OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former fullback for the Huskers who used to hit linebackers is now hitting the books while studying the business of medicine.

Justin Makovicka is the first person scheduled to complete the University of Nebraska’s dual business-medicine graduate degree program.

He hopes to be an orthopedic surgeon. He’s on track to receive an M.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a master of business administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha next spring.

Makovicka says he admired the work of the medical team who cared for a nephew who had a football-related brain injury as a sixth grader. He left the University of Nebraska football team as a senior to focus on preparing for medical school.