NATA Now

During the 68th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo Tuesday, June 27, leading health care experts participated in a national press conference, “Reducing Your Risk from Osteoarthritis: What You Can Do. What the Research Says,” and unveiled new research from a special osteoarthritis-themed issue of the Journal of Athletic Training, which is now available online.

What do “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Elf” have to do with the physician practice setting? Not much to the uninitiated observer. However, in one of the sessions at Monday’s Pre-Conference Career Workshops, those movies were used to help attendees understand what it can be like to work in the physician practice setting.

After months of planning and preparation, the 68th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo kicked off Monday, June 26, with a tailgate-themed Welcome Reception at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

Throughout the next four days of convention programming, NATA 2017 attendees have much to look forward to—386 events, to be exact.

Update (Oct. 5): The voting results are in and Tory Lindley, MA, ATC, has been elected NATA’s 14th president.

Vying to become NATA’s 14th president are Kathy Dieringer, EdD, ATC, LAT, and Tory Lindley, MA, ATC.

How do you vote?

The Gatorade booth in the AT Expo will once again be a hotspot to visit during the NATA convention. In addition to handing out its latest products, Gatorade will once again hold expert chats Tuesday and Wednesday, June 27-28. Stop by and learn more about fueling in the age of fast food, playing the long game and the science on the sidelines, among other topics. The Gatorade Expert Chat schedule of events is:

Tuesday, June 27

11 a.m. “Fueling in the Age of Fast Food and Convenience Stores”

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youths ages 10 to 24, with approximately 4,700 young people dying by suicide annually in the U.S. Suicide is preventable, and NATA has created an infographic handout to bring more awareness to the issue. The suicide awareness infographic handout, published in the July NATA News, features signs to be aware of that might indicate someone is suicidal and how to get someone help if they are.

The 10 teams that will compete at the 2017 NATA Quiz Bowl in Houston have been determined. Scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on June 28 at the convention, the Quiz Bowl is now in its ninth year and features teams from each district in a Jeopardy-style competition. More than bragging rights will be on the line as the winning team receives $1,000 toward the school’s athletic training program or club. The second and third place teams will receive $500 and $250 respectively.

Athletic trainers who attend all three days of the NATA 68th Clinical Symposia & AT Expo can earn up to 25 CEUs. Of the 25 CEUs available at NATA 2017, there is a potential for five of them to be Evidence-Based Practice category CEUs. Additional CEUs may be earned by attending Advanced Track Seminars (6 CEUs for Monday events; 4 CEUs for Friday events), Minicourses (1 CEU each) and pre-conference Career Development Workshops (CEUs vary).

Navigating a new city can be intimidating. To help relieve travel stress and get you to the many NATA 2017 event locations on time, here are some tips related to getting around Houston.

We look forward to seeing you at the 68th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo June 26-29 in Houston. As the premier educational event for athletic trainers, the NATA convention is a great opportunity to connect with your fellow ATs, learn about the hot topics and important issues facing the profession and view the latest products and services related to athletic training. To help you navigate NATA 2017 with ease, here is some need-to-know information before you head to convention.