When Mark Rambo was growing up, he was surrounded by relatives in the medical profession. Watching his mother go through medical school sparked his interest in the health professions even further, helping him decide on a major in Athletic Training at Grand Valley State University.
As a senior in the Athletic Training program and current president of the Athletic Training Club, Rambo has the opportunity to help other students learn more about the Athletic Training program.
The Athletic Training Club is a way to get involved on campus outside of the actual educational program, Rambo explains. The club allows those who are not yet in the program a chance to learn about the inner workings of the program and what the world of Athletic Training entails.
The Athletic Training program itself provides strong concentrations in academic work and practical experience working with the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams at Grand Valley. In 1978, GVSU was one of the first two Athletic Training programs started in the state of Michigan.
There is a large misconception that taping ankles is the only thing athletic trainers do, says Rambo. Athletic training entails the whole process of injury prevention, evaluation, care, and treatment through physical rehabilitation and the use of therapeutic modalities.
Athletic trainers often work in various settings such as professional sports teams, in colleges and high schools as members of the teaching faculty, and sports medicine clinics. They are often the first person to see the athlete after an injury and are responsible for planning the best course of action.
The fact that the club has an emphasis area in Athletic Training provides students in and out of the program an opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge of the field, says Shari Bartz, curriculum director and Athletic Training Club advisor. It is a great chance for them to develop leadership skills and gain experience in their future careers as athletic trainers.
The GVSU Athletic Training Club members attended the South Eastern Athletic Training Association (SEATA) conference in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 18 through 20. We learned about current rehabilitation techniques and the competencies that will be covered on the national certification test that athletic trainers must take upon graduation, Rambo explains.
Admission into the Athletic Training program and successful completion of the curriculum courses and clinical hours prepares students to sit for the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) certification exam upon graduation.
I see good things in store for the Athletic Training Club and the future of the Athletic Training program itself, Rambo says.
