Category: Higher Education

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Athletic Training Program at Southern Miss Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The 2015-2016 academic year marks the 40th anniversary of the Athletic Training Program offered by The University of Sothern Mississippi’s School of Kinesiology.

In celebration, the Southern Miss Athletic Training Alumni Association will host a tailgate prior to the homecoming game Oct. 17 from 2-6 p.m. at Pride Field on the Hattiesburg Campus. All alumni of the program, professors and current athletic training students are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

“This tailgate is all about fellowship, food, and fun,” said Shawn Robinson, a 2009 alumna helping plan the anniversary tailgate. “Our hope is to bridge the gap between the past, present, and future alumni. We also aspire to assist the current students in the athletic training program in making valuable contacts.”

Before the tailgate, the Athletic Training Club is hosting the 20th annual Homecoming 5K at 8:30 a.m. at Pride Field.

“The 20th annual Homecoming 5K is our way to interact with some members of our community, while fundraising to send us to our biggest educational conference,” said Alex Pfefferle, senior athletic training major and president of the Athletic Training Club. “We enjoy putting on this run every year, and we are excited to have the support of the School of Kinesiology, alumni, friends, and family.”

Proceeds from the Homecoming 5K will benefit the Athletic Training Club and support students attending the Southeastern Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Athletic Training Student Symposium, where they will have an opportunity to learn and prepare for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification exam. The national certification exam is required to become a certified athletic trainer. The 2014-2015 graduating class boasts a 100 percent first time pass rate, surpassing the national average of 82 percent.

“I have only recently joined this great tradition but quickly recognized the rich history and tremendous importance of the Athletic Training Program at Southern Miss,” said Dr. Bill Holcomb, professor and director of athletic training. “Doc Harrington had a great vision over 40 years ago and brought in Jim Gallaspy to take the program forward.

“Today, the athletes in Mississippi are well cared for by the many graduates of this fine program. And now these graduates are giving back as preceptors who are helping us to educate future Mississippi certified athletic trainers. Homecoming will be a great day.”

The Athletic Training Program provides a challenging learning environment comprised of traditional classroom experiences, diverse clinical settings and emphasizes the importance of quality health care. Alumni from the athletic training program are employed at local and national orthopedic and physical therapy clinics, high schools, colleges and professional settings.

“As a graduate of the 2005 class, I attribute my professional successes to foundation characteristics of academic and clinical excellence, life-long learning, selfless service and unyielding perseverance that were instilled and nurtured during my years as an athletic training student at Southern Miss,” said Karen Sinclair, assistant professor of athletic training and women’s volleyball athletic trainer at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. “I am extremely grateful for the multi-disciplinary curriculum and the diversity of clinical experiences of my Southern Miss education.”

Robinson, a certified athletic trainer at Hattiesburg Clinic Sport Medicine, said the Athletic Training Program was three of the most difficult yet rewarding years of her life.

“The National Athletic Trainers’ Association was founded in 1950,” said Dr. Scott Piland, professor and director of the School of Kinesiology, also a certified athletic trainer. “I find it monumental that a degree awarding educational program was formed at Southern Miss within 25 years of the establishment of our guiding professional organization.

“Southern Miss faculty and staff anticipated the value of providing a standardized educational program to meet the rising requirements to enter the profession. It was quite visionary. That vision continues, as our program is the only one in Mississippi. As with each of our programs, the School of Kinesiology is looking forward to a Golden Future.”

To register for the 20th annual Homecoming 5K, visit www.usm.edu/kinesiology/homecoming-5k. For more information about the School of Kinesiology’s Athletic Training Program in The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Health, visit www.usm.edu/athletictraining.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.usm.edu/news/article/athletic-training-program-southern-miss-celebrates-40th-anniversary

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Seton Hall Students practice EAPs

The new school year has been well under way for graduate students in Seton Hall University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program. In August, first-year MSAT students participated in a practice drill of theDepartment of Athletics and Recreational Services’ Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Developed by the Seton Hall Sports Medicine staff, the EAP provides guidelines to follow throughout Seton Hall University Intercollegiate Athletics in the event of a medical emergency.

This realistic drill involved personnel from throughout the University and varied healthcare disciplines, including the Athletic Training staff, MSAT students from the School of Health and Medical Sciences, facilities staff members in the Department of Athletics and Recreational Services, Public Safety and Security and local EMS.

Emergency response drillEmergency scenarios were played out in the following on-campus locations:

  • Track in the recreation center
  • Poolside
  • Athletic training room
  • Baseball field

The MSAT students had a unique opportunity to integrate what they are learning in the classroom and to observe firsthand the importance of communication and working together with an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals in managing the care of the injured athlete during an emergency situation.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.shu.edu/news/article/517656#.VeWvV7xViko

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OSU Center for Health Sciences adds graduate program in athletic training

The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences is offering a new master’s degree in athletic training, the first of its kind associated with an osteopathic medical school in the country.

The athletic training degree program was relocated from OSU-Stillwater to the west Tulsa location, and the graduate program will be the first in a new School of Allied Health at the OSU Center for Health Sciences.

“Athletic trainers are health-care professionals who collaborate closely with physicians and other health-care providers to optimize activity and participation of athletes, patients and clients,” Center for Health Sciences President Kayse Shrum said in a statement. “The move to OSU Center for Health Sciences will help enhance the program by promoting early collaboration between our medical students and students in the athletic training program.”

Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations and disabilities.

The master of athletic training degree, which replaces a similar undergraduate program offered by the College of Education at OSU’s Stillwater campus, is the only athletic training program in the state aligned with a medical school and the only one in the country aligned with an osteopathic medical school, said Bruce Benjamin, Center for Health Sciences vice provost for graduate programs.

“Locating the program at OSU Center for Health Sciences will help establish the program as a leader in athletic training due to the collaboration opportunities available with the College of Osteopathic Medicine,” Benjamin said. “With changes in the field and accreditation requirements, it makes sense to align this allied health program as part of our medical school and health sciences graduate programs.”

The first group of seven graduate students began the 53 credit hour program in June. Faculty in the athletic training program in Stillwater are transitioning to the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa to launch the program.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/osu-center-for-health-sciences-adds-graduate-program-in-athletic/article_e8a475eb-5222-58e2-94c3-8f08683ed2de.html

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Keene State Athletic Training Alum Mentors Students

As part of a student athletic training internship program, Keene State students attend all home games and practices of the Connecticut Sun, a team in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Keene State’s connection to the Connecticut Sun team is making an impact on current Keene State students through Scot Ward, a 1990 Keene State grad and clinical coordinator in the College’s Athletic Training Program, and Jeremy Norman, a 1992 Keene State alum who has served as the Sun’s Head Athletic Trainer for the past nine years.

“I want to provide Keene State student trainers with an opportunity to learn and work in a professional setting and make connections that could lead to potential jobs down the road. You can never give enough back to the place that helped develop you,” said Norman, a Ledyard, CT native.

“Jeremy has a lot of respect for what we do in our athletic training program and as a proud alumnus is willing to help us out,” added Ward.

Madison Macaruso, a 2014 Keene State alum who is now working as an assistant athletic trainer at the Community College of Rhode Island, followed by Makayla Clarke, a 2015 Keene State grad, who recently began a job as a physical therapy aide with South County Orthopedic Specialists in Rhode Island were a couple of the first students to take part. Kelsey Cognetta, a senior athletic training major from Stanford, CT is taking advantage of the internship this summer.

“I can’t tell you how happy I was when I learned I got the internship,” said Cognetta. “It’s a great opportunity.”

“I think the world of Kelsey,” said Bob Merrow, Keene State Head Athletic Trainer. “I think she has tremendous potential. Scot thought the internship would be a good fit for her, and her internship is being incorporated into her academic curriculum.”

“We’re very proud of our alumni connections,” said Ward. “When people have good experiences at Keene State we try to nurture those relationships and provide learning opportunities for our current students. “Students benefit from the experiences and the alums take pride in giving back to the College.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.keene.edu/news/stories/detail/1438716830015/

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Meador observes 30th year as coordinator of athletic training services

Randy Meador, a native of Oxford, Ohio, is observing his 30th anniversary as the coordinator of athletic training for men’s basketball.

Associates will tell you he has done a wonderful job since taking over the position after serving one year as assistant trainer for football.Randy, who’s now 54, is a graduate of Miami University in Ohio. From there, he came to grad school at West Virginia University in 1985.Obviously, his degree was in athletic training. WVU celebrated its 40th anniversary of that program last weekend.

John Spiker, who recently retired from the university, was the founder and developer of that flourishing program. Meador indicates that he would not have done anything else in his career. “I’ve enjoyed working with young student-athletes very much, since starting with basketball at WVU.”

To bolster his vast knowledge about athletic training, he took courses in advanced athletic training at WVU while working here and received his graduate degree.Meador recalled that he worked very closely with John Spiker during the year when he was a graduate assistant in football athletic training on a daily basis.

“He’s very, very good,” Meador said of Spiker. “He knows all about athletic training.”

Meador has become well-versed with injuries athletes have suffered during his lengthy services at the university.

“I know what is expected of each athlete,” he said. “Football’s more of a contact sport than basketball is and that makes it different. I’ve seen more ankle sprains than any other type of injury.”

Randy and his wife Bev were college sweethearts at Miami of Ohio.

They have been married for 31 years.

They have two sons: Luke and Eli.

Meador will tell you that some of the student-athletes call him “Doc.” But not being a doctor, Meador prefers something more like Randy or Mr. Meador.

“Whatever, I want people thinking about athletic training.”

Meador said, “It has been a real joy working with the coaches over the years. Don Nehlen was the first coach I worked with when I came and assisted in football.

“They went to a bowl game that year and they all were very nice. The next year I moved to men’s basketball and I’m still there.”

He continued, “I enjoyed playing basketball and still do for fun during off-time. I was too skinny in high school. Our basketball team should be good again.”

He would have played basketball in high school and college but couldn’t because he was too skinny Randy said.

“But we had a team session where we like to play basketball for fun,” he recalled.

“I used to play with Garett Ford, Rocky Gianola and a lot of those guys who played the game well and for fun.”

Those included people from the physical education dept.

“It’s been a pleasure having a job where you work with these people every day. The athletic department is a great place to work and I know Morgantown is a great place to live.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

http://www.bdtonline.com/sports/sports_columns/meador-observes-th-year-as-coordinator-of-athletic-training-services/article_16d2627c-30ee-11e5-bee5-c7304e6c6804.html