Making a Difference One Person at a Time
In honor of Pride Month, throughout June, NATA Now is highlighting members of the NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee and their impact on the profession.
From the very beginning, Cassie Heald, MS, ATC, found that athletic training combined two of her passions: staying connected to sports and pursuing a career in health care. Motivated by the relationships she observed between athletic trainers and their patients, she quickly discovered the impact the profession can have on the lives of others.
That desire to make a difference extended beyond the athletic training facility. Early in her career, she answered a call for volunteers and became North Dakota's representative to the NATA Young Professionals' Committee. What started as a simple willingness to help soon evolved into a lasting commitment to serving the profession at the state and national levels.
"Volunteering has made me feel like a part of something bigger than myself and makes me feel like I am leaving my mark on the profession," she said.
Today, as an at-large member of the NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, she works to create educational opportunities, advocate for inclusion and help athletic trainers and patients feel seen and supported. Whether developing resources, contributing to social media efforts or helping organize events, her focus remains on making a meaningful impact, one person at a time.
In this Q&A, Heald reflects on the experiences that shaped her growth as a volunteer, the value of representation in leadership and how giving back has opened doors to mentorship, friendship and professional growth.
What inspired you to pursue athletic training, and what was the moment you knew this was the profession for you?
Like a lot of us within the profession, I was an athlete in high school. I was fortunate enough never have to see my athletic trainer, but working with athletics, I felt was going to be the best thing to keep me engaged in an area I enjoyed. My grandma was a nurse, and I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps within the medical field. It wasn’t until I got to college and started my athletic training courses that I realized I was in the right place. The connection and impact I saw my preceptors at the University of North Dakota make on the athletes they worked with, I knew I wanted to do the same. It was when I started building those relationships with athletes the last two years of school that I knew I was in the right place.
What was your first volunteer position within the athletic training profession and why did you get involved?
My very first volunteer position was the North Dakota representative for the NATA Young Professionals’ Committee, now the NATA Early Professionals’ Committee and NATA Career Advancement Committee. I got involved because I kept seeing email blasts about needing a representative and I figured I could give it a try. I felt I wanted to give back to a profession that I was growing more and more passionate about, even if I realized it wasn’t for me I could give my time for a term. Making some of those early impacts within the state of North Dakota has had me volunteering ever since.
Tell us about your current volunteer position and what you hope to accomplish in this role.
As the at-large member of the NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, I do what I can to advocate for the profession and the LGBTQIA+ community. Within my role, I am on a number of different subcommittees working on many different things, including developing new educational content, social media and organizing and planning our town hall at convention. As the at-large member, I want to help even just one person feel like they have learned something and made a difference to help even one of their athletes. If I can do something that will help one AT feel seen, one athlete feel seen, I feel like I will have accomplished something huge.
Why is representation in leadership important and how does it impact the profession?
I feel now more than ever, representation in leadership is important. To see people like you doing work to try to make a difference empowers others to get involved as well. When I see people like me with higher positions within NATA and athletic training, it makes me want to support them that much more as they advocate for me in this profession. To know that I have someone like me advocating makes me want to do that much more knowing what they are doing for me.
How has volunteering helped you grow personally and professionally?
The connections I have made while volunteering have opened so many doors for me. I have gained mentors that I never would have gained, many of which are both national and state leaders. I have made friends who I turn to when I need to bounce ideas or have an injury I may not know how to approach. Volunteering has made me feel like a part of something bigger than myself and makes me feel like I am leaving my mark on the profession.
What’s your fondest memory of serving so far?
To this day I think one of my fondest memories of serving so far has been organizing and hosting a young professionals conference in North Dakota. Another YP, who also remains extremely involved at the state and district level, and I organized a day conference in Valley City, North Dakota. I drove through a snow storm to get to Valley City, the roads were terrible, but the end result was worth it. We had some amazing speakers, it was a smaller turnout, great feedback and a lot of fun.
What advice do you have for other athletic trainers who want to give back to the profession?
If you are wanting to get involved but don’t know how, start small. Offering to help with a committee that you’re interested in is a great way to get started. Getting started with something small and building from there is the best way to start. Find a friend to help on that subcommittee with you. I know committees are always looking for help at the state level on different projects. If you see an email blast looking for help, take on the challenge. We all started somewhere and none of us were perfect at the start! Jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride!
