NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As part of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association National Athletic Training Month, Vanderbilt Athletics is recognizing the efforts of a sports medicine staff that provides crucial support to the Commodores’ 17 sport programs.
The staff, led by assistant athletic director for sports medicine Tom Bossung, also includes assistant directors Ray Lysinger, Mollie Malone, Sara Melby and Justin Wenzel, senior associate athletic trainers Allison Sheppard, Chris Matarazzo, Kerry Wilbar and Jordan Pierce, associate athletic trainers Alda Burston, Miya Sullivan-Davis, Daniel Cadavid and Nick Caporale, and athletic trainers Tyler Hill, Killian Mollner, Paul Echelberry, Seth Harwell, Lance Schuemann, Kaylyn Norville, John Cicciaro, Jack Linforth, Nicholas Smith, Imani Conner and Makenzie Ellis.
Recognized in 2000 by the American Medical Association as board-certified health care providers, athletic trainers play an extremely important role in the story of an athlete’s development. The central cog of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
National Athletic Training Month is celebrated every year in March in recognition of the expertise and efforts of athletic trainers across the globe and is dedicated to all those who play a vital role in the development and health care of athletes at various levels. Initiated in 2000, as part of National Athletic Training Month the national organization provides logos, posters, press releases, sample media alerts, and public relations toolkits in addition to hosting several virtual engagement opportunities during the month-long celebration.
Athletic training is an academic major or graduate equivalent major program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The current minimum entry point into the profession of athletic training is at the master’s level. Upon completion of a CAATE-accredited athletic training education program, students become eligible for national certification by successfully completing the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) examination.
