Tag: Cal State Fullerton

Posted on by

CSUF Athletic Training awards endowed scholarships

Article reposted from The Orange County Register
Author: 

Cal State Fullerton’s Athletic Training Program hosted its eighth annual Golf Tournament Scholarship Fundraiser at Coyote Hills Golf Course in Fullerton on July 15.

Dr. Robert Kersey, professor of Kinesiology and Director of the Athletic Training Program, said that over the last four to five years, the event has netted between $10,000 to $15,000. He hopes that same figure stands for this past event, which helps endow scholarships for promising Fullerton athletic-training students.

CSUF awarded its third Julie Max endowed scholarship to student Andee Monterone. This is the third Julie Max ’79 endowed scholarship to be awarded to a student, as it honors the school’s legendary head-athletic trainer.

Fullerton also awarded its first-ever Andy Paulin ’78 endowed scholarship to student Jacqueline Miller. Paulin was the second CSUF alum to be inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.

“He was very instrumental in moving the profession of athletic training forward,” Kersey said.

Kersey said that Fullerton has had an athletic-training program since the mid to late 1970s. The school obtained its first accreditation in 2001, but before that accreditation wasn’t required, Kersey said.

Roughly 100 to 120 people were involved throughout the golf fundraiser with about 65 golfers participating in the 18-hole match. There was also a dinner afterwards, plus a silent auction and raffle.

“It was a fun afternoon and evening and I think most people had a good time,” Kersey said.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Julie Max Retiring after 37 Years at Fullerton

Article reposted from Cal State Fullerton Athletics
Author: Cal State Fullerton Athletics

Thirty-Seven years. For many, that may seem like an eternity, but when you love what you do, every day feels like you’ve won the national championship. While Cal State Fullerton has seen legendary coaches and athletes come and go, no one has made a bigger impact in the athletic training world than Julie Max.

“It’s amazing in all my years here my relationship with student-athletes hasn’t changed much,” says Max. “It’s really special. In fact, I was on the field when Demian Brown (current head coach for the Titans’ women’s soccer program) injured himself as a player. I helped him with his rehab and his recovery and now I’m saying the exact same things to his players that I said to him. The impact has really been a blessing. My entire job is a blessing. I truly don’t take this place or what I do for granted.”

 

For many, nearly four decades doing anything might seem like a hard thing to imagine, but for Max, doing anything else was unimaginable. From being a three-sport athlete at Fullerton College to then eventually transferring to Cal State Fullerton and graduating with her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology in 1979, she was destined to be a Titan for life.

“When I was a student, I really only had two loves professionally: sports and medicine,” Max says. “I quickly realized in school there was a great opportunity to blend those two. That’s when I knew this profession was truly a calling for me.”

Shortly after graduation in 1979, Max caught the break of a lifetime.

“I think it was literally less than a month after I graduated,” recalls Max. “I got a call from Cal State Fullerton asking if I wanted to work there full-time. I really don’t think I chose athletic training, the profession really chose me.”

From women’s basketball to women’s tennis, Max worked with them all, as she was named Head Athletic Trainer for Women’s Sports straight out of college.

“I had an annual salary of $8,000, but I was truly having the time of my life,” Max beams. “I got to travel with all of our teams and there was certainly never a dull moment.”

Through the years, Max has gone from a bright-eyed college graduate to a mentor and eventually earning one of the top honors the profession has to offer, as she was named the first female president of the National Athletics Trainers’ Association in 2000 and later permanently inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Hall of Fame.

 

“Julie means everything to me,” says current Cal State Fullerton Assistant Athletic Trainer Kyle Burnett. She is a mentor, a mother-figure and most of all a friend. Her passion, leadership and genuine love for the profession and people is contagious. Because of her I’m truly a better clinician and a better person.”

While she’s won numerous awards, gained tremendous experience through the years, her secret to success boils down to three simple things.

“I think it’s important to establish a philosophy,” Max says. “The most important things to me in my life are my integrity, my faith and that people know me as a woman of character. Those three things set the tone for how I lead, but those three things have never failed me. I take those three things in to everyday life with me.”

From coaches, players and her current staff, Max has left a legacy that will last a lifetime.

“She’s been a part of my life for a long time,” says head women’s soccer coach Damien Brown. “Whether it was me or our current student-athletes, Julie has always been there for the student-athletes. She has certainly left her legacy at Cal State Fullerton.”

When it comes to Julie Max, the theme is constant. She’s had an impact, not only on the profession, but the people in it. Whether it’s been rehabbing a bad knee or just simply lending an ear to a young professional looking for advice, Max has touched just about everyone at Cal State Fullerton.

It’s often said that it takes others to really solidify one’s legacy, so maybe that’s why current CSF Assistant Athletic Trainer Jamie Potter really sums it up best.

“Julie has been a mentor, a mother, a leader, a teacher, a legend, but most of all, an inspiration.”

Make sure to come out and celebrate Julie’s legendary career at her retirement party, Saturday from 3-6 pm at the George G. Golleher Alumni House on campus. To register please CLICK HERE and make a $37 donation to the Julie Max Scholarship Fund.

From all of us at Cal State Fullerton, Thank you Julie Max.

Posted on by

Montgomery Joins Kinesiology Faculty

Melissa Montgomery, once an athletic trainer for the women’s semi-professional team California Storm, is sharing her knowledge, skills and experience in the classroom as one of four new Kinesiology Department faculty members this fall.

Montgomery earned her doctorate degree in kinesiology with a concentration in applied neuromechanics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, along with two master’s degrees from the University of the Pacific and University of Tennessee. Prior to joining Cal State Fullerton, Montgomery taught at Cal State Northridge.

Why did you pursue the opportunity to join Cal State Fullerton?

The CAATE-accredited Athletic Training Program at CSUF is well-known and respected regionally and nationally. As an allied health profession, our undergraduate professional program is not only held to national accreditation standards, but to those of our profession.

CSUF has a long tradition of meeting and exceeding those expectations, due to the commitment of the AT faculty and also the continued support of the administration. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, I wanted to belong to a cohesive and supportive community with a “family feel.”

What do you most look forward to now that you’re here?

I look forward to being surrounded by faculty, staff, administration and most importantly, students, who are proud to be Titans and who do their best to represent the University.

What areas of continued scholarship and research are of particular interest to you?

My major area of interest is in risk factors that contribute to traumatic knee injuries in athletes. Specifically, I am interested in the role that body composition plays in biomechanics and the subsequent risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. This area of research spans the lifespan as early-onset osteoarthritis is a known consequence of traumatic knee joint injury.

My secondary area of interest is in developing appropriate training programs for youth sport athletes. The problem of youth sport injuries is becoming readily apparent and, therefore, we need to start using sport science-based data to inform our training regimens for skeletally immature athletes.

What are some of your outside activities, hobbies or interests?

I was a Division 1 college soccer athlete. Although my age and knee health precludes me from playing, I continue to follow college and international soccer. Hobbies include travel, home improvement projects and trying to be a “cool aunt” to my nieces.

– See more at: http://news.fullerton.edu/2015fa/Montgomery.aspx#sthash.SwmrTWr6.dpuf

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://news.fullerton.edu/2015fa/Montgomery.aspx

Posted on by

Kasamatsu joins faculty at csuf

Tricia Kasamatsu joins Cal State Fullerton’s Kinesiology Department with a wide range of experience.

She has taught science and served as an athletic trainer at a high school, spent seasons as an athletic trainer with the Los Angeles Heat and USA Volleyball, and as a trainer and consultant to the Sports Concussion Institute. After completing her doctorate in education at Chapman University — where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees — Kasamatsu taught kinesiology for a year at the University of La Verne.

Shortly after joining the campus, Kasamatsu is already in the thick of things, serving of the Kinesiology Department’s graduate studies committee and Athletic Training Education Program self-study.

Why did you pursue the opportunity to join Cal State Fullerton?

The Athletic Training Program at Cal State Fullerton is respected across the nation and was a professional opportunity I did not want to miss. In addition, the University’s commitment to student advancement and community engagement were important factors in my decision to join CSUF.

What do you most look forward to now that you’re here?

I look forward to building meaningful connections while collaborating with faculty and students to promote health and wellbeing in the community.

What areas of continued scholarship and research are of particular interest to you?

My areas of interest include exploring athletic trainers’ concussion management practices and understanding factors that affect a student’s return to learning after concussion. In addition, I am interested in sport safety protocols and health-related policy in schools throughout Orange County.

What are some of your outside activities, hobbies, or interests?

During my down time, I enjoy paddleboarding, swimming, cycling and trying new gastropubs or restaurants. I also relax by reading crime/mystery novels, cooking and baking, and traveling.

– See more at: http://news.fullerton.edu/2015fa/Kasamatsu.aspx#sthash.lxrDDkZF.dpuf

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://news.fullerton.edu/2015fa/Kasamatsu.aspx

Posted on by

Titan athletes have a plethora of resources to recover from injuries

It’s not a secret that athletics at Cal State Fullerton are deeply rooted in Titan culture, but there’s a whole roster of off-the-field talent that devotes its days to keeping injured athletes on track to a healthy recovery.

CSUF is extremely proactive when it comes to assisting injured athletes with a team of faculty and staff to support their Titans, Director of Sports Medicine Julie Max said.
With eight athletic trainers beside her, Julie and her team coordinate an all-inclusive recovery program for student athletes.

“We are there to help prevent injuries, we’re there to diagnose injuries and we’re there to treat injuries, so this particular clinic is potentially open seven days a week … it is designed for exactly that purpose. It is to care for the health and safety of our student athletes,” Max said.
With 15 teams and nearly 400 athletes at CSUF, there are plenty of people to tend to through the seasons.

Max and her team of certified athletic trainers treat everything as small as blisters and abrasions to major concussions and appendicitis. They even cope with any psychological or sociological problems that athletes might have.

“Anything that does not allow the athlete to compete (at) 100% comes into this clinic,” Max said.
The team of athletic trainers at CSUF is constantly utilizing their health center resources to diagnose injuries and provide for athletes’ needs.

“We see (athletes) first, we assess them, we make a diagnosis and if we need to move on and get further health care assistance, then that’s what we do,” Max said. “Everything starts here and then we triage to figure out, ‘What do we need to be in the best interest of the student athlete?’”

Last fall, women’s soccer player Ali White geared up for Big West Conference play, but a season-ending injury forced her to hang up her cleats. She received firsthand experience with the team of athletic trainers.

After tearing her ACL and meniscus, White’s trainer immediately scheduled her for doctor appointments, including one with CSUF’s orthopedic surgeon, Miguel Prietto, who started White on physical therapy right away.

“They were just very involved … it was cool,” White said.

But dealing with an injury brings on more than just physical strain for players.

“You definitely tell yourself … ’was this meant to happen? Am I not supposed to play soccer anymore?’ … You just beat yourself down,” said White.

In her kinesiology class, Max poses the question, “How do we deal with the psychological and sociological effect of student athletes that get hurt?”

“Physically I know what to do with them. I know how to take care of them, I know how to treat them, I know how to rehab them,” explained Max.

Providing a service to psychologically help students get through the injury phase is another element that they incorporate.

With this being her first major injury since she began playing soccer at 5 years old, White experienced mental strain firsthand following her accident last fall.

“I feel like I became kind of disconnected,” White said.

With the team practicing five days a week and White away at physical therapy, the mental aspect of recovery began to set in.

With the encouragement of her physical therapists and fellow players, White quickly realized that the soccer field is where she is meant to be, and she will be returning this season as a junior.

“I’m so excited. I’m really pumped,” White said. “I’m just going to go out there — I’m really proud of myself — I’m gonna be out there accomplishing something that wasn’t possible five months ago.”

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Titan athletes have a plethora of resources to recover from injuries