NATA Now

Concussion is and should always be front-page news for athletic trainers. Clinical athletic trainers are on the front lines of concussion identification and management and regularly find themselves coordinating with concussion management teams for athletes. In the ongoing effort to better understand and prevent concussions, researchers working in athletic training are positively influencing protocols and policy, increasing athlete safety and improving recovery outcomes.

In honor of Black History Month, NATA will highlight some of our young professional leaders at the state, district and national levels and how they’re advancing athletic training into the future.

As a young professional, knowing when to draw the line between work and life outside of work isn’t always easy. It can come with additional stress, unhappiness at work or at home and it can lead to burnout.

In honor of Black History Month, NATA will highlight some of our young professional leaders at the state, district and national levels and how they’re advancing athletic training into the future.

“Lead and love the way you want to be led and loved.” Not only does Roderick Williams, MS, LAT, live by this motto, he experienced leadership and love from athletic trainers who influenced him to join the profession, to give back to the profession­­ and, now, to focus on leading a new generation through athletic training.

You may recall receiving a membership survey this past summer. This information – as well as other data points – have been analyzed by the NATA Board of Directors and staff, and was the foundation for a weekendlong strategic vision casting meeting. The board convened in person Jan. 28-30 in Dallas for the first time in two years to discuss and conduct a host of exercises designed to support the development of a new NATA Strategic Plan.

By Elizabeth Quinn

In honor of Black History Month, NATA will highlight some of our young professional leaders at the state, district and national levels and how they’re advancing athletic training into the future. 

For Nikki Harris, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS, the path to athletic training wasn’t linear, but once she was introduced to athletic training, she knew it was the right profession for her.

By Elizabeth Quinn

In honor of Black History Month, NATA will highlight some of our young professional leaders at the state, district and national levels and how they’re advancing athletic training into the future. 

Overview

In recent months, discussions have begun on the perceived, growing issue of the decline in athletic training student enrollment. This issue is not specific to athletic training and may be a byproduct of a larger healthcare profession and higher education problem; however, information gathered from NATA Focus Groups, AT EducATionalist Town Hall events, and Strategic Alliance presentations, has provided enough information to justify the formation of a group to investigate the issue further and provide members with resources.

As the end of the year approaches, be sure to renew your NATA membership by Dec. 31 to retain your member status and membership benefits.

NATA is working every day to ensure members have the advocacy, professional growth, connection and support needed to keep athletic training essential to health care. Since November, the NATA Now blog has highlighted a few of the many member benefits and how they have impacted members. These blogs include:

The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society has provided educational exchange opportunities for international athletic training students interested in gaining experience and learning about baseball sports medicine since 1994. Students from Japan, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Canada have gained valuable experience and knowledge being placed with Major League athletic trainers and their teams during spring training in Florida and Arizona.

The November and December NATA News highlight NATA’s many advocacy efforts, including the work being done to increase the public’s understanding of the athletic training profession through media relations and strategic partnerships.

In addition, NATA offers members resources and support to assist in their local and regional PR efforts, ensuring all understand the important role ATs play in their patients’ health, safety and well-being.