Class of 2026: Looking to the Future

The NATA Hall of Fame represents the highest honor bestowed on members, recognizing those who have shaped the profession through leadership, service and mentorship. Beyond the iconic green jacket and ring, NATA Hall of Fame induction reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing athletic training, supporting future generations of ATs and making a lasting impact on the profession.

The May/June NATA News features profiles on each 2026 NATA Hall of Fame inductee, highlighting their career journeys, volunteer service and influence as leaders. The class of 2026 will be inducted during the 77th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Philadelphia. Don’t miss the NATA Hall of Fame Induction & National Award Ceremony at 1 p.m. June 30.

In this post, the inductees discuss their hope for the future of athletic training. 

Michael Carroll, MEd, LAT, ATC

My hope for the future of athletic training is that it continues to grow in the eyes of the public. Although, widespread understanding of athletic trainers is growing, it’s still not where many would like. My hope is that there comes a day when the questions “Oh you’re an athletic trainer? What is that?” is asked by fewer people.

Robert Casmus, MS, LAT, ATC

The new strategic plan from our current leadership has our profession on a positive path forward. I have faith that with strong leadership, we will achieve greater national recognition. With greater recognition, the certified and licensed athletic trainer will be accepted by all the allied health care professions as the “gold standard” for treating the physically active. This can be achieved through strengthening academic preparation, dedicated service, enhancing research opportunities and a commitment to promoting our profession to even bigger heights. When these tasks are accomplished, the athletic training profession will benefit with more reimbursement opportunities in more states across the nation. It will also set the stage to raise, even more, the demand and benefit of having athletic trainers employed in the secondary school setting.

Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC

I hope our profession continues to gain broader recognition by all stakeholders as essential health care providers and indispensable members of the interprofessional health care team for athletic and other populations.

We need continued collaboration among governing bodies, organizations, educators and clinicians to strengthen the profession.

Michael Higgins, PhD, ATC, PT

My hope for the future of athletic training is that the profession continues to gain  recognition for the depth and breadth of its expertise. Athletic trainers bring a unique blend of clinical skill, critical thinking and relationship-centered care, and I hope to see our value fully understood across all levels of health care and sport.

Most of all, I want the next generation of athletic trainers to feel empowered and well supported, equipped with strong educational foundations, respected as integral members of interprofessional teams and positioned to lead in shaping safer, healthier environments for every population we serve.

Thomas Kaminski, PhD, ATC, FNATA

Athletic training as a profession must strive to improve its “cultural capital” among other health care professions. Cultural capital is a sociological concept that describes the social assets that people have that can help them achieve success and social mobility. For us, as a profession, to advance, we must:

• Produce entry-level clinicians who possess even greater knowledge and skill sets that enable them to transition to athletic training practice faster than current graduates.
• Prove that the profession has advanced its authority and legitimacy to the public, governmental agencies and other allied health professions.

Linda Fabrizio Mazzoli, MS, LAT, ATC

As health care continues to evolve, my hope for the future of athletic training is greater visibility within the health care arena through continuing medical education, legislation and allied health organizations. I also hope that athletic trainers are recognized as integral contributors and essential providers of care across all populations. The other hope is that we would have athletic trainers embrace that they are NATA and their voice, passion and commitment to serve is what will continue to drive meaningful progress for the profession.

Jack Ransone, PhD, ATC, FACSM

My hope for the future of athletic training is that athletic trainers are more recognized and valued within the medical community and appropriately compensated for their expertise and impact. With that recognition will come expanded opportunities for leadership and administrative roles at the state and national levels, further strengthening and broadening the profession’s influence.

I also hope we remain curious and committed to lifelong learning. Every day presents an opportunity to grow. Keep your eyes open to new experiences, lean on colleagues, seek feedback and use it to refine your skills. Embrace change, pursue new knowledge and be a thoughtful, critical consumer of research and clinical practice. Through continuous growth and professionalism, we will elevate both ourselves and the profession.