NATA Now

By Karen Fennell, MS, ATC
NATA Representative to the AMA CPT Coding Panel

After several years of collaborative work with members of Congress, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 921) was passed by the House of Representatives Monday, Sept. 12, a historic event for NATA and the athletic training profession.

The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 921), which was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee July 13, is going to be voted on by the full House of Representatives today, Monday, Sept. 12. This is a historic event for NATA and the athletic training profession as it is the first time a piece of NATA legislation has progressed to this step in the legislative process.

The August/September NATA News featured an article about current Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society President Rick Burkholder, MS, ATC, and Incoming PFATS President James Collins, ATC. The two head athletic trainers discussed the challenges facing PFATS members, recent accomplishments of the society and what they hope to achieve in the future.

By Casey Christy, MA, ATC, CSCS, and Dale Grooms, ATC

The Athletic Training Education Journal (ATEJ) Editor-in-Chief (EIC) position becomes available in June 2017. The term of appointment is three years and can be renewed once, with agreement between the EIC and NATA, for a total of six years of service. Electronic applications are being accepted.

By Aaron Ngor, ATC

I consider myself lucky that I was able to find my passions early on. By passions I mean my love for hip-hop dance and medicine.

The Back to Sports Mini-Grant Program, an initiative of the National Football League and American Heart Association, is accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year.

A study conducted by NATA found that 82% of members surveyed felt they were not prepared to deal with psychological impact of catastrophic events.

While H.R. 921, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act has been NATA’s most publicized legislative effort, our advocacy team is always working behind the scenes on other issues related to the profession.