March is National Athletic Training month. As an athletic trainer I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it! I sat for, and earned my ATC credentials in April 1997! It seems like just yesterday I was standing on the bench as a student athletic trainer during an ice hockey game at my undergraduate alma mater, Elmira College, keeping a watchful eye on the players on the ice, ready to jump into action for any injury, as they skated by furiously maintaining possession of the puck while simultaneously attempting to avoid being checked into the boards.
I’ve practiced as an athletic trainer in many different settings, collegiate, professional, clinical, volunteer, high school and a physician extender. I’ve been working with doctors in some capacity or other for nearly 30 years!
The route to earning certification as an athletic trainer looks much different from when I was in school. Today my career path is much different all these years later as well. Perhaps your path is as well, or you want to make some changes to your path. For some tips on bringing some passion and joy back into your practice check out my newsletter from January.
For those that don’t know, a certified athletic trainer is a healthcare professional who provides medical care and injury prevention services for athletes and active individuals. They have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (and that is changing to a master’s) from an accredited program and must pass a national certification exam. ATs are trained in prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. ATs develop programs to prevent injury. They evaluate their patients and ensure they receive necessary screenings. In the event of injury, ATs develop rehabilitation plans designed to return their patient safely to the level of performance before the injury. ATs are also able to assess and refer patients for specialized care.
The National Athletic Trainers Association
promotes National Athletic Training Month to
spread the importance of ATs and the valuable
work they do all over the country. The theme for
2023 Is There’s an AT for that!
ATs work in a variety of settings, including high schools, colleges and universities, sports medicine clinics, and professional sports teams. In addition to these “traditional” settings, they also are employed in non-traditional settings (myself included) such as medical device sales, medical supply companies, industrial workplaces, administrative roles and, hey, even consultants! Let’s not forget that they also play critical roles within the military, police and fire, performing arts and even in the gaming industry.
When my clients learn that I am an AT, I often see a click of recognition. It becomes clear to them WHY I understand what they are talking about.
Having a clinical background provides me with a
unique skill set not seen in many medical
practice consultants.
Sarah Clark Consulting offers a fantastic comprehensive private practice assessment to assist with getting a baseline read of where your practice is and design customized plans to improve those areas that may need extra attention.
Hats Off! To all the ATs out there! Thank you for taking care of the athletes behind the scenes, keeping them healthy, rehabbing their injuries, providing a strong shoulder for someone to lean on – physically and mentally.
Did you know Sarah Clark Consulting offers a FREE practice self-assessment? CLICK HERE to take the one minute assessment and get some great information to keep the smile on your face while making your practice more efficient!
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