NATA Beat: Fall 2025 Advocacy Updates
Every day, NATA and the NATA Government Affairs Department are working on behalf of the athletic training profession. With staff members experienced in all aspects of the legislative process, the NATA Government Affairs Department is the sole department focused on advocacy for the profession. NATA’s goal is to ensure that all ATs can work to the fullest extent of their education and skill set.
Tips for a Healthy School Year
Back-to-school season is right around the corner! As students approach their studies and sports return, athletic trainers also need to get equipped to serve their athletes’ health care needs.
New Sports Science Courses in the PDC
Four new sports science courses are now available in the NATA Professional Development Center (PDC) with two more planned to be released soon.
Hot Topics in the PDC
The NATA Professional Development Center (PDC) offers seminal courses relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA), health disparities, social determinants of health (SDOH) and the role of the athletic trainer. Other courses present the topic of sports science and more. The courses include:
The Difference-Making Alignment
To commemorate Pride Month, throughout June the NATA Now blog is highlighting members of the NATA LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee and their impact on the profession.
For Sean Rogers, DAT, LAT, ATC, the practice model under which athletic trainers operate in traditional and non-traditional settings attracted him.
‘The NATA-Cast’ Live at Convention
By Lydia Hicks
NATA’s popular podcast, “The NATA-Cast,” taped a live on-site session featuring the NATA AT Compensation Task Force June 22 in the Indianapolis Convention Center during the 74th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo.
NATAPAC Breakfast: Growth and Its Cohorts
After a three-year hiatus, the NATAPAC Breakfast returned June 23 with about 200 attendees during the 74th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Indianapolis.
The NATAPAC Breakfast is the premier event and fundraiser at convention for the NATA Political Action Committee (NATAPAC), and this year, attendees got to hear from keynote speaker and NATA AT Compensation Task Force Chair Murphy Grant, LAT, ATC, NASM-PES.
NATA 2023 Keynote Celebrates Resiliency
Celebrating the profession and the resiliency of athletic trainers, the NATA 2023 Keynote Presentation, held June 22, featured Buffalo Bills head athletic trainer Nate Breske, DPT, ATC, and associate head athletic trainer Denny Kellington, ATC. They shared insight into their lifesaving intervention when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during the Jan.
State Leaders Gather at NATA 2023
Held in-person for the first time since 2019, the State Leadership Forum welcomed leaders from around the country June 21, in the JW Marriott, for part two of this year’s hybrid event.
New Advocacy Fundraising Events Debut
Two new advocacy opportunities await at the 74th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo – NATAPACk Your Bags and Rounding Third, both taking place June 22-24 in the Connect area in Hall I of the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Hosted by the NATAPAC Board of Directors and NATA Government Affairs respectively, NATAPACk Your Bags and Rounding Third are new fundraising initiatives.
Introducing New District Directors
At the end of the June 20 NATA Board of Directors’ meeting, which took place during the 74th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, the board welcomed four new members: Vicky Graham, DAT, ATC, representing District One; Scott Lawrance, DHSc, ATC, PT, representing District Four; Valerie Herzog, EdD, LAT, ATC, representing District Seven; and Cindy Clivio, MEd, ATC, representing District Eight.