NATA Now

September 11, 2025 by Beth Sitzler

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. These bipartisan efforts consist of five key areas: state legislation, federal legislation, regulatory, reimbursement and NATAPAC.

October 26, 2021 by Beth Sitzler

NATA Featured During HPW 2021

NATA is a featured partner in the 2021 Health Professions Week (HPW), Nov. 4-11. As the biggest career event for health professions, HPW brings together various health profession organizations to promote health care careers to high school students, college students, career changers, parents, advisors and counselors. HPW is an eight-day, one-stop shop of events to explore more than 20 career options.

October 22, 2021 by Elizabeth Quinn

NATA Reaches Gamers Through Twitch

NATA educated Twitch viewers about athletic trainers and the importance of their unique skills for the gaming/esports patient population during three advertisement “game breaks” during the Oct. 18 Icy Hot 2K22 Charity Tournament, hosted by Icy Hot and The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation with support from NATA. The goal was to educate and advocate to student athletes and gamers naturally where they gather and interact with popular culture.

October 11, 2021 by Elizabeth Quinn

Teaching, Inspiring Future Researchers

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, the NATA Now blog is highlighting some of NATA’s Hispanic/Latinx athletic training members who are advancing the profession through research.

“What are you interested in researching for your thesis?” asked Jaime (James/Jimmy) Arturo (Arthur) Oñate’s, PhD, ATC, FNATA, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when Oñate was a graduate student.

October 5, 2021 by Claire Williams

Preventing Comorbid Conditions for Trans Patients

By Melanie A. Mason, DAT, LAT, ATC, and Emma Nye, DAT, LAT, ATC

Transgender individuals face substantial barriers to quality health care and encounter health disparities within their continuum of care.1 Research has shown that as high as 25 percent to 30 percent of transgender individuals are denied care by their health care provider based on their gender identity.2,3 Additionally, 90 percent of transgender adults surveyed in 2019 sought health care only when absolutely necessary.4

October 5, 2021 by Elizabeth Quinn

Timely Topics Explores Mental Health

The next NATA Timely Topics Series is at 11 a.m. CDT Oct. 12. This month’s series, which is hosted by NATA President Kathy Dieringer, EdD, LAT, ATC, includes one event: “The AT and Mental Health, Fueled by Gatorade Performance Partner” presented by Bhrett McCabe, PhD. The event is free for NATA members and $45 for nonmembers.

McCabe will cover mental health tips for athletic trainers as well as their athletes.

October 4, 2021 by Elizabeth Quinn

Earn CEUs at the New NATA Education Encore Event

A new education opportunity is available to athletic trainers! The NATA Education Encore: Top Sessions from NATA’s Virtual Events is an opportunity to earn CEUs from the most popular sessions from 2020 and 2021 NATA Virtual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, Virtual Athletic Training Educators' Conference and NATA COPA Con 2021. Registration is available through Dec.