While athletic trainers are becoming more and more mainstream, I'm sure there are plenty of people who still wonder, what is an athletic trainer? Well, let me shed some light on the subject. I am a nationally certified and state licensed health specialist, focusing on the care of athletes. To put it simply (well, I like to think so), an athletic trainer, or ATC, is a gatekeeper. I am the communication link between doctors and coaches, between the athletes and coaches, and also between the doctors and athletes. My ultimate goal is an athlete's safety and well-being. And, under the unfortunate circumstance that an athlete gets injured, I help to recover as quickly as possible.

To be an ATC, you must go through an accredited bachelor's program and pass a national certification test through the NATABOC. I went to the University of Iowa, where I received my bachelor's and master's degrees in Exercise Science with an emphasis in athletic training. While in school, I took classes in physiology, nutrition, evaluation and rehabilitation of injuries, along with several science courses. I even had the chance to take gross anatomy, where I dissected a human body for an entire summer. It was amazing!

I have been certified for 13 years and now have to earn 75 continuing education hours every 3 years. My typical workday includes preparing athletes for practice or competition (e.g., I tape lots of ankles, wrists, fingers, etc.), evaluating new injuries, and rehabbing current injuries. Sound like fun? It is!