Department of Kinesiology undergraduate student Erin Greenwich was selected as one of two students to represent Louisiana at an athletic training professional leadership workshop known as iLEAD, which stands for Lead, Engage, Activate, Develop, in Washington, D.C. last month. More than 150 students were selected from across the country to participate in the workshop, hosted by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (www.NATA.org), where they met other athletic training students, networked with professionals in the field, and learned about aspects of the profession not covered in a traditional classroom setting.
Also on the agenda was Hill Day, during which students had the opportunity to see how certified athletic trainers actively participate in Congress and lobby for athletic training legislation. Greenwich and other participants were able to meet with staff members from the offices of Rep. Bill Cassidy and Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter concerning proposed legislation affecting the profession, specifically H.R. 1137--Athletic Trainers' Equal Access to Medicare Act of 2009, which would provide improved access to physical medicine and rehabilitation services under part B of the Medicare Program.
“Being chosen to attend the iLEAD conference was a great honor. We were educated on the various fields that certified athletic trainers can cover that most people don’t think of, like the Rockettes, the military, the FBI… and we were shown the importance of knowing how to be most effective with a variety of people,” Greenwich said.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Ray Castle, PhD, ATC, LAT, agrees that this was a great experience for Greenwich, “It’s a tremendous honor to be selected out of thousands of future certified athletic trainers to be placed on an advanced leadership track within the profession.” Castle also serves as Director of the Concentration in Athletic Training.
“This was a valuable experience for Erin to become engaged in her profession and have the opportunity to meet and be involved with the congressional processes that shape the future of not only the profession of athletic training, but the future of healthcare in general,” added Castle.
Greenwich, a junior in the Department of Kinesiology’s Concentration in Athletic Training, received a partial stipend from the Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association (LATA) to cover a portion of her expenses to attend the leadership development program. She currently serves as president of Alpha Tau Sigma, the professional organization for athletic training students at LSU. Accepted to the Fall 2007 cohort, Greenwich is currently completing her clinical experience rotation at University Laboratory High School under graduate assistant Melissa Sorrells, ATC.
The Department of Kinesiology’s Concentration in Athletic Training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (www.caate.net) and aims to produce entry-level Board of Certification (BOC) (www.bocatc.org) Certified Athletic Trainers, medical professionals who are experts in injury prevention, diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations and disabilities. ATCs collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients.
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