About Gail Weldon
Gail Weldon is remembered as a teacher, mentor, author, athletic trainer and friend to many. A pioneer in the advancement of women in the field of athletic training, Gail was the second woman to join the NATA and one of the first 10 women certified as an athletic trainer.
Gail was the first female athletic trainer hired by the U.S. Olympic Committee. She was selected for the Olympic Sports Medicine Staff in 1980 and served as the Director of Athletic Training and Physical Therapy for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Gail was selected again by the Committee as the Medical Director for the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.
Gail also served as athletic training coordinator for TAC sanctioned track and field events and traveled internationally with a number of U.S. teams. In 1980, she left her position as Head Women's Athletic Trainer at UCLA to venture out on her own and become the founder/owner of Women's TRACC (Training Room And Conditioning Center).
Gail Weldon Award of Excellence
The Gail Weldon Award of Excellence recognizes one athletic trainer each year who has displayed an exceptional commitment to mentoring, professional development and life balancing for women athletic trainers or significant contributions to improve the health care of females provided by athletic trainers.
Award Eligibility
- NATA member in good standing
- 15 years BOC certification
- 15 years membership in NATA
- May not be nominated in consecutive years
Past Gail Weldon Award of Excellence Recipients
2023
Kimberly S. Peer, EdD, ATC, FNATA
2022
Lorin Cartwright, MS, ATC, CAA
2020
Catherine Grove, PhD, AT Ret.
2019
Patricia Aronson, PhD, ATC
2018
Gretchen Schlabach, PhD, ATC
2017
Katherine I. Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC
2016
Mary Susan Guyer, DPE, ATC, LAT
2015
Fran Babich, MS, ATC
2014
Louise Fincher, EdD, ATC, LAT
2013
Jill Manners, MS, ATC, PT
2012
MaryBeth Horodyski, EdD, ATC, LAT
2010
Debra Runkle, MA, LAT, AT Ret.
2003
Julie Moyer Knowles, EdD, DPT, ATC
2002
Sue Finkam
2001
Kathie Courtney, AT Ret.
Thank you for your interest in nominating a colleague for an NATA award. All materials are due by October 1.