Congratulations to this year’s NATA committee award winners! Learn more about NATA’s awards and attend the 76th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo June 24-27 in Orlando, where many of these recipients will be recognized.

In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders at the state, district and national levels.

Seeing an athletic trainer dedicated to serving student athletes at his high school inspired NATA Research & Education Foundation Recruitment Committee member Samuel Lee, EdD, ATC, to pursue the profession.

In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders at the state, district and national levels.

Kimi Lew, MHA, ATC, CEAS, was raised by health care providers – her dad, a pharmacist, and her mom, a respiratory therapist.

As a child, Lew accompanied her mom to her workplace, the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center, for a Take Your Daughter to Work Day program.

In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders at the state, district and national levels.

Injuries haven’t precluded Alika Asing, ATC, CSCS, from becoming the athletic training leader he is now.

Asing said he dealt with injuries in his youth, but since encountering athletic training in college, his passion for treating others also experiencing pain has propelled him in his career.

In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders at the state, district and national levels.

While getting treatment for her college sports injury, Zeny Eakins, ATC, CAA, developed an undying passion for athletic training.

“I was in the athletic training [facility] so much that I was able to observe the daily interactions the athletic trainer had with a variety of athletes,” Eakins said.

In honor of Black History Month in February, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Black leaders at the state, district and national levels as they share insight into their volunteer journeys.

NATA Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine member Sherman Howze, MS, LMT, ATC, began his athletic training journey after experiencing what he calls the “heroic treatment [his] high school AT provided.”  

In honor of Black History Month in February, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Black leaders at the state, district and national levels as they share insight into their volunteer journeys.

For Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association Finance Committee member Zach Lewis, MAT, LAT, ATC, health care runs in the family.

Observing his mother’s work and dedication to her patients as a nurse, Lewis became inspired to pursue athletic training.

In honor of Black History Month in February, NATA Now is highlighting some of our Black leaders at the state, district and national levels as they share insight into their volunteer journeys.

After observing her high school coach’s son work as an athletic trainer and physical therapist, Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee member Natalie Trotter, MS, LAT, ATC, decided to become an athletic trainer herself.

In 2024, the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee announced the creation of four national awards, in addition to its existing Bill Chisolm Professional Service Award for athletic trainers who are NATA members nominated in good standing and non-NATA members. Candidates aren’t required to be a member of an underrepresented ethnically diverse population.