Explore Philly With Jamie Mansell

April 13, 2026 by Beth Sitzler

By Leona Scott

Philadelphia isn’t just the location of the 77th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo June 29-July 2; it embodies it.

For Jamie Mansell, PhD, LAT, ATC, that’s not a marketing tagline. It’s a lived experience.

As associate dean for undergraduate studies in the Barnett College of Public Health at Temple University and president of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society, Mansell has spent her career at the intersection of academic medicine and professional practice. She knows this city. And she knows this profession. In her view, they’re cut from the same cloth.

A Big City That Feels Like a Neighborhood

Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the country, but its athletic training community operates more like a small town. NATA 2026 reflects the profession it serves.

“Most athletic trainers here know each other,” Mansell said. “There’s a strong sense of collaboration and communication.”

Part of that comes from geography. The city’s concentration of athletic training education programs means students from different institutions often train side by side, forging professional relationships before they enter the workforce.

“It creates a level of familiarity that carries into professional practice,” she said.

For convention attendees, many of whom are arriving from cities where the athletic training community is more dispersed, that level of professional connection is often immediately apparent.

Grit, Resilience, Advocacy

Ask Mansell to describe Philadelphia in three words, and she doesn’t hesitate: resilience, grittiness and advocacy.

Ask her to describe athletic trainers, and she gives you the same three.

“Philadelphia represents values that athletic trainers embody,” she said. “Athletic trainers have historically worked to increase understanding and recognition of their role within health care. This city reflects that same persistence.”

That alignment runs deeper than civic pride. Philadelphia has long been defined as a “meds and eds” city – anchored by world-class hospitals, research institutions and universities. It’s a city that has built its identity around health care and education, the same sectors shaping the future of athletic training.

“Athletic trainers practice across a wide range of health care and performance settings, reflecting the profession’s expanding role in patient care,” Mansell said.

Philadelphia’s deeply rooted sports culture further reinforces its identity as a city where athletics and community are closely connected.

Explore Beyond the Convention Center

Here’s Mansell’s advice for first-time visitors: wander.

“That area is very touristy,” she said of the convention center neighborhood. “But some of the best parts of Philadelphia are outside of that.”

Philadelphia is a city of distinct, walkable neighborhoods, each with its own personality:

Fishtown and Northern Liberties – once industrial, now home to coffee shops, restaurants and small businesses
East Passyunk – a walkable corridor known for dining, retail and neighborhood character
South Philadelphia – rich in cultural heritage, including the Italian Market and established local businesses
West Philadelphia – diverse, community-driven and home to both academic institutions and expansive green space

“It’s a beautiful city,” Mansell said. “We have so much green space and so many places for people to gather.”

A Three-Hour Introduction to the City

Short on time? Mansell has a route to share.

Start near the convention center with the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center. Then walk through Reading Terminal Market, one of the oldest public markets in the country.

Head south through the Italian Market – an open-air stretch of vendors that has operated continuously since the 1880s. Finish with a walk through FDR Park and a drive along Boathouse Row, where the Schuylkill River frames one of the city’s most recognizable views.

“It’s about sampling different parts of the city,” she said. “You leave with a sense of what makes it Philadelphia.”

Making the Most of the NATA Convention

Mansell’s advice for navigating the NATA convention is straightforward: plan ahead but stay open.

“Know what sessions you want to attend, and make dinner reservations in advance,” she said. “Also talk to as many people as you can. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself.”

While attending sessions and earning CEUs is an important part of the convention, the greatest value often comes from meaningful professional connections.

“Everyone is there for the same reason: to learn and to connect,” she said. “That’s what makes the experience memorable.”