Category: NATM2016

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Linfield College Celebrates NATM2016

Linfield College will host a series of events to raise awareness of athletic training, and the many benefits it provides to athletes, even before injuries happen.

“We need awareness for athletic trainers because the vast majority of the population doesn’t understand our role in the medical field. We often get mistaken for personal trainers in a weight room and not medical professionals,” Linfield student Abby Hendricks said in an email.

There also has been a page set up through the school to help raise funds for a student trip in June to the National Athletic Training meeting in Baltimore.

“Some people have the misconception that we have limited training and knowledge of injury. However, we serve as a constant support system to athletes because of how often we work with them, usually daily. Because of this consistent contact with our athletes it gives us a great opportunity to treat our athletes holistically, focusing on the body and the mind,” Linfield student Kami Vermillion said in a statement from the school.

Here is more information provided in a press release by students in the program:

AT Program Seminar — 3 p.m. March 26

  • The event will be open to the public
  • People will be allowed to go through the Linfield Treatment Center and have a hands-on experience learning about the athletic training profession

All- Sports Clinic — March 29

  • Activity conducted as part of Linfield celebration of Women in History Month
  • Open to children K-8th grade at Linfield from 5:30-7 p.m.
  • This event will teach children about women in sports and also about women in the athletic training profession

Crowd Fund Me Page established – began on Feb. 26 and will remain active until April 1

Social media accounts:

  • These accounts were set up so people can learn about the profession of athletic training.
  • People can follow them at:

Facebook: Linfield  ATEP

Instagram: Linfield_ATEP

Twitter: LinfieldATEP

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Arkansas High School Recognizes Athletic Trainer and NATM2016

Continuing to impact the numerous student-athletes to enhance their abilities of preventing and treating injuries here in Hope Public Schools, Angelo Goshen is being recognized for his professional and expertise as an athletic trainer and educator. Due to Goshen’s excessive time and dedication to the athletic programs in Hope, he’s received special recognition this month from the Hope High School staff, faculty and students to honor “National Athletic Training Month.”

During the month of March, athletic trainers across america are being recognized for their commitment to helping people prevent injuries and stay healthy and active. Athletic trainers are health care professionals and highly educated and dedicated to the job at hand. AT’s can be found in high schools, colleges, corporations, professional sports, the military, performing arts and clinics, hospitals and physician offices.

National Athletic Training Month is held every March in order to spread awareness about all that athletic trainers do.

Goshen has provided his skills of training and it’s been a major asset to all of Hope athletic programs.

It’s been awarding to the entire Hope athletic programs to have an athletic trainer on board and more importantly a certified expert such as Goshen to be available for all student-athletes in Hope Public Schools.

Goshen said having a strong passion for sports and wanting to help others such as athletes is one of the reasons to choose this profession.

Since his act of duty, several student-athletes have been treated of injures by Goshen. His knowledgeable judgement has made a major effect on the athletes and also the opposing teams during games by Goshen’s presence.

According to the NATA (National Athletic Trainer’s Association), AT’s are experts, save lives, take responsibility and lower risk and is the health care system for athletes and others. NATA also represents and supports 43,000 members of the athletic training profession employed in colleges and universities, high schools, professional sports, clinics and hospitals as well as corporate and industrial settings.

With the severeness of serious injuries such as brain and spinal cord injuries and conditions as heat illness can be life threatening if not recognized and properly handled.

A goal is to continue to reach those individuals and organizations that can help make a difference for athletic trainers when it comes to legislation, employment and public health.

As the AT, Goshen has completed a full year of active duty of all fall and spring sports for Hope; two seasons of football and basketball, now currently in the second rotation of baseball, softball, soccer and track and field. Students continue to learn the valuable education assets of athletic training through the sports medicine curriculum Goshen teaches at Hope High School.

To study more about NATM and all the events that take place around the nation to celebrate athletic training, go to http://www.nata.org/national–athletic–training–month.

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Gadsden State Community College Celebrates NATM2016

No one wants to have to use their services but, when it’s necessary, athletes sure are happy to see them coming. Athletic trainers are as important to sports teams as the coaches. Their skills and expertise assist athletes’ health and wellness so they continue competing in the sport they love. During the month of March, National Athletic Training Awareness Month celebrates athletic trainers and spreads awareness about all they do for athletes.

Athletic trainer services comprise prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. They collaborate with physicians and are recognized by the American Medical Association as health care professionals.

Athletic Training 1

Natalie Snider, a pre-athletic training student, allows a fellow student to practice injury wrapping during a recent class.

Aspiring athletic trainers can start their career path at Gadsden State Community College under the watchful eye of instructor Lance Gilliland. He teaches students enrolled in the College’s Pre-athletic Training Program the skills necessary to prevent, treat and manage injuries that may occur on the court or on the field.

“Being a pre-athletic training instructor certainly has its benefits,” he said. “I love seeing students have that ‘aha!’ moment. I love seeing them grasp concepts and the light bulb go off.”

While in high school, Gilliland witnessed athletes get injured playing sports and thought someone needed to be there to help them. He went to a community college to become a physical therapy assistant but soon changed his focus to sports medicine. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master’s of Education from Jacksonville State University. He eventually used his training to teach others. A decade ago, he started teaching massage therapy at Gadsden State but later decided to try something different. With the help from now-retired deans Connie Meloun and Dr. Jim Jolly, the Pre-Athletic Training program was born.

Athletic Training 2

Suzanne Haynes practices wrapping an injured muscle on Natalie Snider

 

“We wanted to create a new health science program that would benefit students and teachers alike,” he said.

“It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to teach others to use a spine board on an athlete with suspected spine or head trauma or a stability ball to increase the strength of an athlete’s injured muscle or cold therapy tubs used to reduce inflammation. Gilliland teaches students to use a deep-heating treatment for soft tissue injuries to increase the rate of healing as well as using moist heat therapy aids to penetrate muscles and increase circulation to aching muscles. Even teaching different wrap techniques is important.

“On Day 1 of class, I send my students home with a roll of athletic tape that has to be brought back to class torn in strips,” he said. “It sounds strange, but there is an art to tearing cotton tape because of the technique used. Students come back feeling comfortable and accomplished after a full roll of torn tape, and they’re ready to begin practicing.”

Taping athletes injured body parts correctly is considered an “art form” by Gilliland.  “Every person’s body shape is different and applying flat tape to rippled muscles can get complicated,” he said.

Hands-on experience is essential to athletic training. To help learn about human anatomy and how muscles overlap, Gilliland takes the students outside the classroom to learn, such as going to The Factory in Rainbow City to see how jumping, running and throwing effect each muscle group. A visit to Gadsden State’s cadaver lab allows the students to see the layering of the human muscle and the importance of a great tape job. Students also to go a compounding pharmacy to learn how compounds directly applied to an injury site relieve pain and inflammation.

“The hands-on approach that our program has, shows students how demanding their jobs will be and makes them aware of their strengths and weaknesses so they may prepare for and advance in an athletic training career,” Gilliland said.

Athletes like Courtney Rowe benefit from the Pre-Athletic Training Program by being treated with an electric stim unit and wet heat therapy as maintenance on a recent hyper-extended knee and an old torn meniscus injury.

“The therapy really helps relieve my pain so I can get on with practice and playing the game,” said Rowe, who is a member of the Gadsden State Cardinals volleyball team.

A football injury as a teenager is what led Jarvis Jones to enroll in the Pre-Athletic Training Program at Gadsden State.

Instructor Lance Gilliland demonstrates wrapping an injury on student Brad Montgomery.

Instructor Lance Gilliland demonstrates wrapping an injury on student Brad Montgomery.

“While going through rehabilitation, I became interested in the idea of helping others recuperate from traumatic injuries,” said Jones, who is retired from the Navy. “I enjoyed the conversations I had with my therapist and I valued the services provided to me.”

When he returned to Gadsden after his military service, he knew he wanted to pursue his dream of helping others.

“Gadsden State was close to home and affordable,” he said. “Plus, it had the perfect program to help me begin a successful career in athletic training. I would eventually like to be working on a professional level in the NBA, MLB, NCAA or NHL.”

Helping others is also the reason Gadsden State student Natalie Snider enrolled in the Pre-Athletic Training Program.

“I personally would like to be an athletic trainer on the field to help keep kids safe,” she said. “I was inspired to an athletic trainer when I was young and saw a young girl playing softball take a hard hit to the face. I just remember wanting to help her. I knew I wanted to be the person to help prevent injuries, treat injuries and comfort the players during those scary moments.”

Gilliland said compassion is an important attribute for any athletic trainer along with punctuality, knowledge, and confidence.  “They have to have the confidence to continue their education at a four-year university and feel comfortable at a fast-paced, high-stress work environment,” he said. “Last but not least, athletic trainers have to have a sense of humor. Laughter is the best medicine and can help calm your athletes’ nerves and fears so that you can do your job efficiently. Humor helps you be as fresh for a 9 p.m. basketball games as you were at the 9 a.m. baseball game that morning.”

For more information about the Pre-athletic Training Program contact Gilliland at 256-549-8283 orlgilliland@gadsdenstate.edu.

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Gettysburg College Celebrates NATM2016

March is National Athletic Training Month and Gettysburg College is proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of the men and women keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe.

For nearly nine decades, the members of the athletic training staff have tended to the needs of thousands of collegiate athletes at Gettysburg. Currently, a staff of five full-time employees provides medical advice for nearly 600 athletes across 24 intercollegiate varsity sports competing at the NCAA Division III level.

Mike Cantele has been the head athletic trainer since 2008 and he is in the midst of his 26th year overall at Gettysburg. A 1988 graduate of the College, Cantele earned a degree in health and physical education and learned from Gettysburg Hall of Honor members and former head athletic trainers Lefty Biser ’57 and Joe Donolli. Cantele earned his master’s degree from Old Dominion University in 1990.

Cantele has established his presence away from campus grounds as well. In 2007, he was named the head athletic trainer for the U.S. women’s lacrosse national team. He served in that role as the team won gold medals at the World Cup in 2009 and 2013.

Cantele oversees administrative duties and works with several teams, including women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse. Additionally, he is married to Gettysburg head women’s lacrosse coach Carol Cantele ’83. His daughter, Ashlie, and his niece and nephew, Caitlin and Kevin, are all Gettysburg grads.

Kerry Garrett enjoyed Gettysburg so much she came back to campus after a short stint away. Garrett spent two years on staff from 2002-04 working with the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams. She returned in 2007 and has become an associate athletic trainer. In between her stints with the Bullets, she worked for UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pa., at Carnegie Mellon University. Additionally, Garrett spent time working with the Pittsburgh Ballet, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Pittsburgh Passion.

Garrett earned her undergraduate degree at Slippery Rock University and attained her master’s in athletic training from Old Dominion University. She also played field hockey at The Rock, earning all-conference accolades as a sophomore.

Garrett, who works with the football and basketball teams among others, came back to Gettysburg with husband and current women’s soccer coach Matt Garrett. The pair has two daughters, Isabella and Charlotte

Katie Foelber came to Gettysburg as an assistant athletic trainer fresh off attaining her master’s at McDaniel College in 2008. Foelber earned her bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Messiah College in 2006 and worked with many of the Falcons’ nationally-ranked programs. She was no stranger to the battlefield prior to her arrival, having worked various summer camps in the years prior to becoming a full-time member of the staff. Foelber has also worked with the Lancaster Orthopedics Group and Baltimore’s Major League Lacrosse team, the Bayhawks.

At Gettysburg, Foelber has worked with men’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and softball through the years. She is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). She and her husband, Brett, have a daughter, Blake.

Lindsey Repp is in her seventh year as an assistant athletic trainer at Gettysburg. Repp received her undergrad degree in athletic training from Messiah in 2009 and she completed her master’s in exercise science from California (Pa.) University in 2011. Like Foelber, Repp arrived at Gettysburg right after earning her undergraduate diploma. As a student at Messiah, she worked many of Gettysburg’s summer athletic camps and she also performed the same duties at nearby Mount St. Mary’s University.

Repp currently serves as the primary athletic trainer for football and field hockey. She has worked with the Bullets’ baseball team in each of her seven seasons.

In December 2010, Repp and Foelber flew to Haiti to aid in the relief effort following the devastating earthquake that hit the country the previous January. Their projects included painting some of the newly constructed buildings and playing with children at the local orphanage in Port-au-Prince.

The newest member of the athletic training staff is Katie Olenek, who is in the midst of her third year as an assistant athletic trainer at Gettysburg. Olenek arrived in Gettysburg following a stint as an assistant athletic trainer at St. Francis (Pa.) University. At St. Francis, she saw to the needs of Division I student-athletes, including women’s lacrosse, volleyball, and bowling.

Olenek earned her B.S. in health science from Lock Haven University. She went on to serve as a graduate assistant and a fitness instructor at Bloomsburg University before completing her master’s work in exercise science at California (Pa.) University in 2011.

Like her athletic training colleagues at Gettysburg, Olenek works with all student-athletes, but sports she focuses on specifically include volleyball, wrestling, and men’s lacrosse.

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Research warns against students specializing in one sport

The month of March may be all about the Madness, but it’s also National Athletic Training Month.

In honor of this month, the Department of Kinesiology at UW-Madison is busy collecting data about high school athletes.

“There’s certain orthopedic injuries that used to be reserved for baseball players with 20 years of experience,” assistant professor, David Bell, said.

“Now they’re seeing them in kids that are 14 and 15,” he continued.

Bell said there’s speculation sports specialization has something to do with this, but there’s little research to back it up.

“We’re one of the first people to publish data,” he said.

“Probably the second group to publish data on this particular topic.”

Though data may be hard to find there are coaches who believe multi-sport athletes make for the healthier teammate.

“There’s a reason these injuries are getting more increased,” Sun Prairie High School coach, Brian Kaminski said.

“One of the biggest reasons is kids specializing in one sport. Using that same muscle over and over [and] not taking a break,” he continued.

Students like high school junior, Nate Verstegen, agreed.

Verstegen attributes playing a variety of sports to being a well rounded athlete.

“I’m working on my body,” he said.

“I’m getting stronger, and I’m also getting mentally tougher as I go along and I’m trying to compete at that next level hopefully.”

Because he plays more than one sport Verstegen may just be able to hold on to that hope. According to the research he’s less likely to have knee and hip injuries.

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Franklin College Celebrates NATM2016

The Franklin College athletic department is joining colleague nationwide in celebrating a National Athletic Training Association initiative promoting fitness, health, and preventing injuries throughout March, national athletic trainers month.

Athletic trainers across America are being recognized for their many contributions to helping people prevent injuries, and staying healthy and active. Athletic trainers are health care professionals who can be found helping people at high school, college, and professional sports events; assisting at corporate, military, and performing arts activities, and providing services at medical clinics, hospitals, and physician offices.

Franklin College’s Head Athletic Trainer Chris Shaff was honored as the 2013 Athletic Trainer of the Year, by the Indiana Athletic Training Association. He works with the baseball team during the spring athletics season.

Meanwhile, athletic training duties at other spring sports are handled by staff members Kelly Zimmerman, for track and field; Chasity Wilson, with women’s lacrosse; and Greg Taylor, for softball.

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Adena Health Systems Celebrates NATM2016

Adena Health System is proud to recognize and honor its Athletic Trainers during 2016 National Athletic Training Month. Adena provides the services of athletic trainers to 10 local high schools at no cost to each school district. The trainers work at their assigned schools every day, providing access to quality care for all student-athletes.

Adena’s Athletic Training Program includes: 10 athletic trainers at eight schools in Ross, Pike, and Jackson Counties. Schools where Adena athletic trainers work, include: Chillicothe, Adena, Huntington, Paint Valley, Southeastern, Unioto, Zane Trace, Waverly, Piketon, and Oak Hill. Adena also supplies trainers to the Chillicothe Paints Prospect League Baseball team.

Adena’s Athletic Training Program not only provides immediate care to the athletes, but also offers peace of mind for the students, parents, and coaches.

“By being at the schools on a regular basis, and the parents seeing you at games and practices, they appreciate knowing there is someone to take care of their child in the event they become injured,” said Lead Athletic Trainer Shane Wells. “It’s a comfort for them to have trainers they can trust, as well as someone to talk to and navigate them through any care or recovery.”

The Adena Athletic Training program is vital to the success and safety of the region’s high school athletic programs, and is valued by school administrators.

“I like having the immediate attention of an athletic trainer to assess the possibly of a severe injury,” said Jeff Reuter, principal, Piketon High School. “Having the trainers at the games to diagnose problems helps keep the kids a little calmer in a tough situation.”

Waverly High School Principal Ashlee Stulley added, “Having a trainer at our school helps parents, coaches and athletes identify serious injuries that need more in depth medical attention They help provide treatment for minor injuries, and our students feel secure knowing a trainer will evaluate them and provide necessary treatment and counsel if they need it.”

Overall, Adena’s Athletic Trainers work with an estimated 2,125 athletes each year in 22 sports. In 2015, the program had nearly 19,000 encounters among student-athletes and the community.

For more information about Adena and its services, visit www.adena.org.

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Texas High School Athletic Trainers Honored for NATM2016

March is National Athletic Training Month, Sulphur Springs head athletic trainer Tammy Carrell offered some of her comments and thoughts on her chosen profession and members of the staff at the school.
“I asked my athletic training students to write what they wanted the community to know about athletic trainers. The following is what they wrote,” Carrell said.
“Athletic trainers are basically the ‘care takers’ of the athletes, cheerleaders, drill team, band members, coaches, and each other. We are always the first to arrive at an event and usually the last ones to leave. Being an athletic trainer. You usually are expected to do your job the best you can with little to no recognition. We aren’t really noticed by the community or the school for our work. But knowing that we can rehabilitate the injured athletes or prevent some injuries is self-rewarding. Athletic training is a very demanding job. We are at every practice and at every game, even staying later to make sure everything is cleaned and put together for the next time. Athletic training is a great program because we learn to manage our time and responsibilities. We learn communication and people skills that prepare us for jobs in the future. This month be sure to take the time and thank and appreciate your communities’ athletic trainers.
Carrell said, “This year is a little special to us at Sulphur Springs ISD. This spring marks 25 years of Athletic Training at SSISD. Spring 1991- 1997 Melissa Lasseter (1995-1997 Melissa Keys Assistant); 1997-1998 Eric Teller; 1998-2000 Melissa Lasseter (1999-2000 Toby Cason GA from TAMU-C);2000-2004 Chad McCune (2000-2001 Tammy Carrell GA from TAMU-C)(2003-2004 Michael Hammonds GA from TAMU-C) 2004-2006 Matt Torbett; 2006-Present Tammy Carrell;  (2006-2007 Melissa Pipins GA from TMF)
(2007-2008 Michael Hammonds worked as a contract Athletic Trainer for game coverage)
(2008-2009 Jessica Savage worked as a first aid provider)
(2009-2010 Jacklyn Nance was hired as an assistant and provided coverage at the SSMS)
(2010-2016 Josh Neill was hired as an assistant athletic trainer and a coach)
(2014-present Brad Abell was hired as an assistant at the high school. He also teaches health science technology classes)
Carrell said, “I have seen several changes in the 10 years that I have been here. My first year I had an assistant that helped out after school. It was basically all on my shoulders. High School and Middle school. I came to the high school in the mornings for morning rehab. Then I went to the middle school for any injuries and paperwork. I covered all home games, sometimes running back and forth between games. Sometimes it was baseball and softball and sometimes it was basketball and soccer.
Things really got more manageable when we hired Josh Neill at the middle school. He covered all middle school including all their paperwork. He would come help at the High School when I had more than one event to cover. In 2014 we hired Brad Abell at Sulphur Springs High School. He teaches health science technology during the day. His last class of the day is eighth period athletics. He also helps cover basketball and softball. In the fall you are busy but you only have a couple sports going on at the same time. In the spring you have everything else going on. With Texas weather you never know the changes that will be made. You just have to be flexible and go with it. With the help of my assistants and the help of my athletic training students it is more manageable. My students put in a lot of hours helping out with all the sports our district offers. The get what we need for practice, they clean it, and put it up so it is ready for another day. They also have class time where they learn CPR, First aid, and the myriad tasks of being an athletic trainer. It is a lot more than just showing up and handing out water on a hot summer day. We are like family, we love each other. Some days we all get along and everything is great and some days we know deep down we all love each other. I have been very blessed to have an amazing group of athletic training students.”
Carrell added, “Some of my previous MVP Students are: EmmaLee Spivey, Jessica Savage, Bailea Godwin, Kayla Townsend, Danesha Peoples, Keelie Wizer, Andrea Vazquez, Drew Cross, and Jonna Higginbotham. I still keep in touch with them. It is very rewarding to see them go on in life and succeed in life. I just hope I made a positive impact in their lives.”

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Muskingum Athletic Trainer Speaks to Rotary Club for NATM2016

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March is National Athletic Training Month.

And in honor of National Athletic Training Month, Muskingum University Director and Assistant Professor of Athletic Training Ken Blood spoke to Zanesville Noon Rotary Tuesday.

“Athletic training as a profession is ever evolving. I’ve been doing this for 35 years and there are topics that we talk about today, that I didn’t have in class when I was in undergraduate education. We’re always evolving with the demands of our athletics and what the issues are,” said Blood.

Blood also shared advice for aspiring athletic trainers.

“I would recommend if somebody is a high school junior or high school senior they may want to maybe shadow the athletic trainer at their high school. Certainly, they can contact myself or anyone of my staff at Muskingum come over and maybe shadow one of us. And that way they can see if this is really what they want to do. And that will also give us an opportunity to educate that student on what it takes, how you qualify for national board exams, how you qualify for your state license, and set them on the path to take them in that direction ” said Blood.

If you are interested in learning more, contact email Ken Blood at kblood@muskingum.edu.

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A day in the life of a high school athletic trainer

In honor of National Athletic Training Month this March, I talked to high school athletic trainer Amy Virden, MS, ATC, CSCS about her role in treating and keeping young athletes safe.

How long have you been an athletic trainer? Where are you currently employed?
I’ve been an athletic trainer for over 25 years. I’ve worked in various settings.  I’ve been a physician extender, a clinical athletic trainer, a Division I collegiate athletic trainer and a Division III collegiate athletic trainer.  I am currently a high school athletic trainer.  I work for Lehigh Valley Health Network and am contracted to Saucon Valley School District in Hellertown, Pa (outside of Allentown).  This is my 7th year here.

What are your hobbies?
I love to do anything outdoors and in nature, i.e. kayak, fish, camp, hike, and bike.

What type of education do you need to be an athletic trainer?  Where did you go to school?
Athletic trainers must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.  Many choose to go on to obtain a graduate degree.  I have a Bachelor’s degree from Marietta College, in Ohio and a Master’s degree from Ohio University.

Was there anyone who influenced you to become an athletic trainer?
Before college, I had never even heard of an athletic trainer. I was a collegiate basketball player and when one of my teammates went down with an injury, I was fascinated by the athletic trainer who took care of her.  From that moment on, I knew that was what I wanted to do for a living.

What is your favorite thing about being an athletic trainer?
It is hard to choose just one thing.  Maybe that’s the answer.  There is such variety in my day that it is impossible to get bored.  I love that no two athletes are alike and no two injuries are alike.  The way one athlete responds and recovers from an ankle sprain can be totally different from the way another athlete responds and recovers.  Because of this, I learn something new every day.  I love the connections that I get to form with my athletes, coaches and parents.  I get to share in the successes of my athletes, whether it is on the competition field or in the training room.  Lastly, but certainly not least, I love sports.  I get to watch sports from the best seats in the house.

How many different teams do you work for as an athletic trainer at your school?
At my school I cover both high school and middle school teams.  There are a total of 52 teams at both levels and they are covered by two athletic trainers.

How do you manage to juggle working with so many different teams at one time?
That is a challenge.  Certain teams are higher risk for injuries than others.  I often have to prioritize where I will physically be located during my workday.  I make sure that all other teams have easy access to me at all times in the event of an injury.  I can travel from one field to the next quickly using my golf cart.

How many hours per week do you generally work?  Is one season more work than another?
I work anywhere from 40-45 hours six days per week.  Each season is different.  Fall is unique because of my Friday night football games and the fact that I travel with the football team to all of their games.  In the winter, because so many teams are competing for limited indoor space, I have many late nights.  The spring is probably the lightest season in terms of hours.  Because all the teams can be outside practicing at the same time on their own fields, my workday is shorter.

What are your favorite sports?
Although I love all sports, I really enjoy working football.  I think that is the sport that keeps me on my toes most often.  There is such potential for serious injury in that sport that I find it challenges me on a level that no other sport does.

What is your professional goal (for advancement)?
This is a great question but I might not answer it in a way you might think.  My goal for professional advancement is to advance my profession.  I try to advocate for athletic training whenever possible.  I try to set a good example of what an athletic trainer can bring to an athletic department, a school district and a community.  Sports are dangerous and the presence of an athletic trainer can mitigate the risk of injury.  I strongly feel that an athletic trainer is a necessary member of an athletic department and certainly not a luxury.  I believe that if a school cannot afford to hire an athletic trainer then they cannot afford athletics.

Is there anything you would like to share with someone who is thinking about becoming an athletic trainer?
Do it.  If you like sports and have always wanted to work in service to others, do it.  That being said, it is not an easy path to become an athletic trainer.  Many colleges have selective admission into their athletic training educational programs.  The coursework is challenging and fairly science heavy.  Each student must demonstrate proficiency in a variety of practical applications on the field, then pass a national certification exam to work as an athletic trainer.  It might sound demanding but it is worth it.  I feel very lucky to have a career where I am rewarded every single day.  Some rewards are obvious, such as wins or championships.  Some rewards are a little more subtle.  I find great reward in seeing my athletes reach their potential in developing their talents and interests.  By keeping them healthy and safely on the playing field, I feel I have contributed to that. I wouldn’t trade my job for anything.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sportsdoc/A-day-in-the-life-of-a-high-school-athletic-trainer.html#kwgSmDfJhdWRGFdl.99

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