The path to becoming an athletic trainer is evolving and students across the country are feeling the impact. Previously, a bachelor’s degree was all that was required to enter the profession. But now, aspiring athletic trainers must earn a master’s degree to meet new national standards. This change has reshaped the academic journey for many students, influencing how they prepare for and pursue a career in athletic training.
OhioHealth Sports Medicine and Ohio University are the first in the United States to offer an accredited pediatrics-focused athletic training residency program. The program was started by Laura Harris, PhD, Ohio University Athletic Training Residency Director, and Bill Davis, former OhioHealth director of sports medicine. In 2016, Dr. Harris and Davis began offering a post-professional master’s degree in athletic training, then transitioned it into the residency program in 2021. Now Ohio University and OhioHealth collaboratively offer the first and only pediatrics-focused athletic training residency in the country.
The program combines hands-on clinical training and course work. Each resident gets the opportunity to work independently, but they also have personalized mentors that can guide and support them throughout their 12 months in the program. Residents are expected to obtain a minimum of 500 hours in mentored clinical practice. They are also expected to complete course work in subjects such as administration/policy development, psychology, anatomy, evidence-based medicine and manual therapy. Dr. Harris said that residents also take part in unique simulation trainings to identify and treat exertional heat illnesses and perform emergency c-spine immobilizations.
Chris Hite, OhioHealth sports medicine manager and residency co-director, explains that the curriculum is based on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies:
· Patient care and procedural skills
· Medical knowledge
· Practice-based learning and improvement
· Interpersonal and communication skills
· Professionalism
· Systems-based practice
As their time in the program concludes, each resident must present a project at the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium.
The program provides residents with a 12-month full-time employment agreement with OhioHealth Sports Medicine. Residents also have the opportunity for tuition reimbursement along with additional continuing education opportunities.
Throughout the program residents serve as clinicians in the secondary school setting but they also get exposed to different events like The Arnold Sports Festival, Cap City Half Marathon, Pre-Participation Physicals and more. This gives residents a variety of experiences with different sports and backgrounds. The program has also earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) which shows the quality of the residency.
“There are skills that simply can’t be taught in a book like how to be an effective communicator, time management, conflict resolution, etc. and with the experiential learning and mentorship that is offered in this program, the takeaways will be life lessons carried with them far beyond the program,” Katrina Stibel, Director of Sports Medicine at OhioHealth, said.
The residency also provides in-depth mentorship from multiple educators. “Because mentorship is so deeply tied into our program, statistically, the program aids in retaining athletic trainers in secondary school jobs,” Hite said.
Hite explains that the focus on pediatric patients is so important because of the difference between an adult and adolescent skeleton. Adolescents tend to have more immature skeletons, making them more susceptible to injuries. There are also different emotional factors that are important for athletic trainers to understand when communicating with adolescents. Many programs do not cover these crucial differences in as much detail and that can have a negative impact on the care that young people are receiving.
“This is the only pediatrics-focused athletic training residency in the United States, yet more athletic trainers work in secondary schools and youth sports than any other area. This seems disproportionate,” Dr. Harris said.
Dr. Harris recognizes the accomplishment and importance of this program, but she also acknowledges that it comes with a responsibility to change past habits and perceptions.
“Don’t get me wrong, the program is strong; I feel as if we have the program in a good place. But residency training is still not recognized as a common option for newly credentialed athletic trainers,” Dr. Harris said. “With residency training, we have a chance to train athletic trainers to intervene before injury occurs and because we are preparing athletic trainers to understand the psychosocial stages of adolescents, we are also able to communicate and motivate these unique athletes to employ self-care techniques”.
The goal of this program is to adequately prepare future athletic trainers in pediatrics with a strong foundation on a variety of issues, from anatomy and injury treatment to psychology and communication. Being the first in the nation to provide such a transformative program comes with a lot of pressure, but also great privilege. This program will undoubtably have a strong impact on youth sports and safety for children as well as the continued advancement of athletic trainers across the country.
To learn more about the Athletic Training Pediatric Residency Program, click here.
To apply to the program, click here.
