Expert Discuss Performing Arts, Mental Health

As attendees learned the latest in athletic training professional development, NATA hosted two national media briefings during the 76th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo June 24-27 in Orlando, showcasing the expertise of members in the health care landscape. 

The “Putting a Spotlight on the Performing Arts” media briefing, held June 25, featured in-person and virtual panelists discussing what it takes to perform at your best, the evolving role of sports medicine and performing arts care, common performing artist injuries and the collaborative approach to prevention and injury treatment, among other topics.

NATA President A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT, moderated the briefing and the panel included:

• Jonathan Allen, PhD, LAT, ATC, medical director of Music City Drum Corps
• Lauren Borowski, MD, associate medical director of Harkness Center for Dance Injuries at NYU Langone Health
• Kevin Brown, MEd, ATC, with Louisville Ballet and Louisville Ballet School, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Vision Dance Center and Broadway Across America; and president of Performing Arts Athletic Trainers’ Society
• Alison Deleget, MS, ATC, assistant director of Harkness Center for Dance Injuries
• Lexy Keener, MSAT, LAT, ATC, elite athlete liaison with Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and assistant athletic trainer of Orlando Ballet
• Kori Kirschner MS, LAT, ATC, with Cirque du Soleil’s “Drawn to Life”
• Aaron Ngor, MS, ATC, CSCS, performance athletic trainer at UACTP
• Kylie Robbins, MS, LAT, ATC, NATA Council on Professional Advancement Performing Arts Panel member

Duffy also moderated the “Moving the Athlete and Mental Health Conversation Forward” media briefing June 26. This media briefing touched on interdisciplinary and holistic approach to mental health care and highlighted NATA’s new Secondary School Mental Health Preparedness microcredential, among other topics. 

Virtual and in-person panelists included:

• Mitchell Anderson, MS, LAT, ATC, District Four representative of the NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee
• Courtney Butler, LAT, ATC, sports medicine supervisor of Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and head athletic trainer of Orlando Ballet
• Lauren Dean, LAT, ATC, CES, owner and concierge athletic trainer for performing athletes with AT The Stage
• Gary Harris, Orlando Magic guard
• Erin Haugen, PhD, LP, CMPC, licensed psychologist specializing in sport and performance psychology and founder and chief executive officer of Haugen Performance Consulting
• Warde Manuel, director of athletics of the University of Michigan
• Timothy Neal, LLMSW, ATC, CCISM, who chaired the writing groups of two of NATA’s consensus statements on secondary school and collegiate athletes and psychological concerns

Recording of both media briefing are available on NATA’s Vimeo channel. Watch the convention photo recap video below for photos from the national press briefings, and visit the NATA PhotoZone on SmugMug for more NATA 2025 photo highlights. Stay tuned to this ongoing series through the end of August – you might just spot yourself in one of our video recaps.