NATA Hall of Fame

Brian Conway, LAT, ATC, has made an enduring mark on the profession through decades of service, clinical excellence and leadership. Known for his commitment to advancing athletic training practice, Conway has held numerous leadership roles and has been an influential advocate for legislative and professional growth. His work has inspired and supported countless athletic trainers, strengthening the profession’s presence at the state and national levels.

J. Timothy Sensor, LAT, AT Ret., J. Timothy Sensor, LAT, AT Ret., devoted his career to advancing athletic training programs and mentoring future leaders. His decades of service are reflected in his three decades at Kean University, the establishment of the athletic training services at Ramapo College and his leadership roles in professional organizations. Sensor’s commitment to collaboration and his vision for the profession have left a lasting legacy in athletic training.

Jennifer Dawn Rheeling, MS, LAT, ATC, serves as athletic trainer, KIPP DC: Public Charter Schools, an inaugural role she has had in the school system since 2023. Prior to that she served as an athletic trainer with the District of Columbia Public Schools for 32 years. Rheeling has not only been a tour de force in the DC area, but a leader in advancing policy and advocacy for the athletic training profession. She is a former chair of the NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers Committee; president of the District of Columbia Athletic Trainers Association; chair of the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Sport Medicine Advisory Committee; section representative of the National Federation of High Schools Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and is a prior recipient of the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, among many other accolades. A graduate of Millikin University (BS) and Indiana State University (MS), her leadership in governmental affairs has resulted in meaningful legislative wins for the profession, notably the right for athletic trainers to make return to play decisions following concussion and licensure for athletic trainers in DC. Rheeling has combined her passion for advocacy with her expertise in athletic training to protect athletes and promote the profession’s value. “It is my hope that athletic trainers learn to find common ground and be supportive and encouraging. There is room for everyone in every space. Inclusivity adds to it – it doesn’t take away,” she says. That philosophy has certainly guided her profound commitment to the profession as she continues to champion athletic trainers in all sectors of work and life.

Katie Flanagan, EdD, LAT, ATC, is recognized for her dedication to athletic training education and mentorship. Throughout her career, she has advanced the development of athletic training programs, inspired future leaders and contributed to critical research that has influenced best practices in the field. Her leadership roles at multiple levels of the profession have ensured that educational standards remain rigorous and relevant.

Rick Griffin, MS, LAT, ATC, served as the longtime head athletic trainer for the Seattle Mariners, where he became a respected leader in professional sports medicine. His expertise in injury prevention and rehabilitation has impacted athletes at all levels, and his dedication to innovation and collaboration has elevated the standards of care in athletic training. Griffin’s influence extends beyond the field, as he has mentored numerous athletic trainers who have gone on to successful careers.

Rick Shaw (Posthumous Induction) was a pioneer in athletic training, known for his innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to athlete care. His leadership and advocacy helped shape the profession’s growth and development, leaving an indelible mark on the colleagues and athletes whose lives he touched.

Cari L. Wood, LAT, ATC, spent more than 30 years caring for the students at Redmond High School in Oregon. During this time, she became a champion for student athlete mental health, spearheading the “Your Life Matters” suicide prevention video, which went viral, and educating fellow ATs, athletic directors, coaches, community groups and more through presentations, webinars, articles and live events. Wood has held several notable leadership positions over the years, serving as president of both the Oregon Athletic Trainers’ Society and Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, NATA District Ten director, board member at-large with the NATA Research & Education Foundation and chair of the NATA Title IX Task Force, NATA AT Compensation Task Force Gender Equity Subgroup and NATA Specialty Awards Committee. For her contributions, Wood has been recognized at the state, district and national level, being inducted into the Oregon Athletic Trainers' Society Hall of Fame in 2017 and NWATA Hall of Fame in 2017, the first woman to receive this honor.

Craig Alan Voll Jr., PhD, ATC, PT, is a professor and coordinator with Purdue University. He has served in many leadership roles within the profession, including as Indiana Athletic Trainers’ Association president, Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association president, NATA District Four director and, currently, NATA AT Compensation Task Force co-chair. While serving as the District Four director, Voll secured the division of GLATA into two districts: Districts Four and Eleven. The division created 27 new leadership opportunities for members within NATA. At the state level, Voll also helped secure the passage of HEA 1467, “Athletic Training Reimbursement,” which created opportunities for ATs in Indiana to be reimbursed by third-party insurers, becoming a model for other states and the NATA Third Party Reimbursement Initiative. Voll was also part of the Facilitating Work-Life Balance in Athletic Training Practice Settings NATA Position Statement writing group. The statement provides recommendations to facilitate work-life balance in athletic training. Since it was published in 2018, the statement has been cited more than 50 times.

Darryl Conway, MA, AT, ATC, serves as the executive senior associate athletic director and chief health and welfare officer for the University of Michigan Athletics, owner of Conway Ventures LLC and co-founder/co-owner of Sports Medicine Emergency Management LLC. Conway currently serves as chair of the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee and member of the NATA DEIA Council, State of Michigan Board of Athletic Trainers, State of Michigan Board of Athletic Trainers Disciplinary Sub-Committee & Rules Sub-Committee and Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer Reinstatement Committee. Having previously served with the Spine Injury in Sports Group, Conway is currently a member of the writing group for the NATA Emergency Action Planning in Athletics Position Statement and U.S. Lacrosse Spine Injury in Sport Position Statement. Conway has been recognized throughout his career, receiving the NATA Lifesaver Recognition in 2004, Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer recognition in 2019 and Athletic Trainer Service Award in 2023. He was also recognized by the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches Association as the Northeast Regional Administrator of the Year in 2021 and received the University of Delaware Presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement in 2012, CATS Quality of Life Award in 2018 and Michigan Athletic Trainers' Society Distinguished AT Award in 2022.

Douglas J. Casa, PhD, ATC, FNAK, has served as the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute since its founding in 2010, and has been a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut since 1999 (Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor since 2023). As an AT, Casa has successfully treated 401 cases of exertional heat stroke with zero fatalities. He has published about 400 peer-reviewed publications/book chapters in edited books and presented more than 600 times on maximizing performance in the heat, exertional heat stroke, preventing sudden death in sport and hydration. From 2018-21, he served on the IOC Adverse Weather Impact Expert Group for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, which focused on issues related to extreme heat. He was chair of the NATA Pronouncements Committee for eight years and, in that timeframe, oversaw the publishing of 12 NATA Position Statements. He was also an associate editor for the Journal of Athletic Training for 15 years.