Explore Philly With Stephen Thomas

By Leona Scott 

Philadelphia doesn’t just have history. It is history.

For Stephen Thomas, PhD, ATC, FNATA, professor and department chair of exercise science at Thomas Jefferson University, that distinction matters. As a host city representative for the 77th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo June 29-July 2, Thomas sees the convention’s return to Philadelphia as more than a logistical milestone; it’s a homecoming.

“Some of the early roots and early origins of athletic training really came from Philly,” Thomas said. “Phil Donley, a Hall of Fame athletic trainer from West Chester University, helped formalize athletic training education.”

A City That Shaped a Profession

The names that built modern athletic training aren’t just in textbooks; many came from Philadelphia. Joseph Torg, the orthopedic surgeon whose early collaboration with athletic trainers helped establish the model for the outpatient sports medicine clinic. Ted Quedenfeld, a Hall of Fame athletic trainer, whose partnership with Torg demonstrated what interprofessional care could look like. Jeff Cooper, who spent more than 38 years as the Philadelphia Phillies’ head athletic trainer and helped create the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers’ Society, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

And the tradition continues. A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT, current NATA president, began his career as an athletic trainer and instructor at Temple University.

“There are a lot of athletic training education programs around the area,” Thomas said. “And there have been many pivotal leaders in the field of athletic training that have come through the city.”

Students benefit directly from that environment, often sharing clinical sites across programs and gaining experience alongside peers from other universities before entering the workforce.

Grit That Goes Deeper Than Sports

Thomas describes Philadelphia with the kind of directness the city itself is known for: blue-collar, hardworking and accountable.

“To me, Philly is a blue-collar, gritty kind of city,” he said. “It’s people that just go to work every day, grind it out, just hard-working people who take care of each other.”

That mindset is perhaps most visible in the city’s sports culture.

“Our fans bring the energy, but they’re not afraid to get on our own players if they’re not performing,” Thomas said. “And most of the players accept that.”

That same culture shapes how Philadelphia’s athletic trainers approach their work – with toughness, honesty and investment in the people they serve.

The city’s athletic training community spans professional sports, universities, high schools, industrial settings and performing arts organizations, with collaboration, especially among pro teams, embedded in the profession.

What to Do When You’re Not in Sessions

Thomas’s top recommendation for convention attendees is simple: get to a Phillies game. The team is in town during NATA 2026, so be sure to grab your tickets early.

“The crowd there is incredible, the energy,” he said. “It’s an experience that you don’t usually get.”

For dining, Thomas points south. South Philadelphia’s restaurant scene – anchored by Italian food, neighborhood coffee shops and chefs such as Marc Vetri – offers standout options, including Fiorella, a casual pasta spot set inside a former sausage shop.

Beyond food, the city’s historical landmarks are within easy reach of the convention center.

“There’s so much history,” Thomas said. “There are a lot of museums and activities to learn more about the rich culture of Philly.”

Don’t Miss These Sessions

Thomas is especially looking forward to hearing from local experts during the convention. Steve Feldman, DPT, ATC, CSCS, athletic trainer and physical therapist for the Philadelphia Eagles, will present “Return to Sport After Glenohumeral Instability: A Functional Rehabilitation Approach” as part of the Ronnie Barnes PFATS Educational Symposium. Joe Rauch, PT, ATC assistant athletic trainer for the Phillies, will present during the PBATS session “Current Status of UCL Injuries in Baseball Pitchers with Evidence-Based Strategies for Prevention.”

“I think some of those sponsor talks are going to be really good and really exciting,” Thomas said. “Local experts are going to be sharing really cutting-edge knowledge.”

As attendees gather in Philadelphia this summer, they’ll be stepping into a place where the profession has grown and continues to lead.

“It’s always great when NATA comes back to Philly,” Thomas said. “We always get a really good turnout.”