THOMASVILLE, Ga. – We Prepare–You Perform. A simple mantra that is the theme of this year’s National Athletic Trainers’ Month. Each March, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), a not-for-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas, celebrates, recognizes, and educates the community on its organization, its influence and association with every day industry, and health related topics.
NATA’s overall mission is to continue to reach those individuals and organizations that can help make a difference for athletic trainers when it comes to legislation, employment and public health. Thomas University strives to support that mission within the athletics department by improving the awareness of the position of the profession through hands-on experience on a daily basis with student-athletes, coaches, physicians, parents, and staff.
This year’s theme of “We Prepare – You Perform” is focused on athletic trainer preparedness for any and every situation that might arise, such as developing an emergency action plan, rehearsing emergency situations, and communicating with administration, EMS, coaches, employees, etc.
At Thomas University, athletic trainers play an important role in taking care of about 250 student-athletes across 10 varsity sports, three junior varsity programs, and the dance team.
“Athletic training is a critical element of sports at any level,” stated head athletic trainer Brandee Zambrano. “Athletic trainers work with athletes through the entire injury process from first response until they return to full activity. For myself and the majority of athletic trainers, this process is what makes the profession so rewarding.”
A common misconception with athletic trainers is that they are the same as personal trainers or strength and conditioning trainers. Personal trainers as focused on helping achieve their fitness and health goals through motivation, workout routines, and physical activity. In comparison, athletic trainers help athletes avoid injury through prevention, rehabilitate injuries when they do occur, and offer immediate medical aid as a first response to injury. ATs offer support for health, body and mind, as well as tract improvement and progress before, during, and after an injury occurs.
For the past nine years, Zambrano has served as Thomas’ head athletic trainer. For the first four years, Zambrano was also the only trainer on staff. As the Night Hawks grow and the Athletics programs have expanded, so has the department. Three years ago the Athletic Training department grew to include an Assistant Athletic Trainer, Daniel Parker, as well as two graduate assistants, Emma Morozowsky and Amanda Headrick, who each serve for two-year stints.
In addition to helping student-athletes recover physically from injuries, athletic trainers also help provide encouragement and moral support along the way. Athletic trainers provide emotional support for student-athletes who sustain a trauma or even a season-ending injury. In these instances, athletic trainers becomes the most important person for that student-athlete.
In the fall of 2013, Thomas began a collaboration with Valdosta State University. Students in VSU’s athletic training undergraduate program can now complete clinical rotations at TU. This relationship has continued as the VSU students continue to make a positive contribution to the staff.
Throughout the year, there are instances where athletes have to have surgeries or further medical care on injuries. In that case, Thomas collaborates with physicians at the Hughston Clinic as well as Thomasville Family Medicine to ensure student-athletes receive the best care possible. TU also has partnerships with the South Georgia Spine and Joint Care Center and Dr. Scott Burkhart.
Zambrano continued, “The partnerships we have built with the VSU athletic training education program and our healthcare providers are a vital part of our department. It has increased the healthcare resources available to our student-athletes, while allowing us to work with some of the most prominent specialists in South Georgia.”
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