Starting a Leadership Journey
In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NATA Now, in collaboration with the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee, is highlighting some of our Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders making an impact at the state, district and national level.
Lawrence Lam, MS, ATC, didn’t expect to step into a volunteer role so early in his career, but a nomination and his willingness to get involved and give back to the profession he now calls home changed that.
Since taking on the role of secretary for the Hawaii Athletic Trainers’ Association in January 2025, he has embraced the responsibilities that come with leadership while learning alongside experienced mentors.
“They reminded me that we all started somewhere,” said Lam, an athletic trainer at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, in Honolulu, Hawaii. “I’m forever grateful for the former and current board members for being patient with me and allowing me the opportunity to learn and grow in this role.”
Still early in his leadership journey, Lam reflects on how volunteering has pushed him outside his comfort zone and shaped his professional development. His experience offers a look at what it means to step into service for the first time and why taking that leap can make a lasting impact.
What inspired you to pursue athletic training, and what was the moment you knew this was the profession for you?
My love for sports and not being good enough athlete to play was what inspired me to pursue athletic training. I first heard of the athletic training profession from my high school athletic trainer, Gus Fukuda, LAT, ATC, CSCS, at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. I was able to see how he helped student athletes and just the way he carried himself made me want to do that one day. He was caring, hardworking and just so humble. He had a great rapport with his student athletes as well, so that caught my attention. I ended up doing my observation hours with football at University of Nevada at Las Vegas. I loved that college football environment, I loved how close I was to sports, I loved being behind the scenes and I enjoyed the competitive nature and drive of the student athletes.
In addition to all that, just being able to just help a student athlete through their injury recovery process was what made me love the profession. That’s the moment I said to myself, “This is what I want to do.”
What was your first volunteer position within the athletic training profession and why did you get involved?
My first volunteer position within the athletic training profession is the position that I am in now, which is the Hawaii Athletic Trainers’ Association secretary. I have been in this role since January 2025. I got involved because someone nominated me for secretary and it was an honor. If I’m being 100% honest, I never was one to ever volunteer and put myself out there like that. After thinking it through, I looked at it as a good opportunity for me to get myself out there to meet and get to know more of the athletic trainers in Hawaii. It was also important that I give back to the place I now call home to continue growing our profession. I was also part of that new wave and generation of athletic trainers. The old timers, the longtime athletic trainers that paved the way for all of us, always reminded me that my generation was the future of our profession, so I always kept that in mind and made it my responsibility.
Tell us about your current volunteer position and what you hope to accomplish in this role.
My current position serving on the HATA board as secretary is being responsible for administrative duties, organizing documentation and supporting the association's board and members. For me, personally, my biggest hope is just familiarizing myself with this role and all the responsibilities that come with it. One concern of mine initially was not being able to fulfill this role to its fullest due to not ever being in a leadership role and no prior experience serving on the board. I truly didn’t know what the role entailed. After discussing with current and former members of the board, they encouraged me to just be a sponge and that it was OK to not know everything. It wasn’t expected of me to know the role immediately. They were true mentors to me and continue to mentor me by encouraging me to ask questions and to just observe. They reminded me that we all started somewhere. I’m forever grateful for the former and current board members for being patient with me and allowing me the opportunity to learn and grow in this role.
Why is representation in leadership important and how does it impact the profession?
Representation in leadership is important because it continues to pave the path for our athletic training position. Just like the ones that have served in a leadership role that I looked up to and have such respect for, representation in leadership sets the standard and expectations of the younger generation of athletic trainers. That tree of athletic training continues to grow, and it’s important to impact the profession in a positive way.
How has volunteering helped you grow personally and professionally?
Volunteering has helped me grow personally to get out of my comfort zone to be more vocal, to allow for me to share my ideas and to express my opinions. It has helped professionally to learn from others in leadership roles and continue to meet other athletic trainers in Hawaii.
What’s your fondest memory of serving so far?
My fondest memory of serving so far would be when I was at the 2025 Far West Athletic Trainers’ Association Symposium in Las Vegas. I just assisting at the HATA table while wearing my HATA nametag. That was a very cool experience. I know it was something simple, but it was a proud moment for me personally because that’s something I always saw the athletic trainers I looked up to doing. Just looking down and seeing my name of that nametag under “HATA” was surreal.
What advice do you have for other athletic trainers who want to give back to the profession?
The advice I have for other athletic trainers who want to give back to the profession is to not be afraid to put yourself out there and just do it. You learn best by doing, in my opinion. That applies to the nature of athletic training as well. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s OK to not know everything. That’s where having good mentors and members in leadership helps in so many ways. We all have to start somewhere. Get out there and make an impact. Continue to help grow our profession. It’s our responsibility.
