NATA Now

The May NATA News includes profiles on the seven members who will be inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame during the 69th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo this June in New Orleans. In addition to discussing their mentors and the value of giving back, the Hall of Fame inductees also shared their hopes for the future of the athletic training profession:

The Athletic Training Education Journal (available at www.natajournals.org) invites proposals for a special thematic issue focusing on the Globalization of Athletic Training Education. Specifically, we are seeking manuscripts of all types on the following themes:

Cover letters, résumés and references – oh my! These three simple items can often be intimidating because of the large impact they have during the job hunt.

To help students put their best foot forward and guide them as they apply for internships, job positions and educational programs, the NATA Student Leadership Committee will hold its first-ever webinar, “Cover Letters, Résumés, References: Setting Yourself Up for Success” by District One Director Tim Weston, MEd, ATC, at noon (CST) April 23.

Identify and connect with your external stakeholders.

Identify key external stakeholders for your setting by answering the following questions:
●        Who are my local government officials?
●        Who is responsible for providing public information for my workplace?
●        Who are the decision makers at my workplace?

Education is an important part of an athletic trainer’s job in the secondary school. ATs are tasked with educating parents, student-athletes, coaches, teachers, counselors, school nurses and administration on a daily basis. One of the most frequent topics of discussion is concussions. Shelly Jones, ATC, NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Committee District Ten representative, shares her concussion handout as a resource for other members with this weighty assignment.

The 101 Awards, held Feb. 28, 2018, honored Colby Barron, ATC, for saving the life of a 12-year old football player.

In honor of National Facial Protection Month and Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month, the April NATA News features an infographic handout on face and head protection. The infographic details the different types of face and head protective equipment available – from goggles to throat guards – and what to consider when selecting each. The infographic handout can be used as a resources to educate parents, coaches, students, etc.

The April NATA News features an article on athletic training in Alaska and the unique challenges and fulfilling rewards the athletic trainers with Orthopedic Physicians Alaska encounter. While transitioning to a new state and job can be difficult, James Berry, MS, ATC, LAT, experienced a whole new set of obstacles when he broke his neck three days after moving from Georgia to Alaska in July 2016.

The April NATA News features a preview of “Covering Yourself When Working Per Diem,” a NATA 2018 session held by the NATA Young Professionals’ Committee from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. June 29 in New Orleans.

From the editor: This blog is the last entry in the weekly series we’re running during National Athletic Training Month to highlight different aspects athletic trainers should consider as they strive to provide “compassionate care for all.”