NATA Now

By Elizabeth Quinn

In honor of Black History Month, NATA will highlight some of our young professional leaders at the state, district and national levels and how they’re advancing athletic training into the future. 

Overview

In recent months, discussions have begun on the perceived, growing issue of the decline in athletic training student enrollment. This issue is not specific to athletic training and may be a byproduct of a larger healthcare profession and higher education problem; however, information gathered from NATA Focus Groups, AT EducATionalist Town Hall events, and Strategic Alliance presentations, has provided enough information to justify the formation of a group to investigate the issue further and provide members with resources.

As the end of the year approaches, be sure to renew your NATA membership by Dec. 31 to retain your member status and membership benefits.

NATA is working every day to ensure members have the advocacy, professional growth, connection and support needed to keep athletic training essential to health care. Since November, the NATA Now blog has highlighted a few of the many member benefits and how they have impacted members. These blogs include:

The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society has provided educational exchange opportunities for international athletic training students interested in gaining experience and learning about baseball sports medicine since 1994. Students from Japan, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Canada have gained valuable experience and knowledge being placed with Major League athletic trainers and their teams during spring training in Florida and Arizona.

The November and December NATA News highlight NATA’s many advocacy efforts, including the work being done to increase the public’s understanding of the athletic training profession through media relations and strategic partnerships.

In addition, NATA offers members resources and support to assist in their local and regional PR efforts, ensuring all understand the important role ATs play in their patients’ health, safety and well-being.

The efforts to increase professional recognition of athletic training services by insurance companies for reimbursement are ongoing, and NATA’s Third Party Reimbursement Initiative (TPRI) works continuously to build awareness, especially at the state level.

In honor of National Native American Heritage Month in November, the NATA Now blog is highlighting some of NATA’s Native/Indigenous American members and their impact on the athletic training profession.

“Hesci, Vn hocēfetv Jasmine,” said Jasmine Velasquez, ATC, MEd, CTE. “V’nē purse-tate. Erv ’.tteyv Mvskoke Kaccvlke. Nakvftécetv vníckv púnakē estv’lkē.”

The December NATA News, our annual report, highlights that 75 members are celebrating 50 years of NATA membership in 2021. Congratulations to them and all of our members celebrating milestones with the association this year! Our 50-year members of 2021 are:

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.

Over the past year, NATAPAC had 932 contributors raise $41,500 between Nov. 1, 2020, and Oct. 31, 2021. View a full list of those 2020-21 donors.

There is a lot happening at NATA! Stay up to date on what’s to come each month in advocacy, engagement and development in this NATA Now blog series. Check out what is in store for December, and follow our communication channels throughout the month for more information.