NATA Now

By Kim Diggs

The roads that lead to athletic training are varied. James Collins, ATC, president of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) and director of football and medical services for the Los Angeles Chargers, found his way as an athletic trainer after a full career in the U.S. Navy.  

He spoke about his journey in a video posted to the Department of Defense website.

By Kim Diggs

Hello students and welcome to the continuation of the SLC’s blog series. In this post, Brian Zeller, PhD, ATC, chair for the NATA International Committee (IC), explains the purpose of the committee and how it has affected himself and those around him.

The Super Bowl is arguably the most important game in football. While strength, strategy and player skillsets are important in reaching the height of their profession, none of it is possible without a healthy team.  

NATA had the pleasure of speaking with the Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Los Angeles Rams and National Athletic Trainers' Association member, Reggie Scott, MS, ATC, PES, and he shared with us some key things his team does to keep the Rams players healthy and physically ready to compete.

Excerpt from January 2018 NATA News

Since its inception at the end of the 2011-12 season, the NFL's ATC Spotter program has evolved and changed over the years, placing more responsibility in the hands of those "eyes in the sky" and creating more collaboration with the medical staff on the field.

Excerpt from February 2013 NATA News

After tearing his ACL and MCL at the end of the 2011 season, Adrian Peterson returned to the field to have one of the best seasons in NFL history. Here, the Minnesota Vikings athletic training staff discusses how they helped the elite running back make his remarkable comeback.

Since it’s inception at the University of Alabama in 2015, we have written several times about the SidelinER medical tent in the Hub section of the NATA News. You can learn more about the tent and it’s evolution by reading the the articles, which are collected below.  

Negotiating salary with a new employer can be intimidating. The February NATA News features a salary negotiation infographic handout that offers 10 tips to help members as they discuss compensation with a new employer.

By Jamie Woodall, MPH, LAT, ATC

In the February NATA News, I shared how athletic trainers can own their impact and highlight the value of their role and the profession to their current and potential employers.

The NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee is working to break down barriers in the athletic training profession. To learn more about the committee, the NATA Student Leadership Committee had a Q&A session with Committee Chair Patricia Aronson, PhD, ATC. Aronson has been a NATA member for 40 years. She worked in a Division I institution for five years before moving to Lynchburg, Virginia, to be the second athletic trainer ever employed at Lynchburg College.