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Two Longhorn Athletic Training alumni inducted into NATA Hall of Fame

Article reposted from Texassports.com
Author: Texassports.com

Two athletic training alumni from The University of Texas were inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame as part of the 2017 class on Tuesday night in Houston. Mike O’Shea (University of Houston) and Kathy Dieringer (D&D Sports Medicine) were also presented with their rings by Allen Hardin, UT’s Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine at the event.

A 1968 graduate of The University of Texas, O’Shea, MA, LAT, ATC, worked as an athletic trainer at the Air Force Academy while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Following his service, he worked in both the professional and collegiate settings and, since 1993, he has served the University of Houston as head athletic trainer. In 1981, O’Shea wrote a book called “The History and Development of the NATA,” the first book to cover the history of the association. He donated proceeds from book sales to NATA. O’Shea has held many volunteer roles and received numerous awards at the state, district and national levels. He has been honored with the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society Distinguished Alumni Athletic Trainer award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, University of Houston Alumni Chairs Award, and he will be inducted into the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame this year. The Brenham, Texas native began his career in 1963 as a student assistant athletic trainer at Blinn College. He moved on to a student assistant role at Texas and after his time in the Air Force, earned his master’s degree from Kent State in 1974.

A 1984 graduate of The University of Texas, Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATCis the co-owner of D&D Sports Med, an outpatient rehabilitation company with three clinics in North Texas. She served two terms on the NATA board of directors from 2012 through 2016; two of which she was also secretary/treasurer. Among her other previous positions were chair of NATA’s Clinical and Emerging Practices Athletic Trainers’ Committee. She also chaired both the Texas Athletic Trainers’ Advisory Board Education Committee and the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association Women in Athletic Training Committee. Dieringer enjoyed terms as president, first vice president, second vice president and recording secretary of NATA District Six and was elected to its Hall of Fame. She received the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award and Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. Dieringer will also be honored at the Houston meeting with the Gail Weldon Award of Excellence, recognizing one athletic trainer each year who has displayed an exceptional commitment to mentoring, professional development and life balancing for woman athletic trainers or significant contributions to improve the health care of females provided by athletic trainers. Dieringer earned her master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University and doctoral degree from the University of North Texas.