NATA Now

August 7, 2025 by NATA Staff

NATA Names Mollie Pillman as Executive Director

NATA announced that Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, will begin her role as executive director Sept. 2. Pillman was selected following a highly competitive national search led by executive search firm Vetted Solutions.

February 3, 2015 by NATA Staff

Examining Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia

When we hear about catastrophic injury and death amongst athletes, we typically think about concussion1, cardiac arrest2 and exertional heatstroke3.  Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) is rarely mentioned alongside the “big three”, despite its insidious extension into more diverse sporting events beyond the ultramarathon, where it was first described three decades ago4.   The recent and tragic deaths of two otherwise healthy 17-year old high school football players from hyponatremic encephalopathy5,6, underscores the need for more education towards translating evidenced-b

February 2, 2015 by NATA Staff

How Do We Choose Our Convention City?

NATA members often ask us how we select our convention city each year. It’s a complicated process that takes into account many factors. NATA’s Director of Meeting Management Lori Marker took the time at our recent Joint Committee Meeting to explain the process to attendees. Her presentation received such great feedback that we thought we would summarize it here on the blog for those unable to attend. You have questions, we have answers!
 

January 30, 2015 by NATA Staff

ATs in the News

Although we are still working to educate the public about the value and contributions of athletic trainers, it’s always exciting to see the news media present stories that highlight the lives and accomplishments of ATs. Recently, we have come across several stories that have done just that. Since you might not have seen them already, we wanted to collect them here so you might have a chance to read them too. We often post articles we come across on our Twitter feed, in addition to important news and updates from NATA.

January 22, 2015 by NATA Staff

Peyton Manning and the Fog of Injury Terminology

Was it a strain? A tear? In his latest column, John Doherty looks at the injury Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning suffered and the lack of clarity when it came to identifying it.
 
Against the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 14, Manning supposedly strained his right quadriceps. In the aftermath of the loss to the Colts, though, other stories started seeping out.
 
January 14, 2015 by NATA Staff

Study by ATs on Outdated Patient Paperwork Published in Pediatrics Journal

In the results from a study conducted by researchers at George Mason University are finding that outdated patient forms may be hindering the ability of health care providers to monitor or discover medical conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest or sudden death in sports.
 

January 13, 2015 by NATA Staff

Has the NFL's Adapted Training Schedule Led to More Player Injuries?

Dear John: Someone at a holiday gathering made a claim about injuries in the NFL. The players’ association (NFLPA) has negotiated a training schedule that significantly limits the amount of scrimmage time preceding a game. The claim was that this change has resulted in an increase in player injuries this season. Are injuries on the increase? Does reduced contact time result in an actual increase in injuries? Or from your perspective, as an athletic trainer, would you expect fewer injuries due to less wear on the athlete’s body? — Thomas Thiel, St.

January 9, 2015 by NATA Staff

Safe Sports School Award Honorees For December

The Safe Sports School Award recognizes secondary schools that take the crucial steps to keep their athletes free from injuries. The recipient list continued to grow in December with 26 additional schools honored. The schools represented seven districts and spanned the country from the Southeast to the Pacific Northwest. You can see the full list below.