Athletic trainers, who are recognized by the American Medical Association, are often looked upon as humanitarians who provide unparalleled medical care to an assortment of different clientele. This clientele ranges from professional athletes to performing arts associations.

In the 1970s, LSU experimented in the field of athletic training programs offering interested students an internship-style curriculum that presented them with an opportunity to become a Certified Athletic Trainer. The program was short lived due to severe budget cuts and around 1980 the program was dropped.

Ray Castle, an assistant professor of professional practice and director of the concentration in athletic training in the Department of Kinesiology, stated that Jack Marucci, Head Athletic Trainer with the LSU Athletic Department, and his staff, initially got the ball rolling to bring the program back around 1998. “They had a very strong desire to develop future athletic trainers from LSU,” said Castle. “In addition to the resources available at LSU, there was great support from the Department of Kinesiology and Chair Amelia Lee to develop this program.” The University did not resurrect the series again until 1999.

In 2004, the concentration in athletic training at LSU became accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This official recognition denotes that any student graduating from this program will be eligible to sit for the national board exam for athletic trainers and after passing can begin practicing medicine as a board certified athletic trainer.

Candidates interested in the concentration in athletic training must be academically sound and ready to embark on a rigorous three-year expedition.

“There has always been a demand for the program over the years even when there was not a degree program,” said Castle. “Most of these students had exposure to an athletic trainer in high school and wondered about how to become one themselves.”

Each year more than 50 students apply for the demanding program but only around 12 are admitted. “There is an increased demand because students are more educated,” said Castle. “It is very selective and requires a student that is good academically, has great time management, and is a critical thinker.”

During any given semester, there are around 18-20 athletic training clinical instructors who work within or around the athletic training program. These adjunct instructors are all certified and also teach other classes within the kinesiology department. Additionally, the program utilizes an additional 30-plus licensed health care providers (orthopedic and family practice physicians; dentists; nutritionists; psychologists; physical therapists; emergency medical personnel; etc.) that also serve in clinical and classroom instructional roles. “With any intensive medical education program, like our program, students see first hand through example in both the classroom and the clinical settings of how to perform a variety of health care clinical skills,” said Castle.

After being admitted into the program students are required to execute three years of clinical and academic work. The first clinical year includes advanced concepts and skills in: emergency medicine; orthopedic (upper and lower extremity; spine) and neurological evaluation; injury prevention; injury taping; bracing; and casting. The second clinical year consists of internal medicine, therapeutic modalities, physical rehabilitation, pathophysiology of diseases and conditions, and pharmacology. The third and final clinical year is comprised of nutrition, psychosocial intervention and referral, administrative aspects of athletic training (facility planning and risk management, insurance billing, human resource management), enhancing communication skills with patients, the public, and other health care providers. Each clinical year also includes formal structured clinical experiences that support content and skills acquired in formal classroom and laboratory courses.

Following the conclusion of the third year, students are qualified to sit for the national medical board examination. Effective January 1, 2004, these students must have graduated from an accredited degree program in athletic training to sit for the exam which is administered by the Board of Certification. The average first time passing rate countrywide is 35 percent, at LSU it is 50 percent. “Ultimately we have 100 percent pass rate and 100 percent placement. We also follow our students and do employer surveys,” said Castle.

Many of the students go onto graduate school to seek a higher degree of knowledge. According to Castle, over 80 percent of certified athletic trainers hold a master’s degree or higher. These students find employment in all fields of medical practice.

“There are limited spots within the program because the students need to get the best education possible both clinically and in the classroom,” said Castle. “They need to be able to be a highly qualified and skilled health care provider the day they graduate so that they are successful when they leave here.”

These students and faculty within the athletic training program spend an incomparable amount of time together making them a very close group of people.

“Due to the unique nature of our program, and various situations that may occur in the clinical settings, our students have all of my phone numbers. The kids have my home number...my wife is still trying to get used to it,” Castle says with a burst of laughter.

Athletic trainers often work under the supervision of a licensed medical physician and in collaboration with other medical health care providers. They are responsible for providing health care to people of all ages and body types. They help prevent injuries and supervise existing injured persons. They specialize in prevention, assessment, treatments, and rehabilitation.

“Our students and clinical faculty have to be on the same ‘boat’ at all times, so availability and communication is critical to the overall success of this program,” Castle said.