The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) will formally welcome two new board members at its 68th Clinical Symposia and AT Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, June 26-29, 2017. Tony Fitzpatrick, MA, LAT, ATC, succeeds NATA’s outgoing District Ten director Cari Wood, ATC, and Katie Walsh Flanagan, EdD, LAT, ATC, will replace District Three director Patricia Aronson, PhD, ATC, PTA.
“This continues to be an exciting time to lead the organization, and we will all benefit from the vision, commitment, enthusiasm and experience of our new board members,” said President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “I welcome them to their new roles and look forward to all they will contribute in the years ahead.”
Tony Fitzpatrick
Tony Fitzpatrick, MA, LAT, ATC, has dedicated the last 29 years to the Boise (Idaho) School District, the last 19 of which have been at Timberline High School. He is currently the school’s head athletic trainer and sports medicine instructor and previously served as a biology instructor.
Fitzpatrick has served his profession in numerous volunteer roles at the state, district and national levels. He was a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee and . He held several positions with the Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association including four years as treasurer, six years as Secondary School Committee chair and four years as meetings coordinator. Locally, he was president, secretary/treasurer and secondary school representative for the Idaho Athletic Trainers’ Association, each for six years.
In 2014, Fitzpatrick was inducted into the Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame; he received the organization’s Outstanding Service Award in 2008. He was honored with NATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Training Award in 2010, and Athletic Training Service Award in 2008. Originally from Anaconda, Montana, Fitzpatrick currently lives in Boise, Idaho. He received his undergraduate degrees from the University of Great Falls and Boise State University where he also earned his master’s.
Katie Walsh Flanagan
Katie Walsh Flanagan, EdD, LAT, ATC, is currently the director of Athletic Training Education at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Her work also includes research in policy and safety. She has authored and co-authored several NATA position statements as well as textbooks in athletic training. She previously served as the athletic trainer for NCAA Division I athletic teams in Illinois and California, the men’s professional soccer team in Chicago, and also served as an athletic trainer on several international trips with United States Soccer.
Flanagan has volunteered in many capacities for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and has served in roles in District Three as well as the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association. Previously, she served on the Commission of Accreditation on Athletic Training Education (CAATE) executive board, including her role as vice president.
In 2012, Flanagan was inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, and was twice named North Carolina College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year. She received many awards including NATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2010, and Athletic Trainer Service Award in 2006. A native of Carmel, California, Flanagan currently resides in Greenville, North Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree at Oregon State University, master’s from Illinois State University and doctorate of education from the University of Southern California.
NATA is divided into 10 geographic districts. District Three, which Flanagan will lead, covers Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.; District Ten, which will be championed by Fitzpatrick, includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.