Careers in Sports Medicine

Brent S. E. Rich

The athlete is at the center of the sports medicine environment. Athletic success may be measured by wins and losses, individual or team championships, or merely active participation. The professionals who serve athletes should have the health, safety, and participation success of athletes as their priority. The certified athletic trainer (ATC) may be described as the “hub of the wheel” in the treatment of competitive athletes. The ATC works with the athlete on a daily basis and is often the link between the athlete and the physician, coaching staff, physical therapist, and media. Certification for an athletic trainer includes earning a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum. Formal training in injury/illness prevention, emergency and first aid, triage of injury/illness, therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation, and return-to-play decisions are part of the athletic trainer's educational background. Close to 70% of athletic trainers have a master's or a doctoral degree. ...

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