NATA News

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

This year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced NATA as a National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) Champion. NATA’s recognition was first highlighted in the December NATA News, which also serves as the association’s annual report.

The NATA Political Action Committee (NATAPAC) is the sole federal PAC founded for and dedicated to being the voice and advocate of the athletic training profession.

NATAPAC empowers members to support elected officials or candidates who champion policy advancing the athletic training profession. Through NATAPAC, members are able to help shape the political environment and educate federal legislators on the significant contributions athletic trainers make as health care providers across our nation.

In the December NATA News, we announced that 42 members are celebrating 50 years of NATA membership. Congratulations to them and all of our members celebrating milestones with the association this year! Our 50-year members of 2020 are:

Stephen Antonopulos, MA, ATC

Mayfield Armstrong, CPed, ATC

Lowell Bailey, AT Ret.

Stephen Bair, AT Ret.

Harold Bennett, MEd, LAT, ATC

Donald Cochren, AT Ret.

Steven Ciszczon, MS, AT Ret.

Bill Edwards, AT Ret.

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

Being a culturally competent health care provider is not limited to understanding variances in gender identity, race or ethnicity – ATs must also be aware of their patient’s religious values. This type of education and awareness can come from personal experience and/or a proactive effort to increase personal awareness of religious traditions that may vary from the one’s own. 

By Glenn Edgerton, EdD, ATC, and Dani Moffit, PhD, ATC

NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee

In the November NATA News, NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee Chair Kysha Harriell, PhD, LAT, ATC, wrote an article about why words matter when working with patients who have a disability. In continuation of the topic, Kevin M. Conley, PhD, ATC, spoke with NATA about his firsthand experience treating patients with disabilities.

In his November NATA News column, NATA President Tory Lindley, MA, ATC, discusses NATA’s new Compromised Sports Safety in Secondary Schools program.

For someone who belongs to a marginalized or minoritized group, having an ally can have a significant impact, especially on their emotional and mental well-being. To assist athletic trainers, the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee and NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee teamed up to create the How to Be an Ally infographic handout, published in the November NATA News.