May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Throughout the month, the NATA Now blog will highlight some of NATA’s Asian American and Pacific Islander committee members in a series that discusses the importance of service and giving back to the profession.

Far West Athletic Trainers’ Association (FWATA) Hawaii representative, FWATA Service Award recipient, FWATA Most Distinguished Award recipient, NATA Service Award recipient, Hawaii Athletic Trainers’ Association president – the list goes on for this service-driven athletic trainer.

What to Look Forward to in May from National Athletic Trainers' Assn on Vimeo.

There is a lot happening at NATA! Stay up to date on what’s to come each month in advocacy, engagement and development in this NATA Now blog series. Check out what else is in store for May, and follow our communication channels throughout the month for more information!

Before the Journal of Athletic Training or the Athletic Training Education Journal publish new research, it is vetted and reviewed by health care providers, including athletic trainers, and other content experts who volunteer their time and expertise as part of the publishing process. 

Note: In August 2022, NATA released an updated statement on gender-affirming care. Please read the most up-to-date version here.

Several states have initiated and/or passed legislation that affects health care for transgender youth in sport. Given that transgender individuals suffer behavioral health issues at a higher rate than their cisgender peers, it is imperative that athletic trainers (ATs) are cognizant of how these laws affect the well-being of their transgender patient population.1-3

Editor’s note: After careful consideration, the Master Preceptor Program was sunsetted by NATA in 2025. Learn more about NATA’s educational offerings.

The NATA Professional Education Committee has created multiple resources for NATA members to assist them in continued learning. For ATs in the education setting, these resources can help them learn a new skill or gain new insight.

By Dana Bates, PhD, LAT, ATC, and Jessica Moore, EdD, LAT, ATC

In 2019, the NATA Education Advancement Committee, under the NATA Executive Council for Education, created the Continuing Professional Development in Educational Scholarship Grant to help a researcher gain a new skill or collaborate with a partner in order to move their research agenda forward. The goal of the grant is to expand the number of individuals performing the educational research needed to move the profession forward.

Over the past several months, the NATA Board of Directors, along with at-large appointments from the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee, has worked with a DEI consultant in association management to develop and align around organizational commitments. These guiding principles provide a foundation for enhanced infusion of diversity, equity, inclusion and access throughout our organization.

The NATA Executive Council for Education began its search for a new chair in July 2020. Former NATA Professional Education Committee Chair Brian Vesci, DAT, ATC, was selected as the new ECE chair and will start his term in June 1.

Vesci has been involved with NATA education efforts for a number of years as a member of the PEC, including serving as PEC chair for the past three years. He said he was drawn to education and wanted to be the ECE chair because it would offer him a greater platform to service the profession and affect positive change.

The April NATA News features content related to athletic training education, including an article by the AT EducATionalist Cabinet about students’ perspective on education during the COVID-19 pandemic.