, though, Kirk is known for something else: his work as a pre-med major. Kirk has spent the last three summers at the USF Pharmacy inside the Morsani Center of Advanced Healthcare.

“My mom is nurse. Just seeing my mom helping people as a nurse – that is something I have always wanted to do,” said Livingstone.

In fact, Livingstone’s inspiration to get into medicine came back during the early part of his high school years. Kirk had come down with an illness and was taken to an ER to figure out what was wrong.

“I was extremely sick,” recalled Livingstone. “Just seeing the way the doctor was working to make me better is something I would like to do for kids.”

The path chosen by Kirk certainly isn’t an easy one. During a visit to the USF Pharmacy, Kirk told me he was always grinding between practice of football and practice of medicine.

“I am sometimes coming here and I am tired from workouts,” said Livingstone.” But I have to tell myself that this is something that is going to help me and this is something I can’t pass up.”

And so far…it’s been worthwhile…Kirk’s mental toughness on the field and in the classroom has earned him praise from both his coaches and medical mentors.

“I always tell him that he is as good as our Pharmacy students,” said Dr. Meriam Gendi, who is one of the pharmacy managers and a mentor to Kirk. “He catches on so quickly.”

“Kirk is such an impressive young man,” said USF head coach Charlie Strong. “I talk so much about life after football. He has such a great perspective. I wish all my guys could just be like him in the classroom.”

“He’s a role model to guys in our locker room,” said USF defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary. “(Kirk) is a guy you are proud of when he steps off of campus and gives the community the type of person that we want our student athletes to be.”

Kirk has also taken his time in the USF Pharmacy and labs to new heights. Last season Kirk hurt his hand. He wanted to create a cream to help with the reduction of inflammation.

“He loves the research and compounding parts,” said Dr. Gendi. “I can see the passion and he is definitely on his way.”

Kirk is eyeing placement into a Physician’s Assistant program. His top three choices are USF, FIU and FAU. However, Kirk is in no hurry to rush away from his love of football. He enjoys helping this USF team in its underdog role.

“I love football. I love medicine,” said Kirk. “It’s great to be able to do both.”