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Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award
Sayers "Bud" Miller, PhD, PT, ATC
Dr. Sayers "Bud" Miller, after whom the award is named, was the driving force behind the development of professional athletic training education. He served as the chairman of the NATA Professional Education Committee from its inception in 1968, through 1980. He was a prolific writer, researcher and lecturer in the field of athletic training.
Miller received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Physical Education from Purdue University and his certificate in Physical Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a doctorate degree in Education at Stanford University.
Dr. Miller was the head athletic trainer at Morehead State College (1957-1958), Ball State University (1958-1969) and the University of Washington (1969-1974). He served as the director of the athletic training curriculum and as the head basketball athletic trainer at The Pennsylvania State University from 1974 until his death in 1980. Bud was also selected as an athletic trainer for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.
Dr. Miller was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1980.
Herb Amato, DA, ATC 2003
Dr. Herb Amato serves as the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) Director, a Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, and the Cluster Five Coordinator in the General Education Program at JMU. He received his undergraduate degree in Physical Education/Athletic Training in 1979 from West Virginia University, his Masters of Science in Education from James Madison University (1980), and his Doctorate from Middle Tennessee State University (1992).
Dr. Amato has been involved in the education of athletic training students for over twenty-four years at the university and high school levels. Prior to coming to JMU, Herb served as the Head Athletic Trainer and ATEP Director at Mars Hill College, NC (1984-1988) and as a Teacher/Athletic Trainer at Northern Durham High School, NC (1980-1984). Through his tenure as a high school and university instructor, he has taught a wide variety of subject matter, ranging from physical education activity classes to graduate-level athletic training courses.
In 1988, Dr. Amato was selected as a member of the Medical Staff for the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. The pre-Olympic tour allowed him to tour with the US Baseball Team throughout the United States, Italy and Japan. He was also on the medical staff of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Through his involvement with the USOC, he conducted several workshops in Spain (1992-1995), traveled to Zagreb, Yugoslavia as part of the medical staff for the World University Games (1987), and served as a crew chief for Out-of-Competition drug testing.
Dr. Amato has an extensive public speaking and consulting background. He has published several articles/books in the areas of athletic training education and clinical practice. Dr. Amato is also active in service for his church and community, and professionally at university and national levels.
Robert S. Behneke, HSD, ATC 1987
Dr. Robert Behnke attained his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in 1962. He received his Masters and Doctorate degrees from Indiana University in 1965 and 1974, respectively. Behnke's long career in athletic training has taken him from an assistant student athletic trainer position at the University of Illinois to Head Trainer and Full Professor at Indiana State University. Along the way, he has held numerous teaching and athletic training positions throughout the Indiana and Illinois area. His extensive list of honors includes the NATA Educator of the Year in 1987, the Illinois Athletic Trainer's Hall of Fame in 1987 and the NATA Service Award in 1989.
Dr. Behnke was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1990.
Jerry Bell, EdD, ATC/L, PT 1998
Dr. Bell received his doctorate Education from Brigham Young University, masters in Education at the University of Arizona, and his bachelor's degree from Ball State University. He has also earned a Physical Therapy degree from Ohio State University. Dr. Bell was employed by the University of Illinois to assist in the development of the Athletic Training-Sports Medicine Emphasis within the Department of Kinesiology after serving as an athletic trainer at Cal State - Sacramento and New Albany High School.
He has been instrumental in seeking state regulation of athletic trainers through registration in 1985 and licensure in 1995 by passage of the Illinois Athletic Trainers Practice Act and serving as Chair of the Illinois Board of Athletic Trainers from 1986-1996. He has volunteer experiences with the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs and the National Sports Festival 1981, 1982 and World University Games, Kobe, Japan, 1985 and the Illinois Prairie State Games, 1984-93. He has also served as Secretary for the US Swimming Sports Medicine Society from 1992-96 with trips to Canada, Hawaii and Rome, Italy. He was inducted into the Illinois Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 1991. He is the 1996 recipient of the NATA's Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer and was inducted into the 2001 Ball State University "Ring of Honor" Hall of Fame of the Cardinal Varsity Club.
Douglas J. Casa 2007
Dr. Douglas Casa was awarded a B.S. in Biology from Allegheny College and an M.S. in Athletic Training from the University of Florida. He received his PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Connecticut where he is currently the Director of Athletic Training Education, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, and Research Associate of the Human Performance Laboratory in the Neag School of Education.
Dr. Casa's research has focused on exertional heat stroke, exercise heat tolerance, dehydration, rehydration, exertional heat illnesses, and heat physiology which has led to having chaired the NATA's position statement on Fluid Replacement for Athletes (2000), the NATA-led Inter-Association Task Force on Exertional Heat Illnesses (2003), and the USA Track and Field Hydration Advisory (2003). He has published over 60 peer-reviewed research publications and has given over 150 presentations specific to heat and hydration issues with athletes.
Dr. Casa serves/served on the medical staff of the Marine Corps Marathon, Boston, Marathon, New York City Marathon, Falmouth Road Race, Five Points of Light Marathon, Hawaii Ironman Triathalon World Championships, as well as many other events. These events provide Doug a unique opportunity to learn about and treat exertional heat stroke.
Rod Compton 1989
Gary Delforge 1994
A 1960 Kansas State University graduate, he began working with the University of Arizona in 1963, was named UA’s head athletic trainer in 1969 and in the same year was elected president of the NATA. In 1975, Delforge worked with the Pan-American Games and worked with Olympian Bruce Jenner. In 1994, the NATA named Delforge its Sayers “Bud” Miller Educator of the Year.
University of Arizona athletic training program founder Gary Delforge enjoys a legacy of successful, influential certified athletic trainers nationwide. With a reputation for having spent every moment possible with his students, he handpicked excellent teachers and gave his students a 100 percent placement rate. After the University of Arizona disbanded its athletic training program in 1995, Delforge opened a new athletic training facility in conjunction with the Arizona School of Health Sciences.
Dr. Delforge was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1988.
Phillip B. Donley, MS, PT, ATC 1985
Phillip Donley received his master's degree in health and anatomy and his bachelor's degree in physical education from West Virginia University. He also received his physical therapy certificate from D.T. Watson. After beginning his career as the chief physical therapist at Akron City Hospital, Mr. Donley because an instructor and assistant athletic trainer at his alma mater, West Virginia University. He then was a Professor of Physical Education, Health, and Athletic Training at West Chester University from 1965 to 1991. Following his "retirement" from West Chester, Mr. Donley has remained active in private practice, consulting, and his first love, teaching.
In 1973 Mr. Donley was responsible for developing the first site visitation guidelines for the NATA Approval process and served on the first NATA Professional Education Committee from 1970 to 1982. Mr. Donley was also responsible for many other "firsts" during his distinguished career, including hiring the first female athletic trainer/faculty, instituting the first co-educational athletic training services program in Pennsylvania, and developing the first co-educational NATA approved athletic training program.
In addition to several institutional honors and awards, Mr. Donley's efforts have been recognized by receiving the EATA Cramer Award as the outstanding athletic trainer in Districts I and II and being inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society Hall of Fame and the West Virginia University School of Physical Education Hall of Fame.
Mr. Donley was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in1991.
Earlene Durrant, EdD, ATC 2002
A secondary school teacher for a decade, during the 1960s, when athletic trainers were almost exclusively male, Dr. Durrant was one of only five female athletic trainers nationwide and the first female ATC in Utah. Durrant became the first female athletic trainer at Brigham Young University in 1973 and served as head women’s athletic trainer until 1990. She was the first Utah athletic trainer to hold NATA certification and was the first woman the Utah Athletic Trainers’ Association elected president. She was NATA’s first female committee chair and for a decade chaired the Memorial Resolutions Committee. Since then, Durrant has served on many other NATA committees.
She has delivered symposiums, lectures and papers nationwide, has written several manuscripts, abstracts and has published “Weight Training for the Female Athlete.” In 2001, both the UATA and District Seven honored her as Educator of the Year. She was named NATA Distinguished Educator of the Year in 2002, and although retired, she continues to work with BYU graduate students. In May 2004, Earlene Durrant was inducted into the Utah Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.
Dr. Durrant was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2000.
Mike Ferrara, PhD, ATC 2001
Dr. Mike Ferrara is an Associate Professor in Exercise Science and Curriculum Director of Athletic Training in June 1998 after serving for 13 years as the athletic training program director at Ball State University. He received his doctorate from Penn State University, master's from Michigan State University, and undergraduate degree from Ithaca College in New York. Dr. Ferrara also served at Northwestern University for 3 years before going to Ball State University.
Dr. Ferrara has international expertise in sport epidemiology for athletes with disabilities and serves on the International Paralympic Committee's Sport Science Committee as the expert in sport medicine issues for athletes with disabilities. Dr. Ferrara has served as Director of Medical Operations for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, medical coordinator the US medical team for the 1994 World Athletic Championships, and the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games. He also was the athletic trainer for the 1990 World Games, 1987 Pan American Games, 1985 Olympic Festival, 1983 World University Games and the 1982 National Sports Festival.
In 1995, Ferrara was named Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association (IATA) and also received the distinguished service award from the IATA. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association, past president of the IATA and past member of the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and is President of the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy.
R.T. Floyd, EdD, ATC, CSCS 2007
A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Floyd received a B.S. Degree in Physical Education from the University of West Alabama in 1980 and a M.A.T. Degree in Physical Education in 1982. In 1995, he completed an Ed.D. in Human Performance Studies at the University of Alabama. R.T. began his career at the University of West Alabama in 1974 where he now serves as Director of Athletic Training & Sports Medicine and chair/professor in the Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training.
Dr. Floyd is in his second term on the NATA Board of Directors representing District IX. Additionally, he serves/served on the NATA Research and Education Foundation Board of Directors, NATA Educational Multimedia Committee, District IX Chair on the NATA Research & Education Foundation Board, and Director of the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association Competencies in Athletic Training Workshop. Dr. Floyd also holds CSCS and NSCA – CPT certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and is a Licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He served on the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic athletic training staff for twenty-seven years, including twenty-five classics as Head Athletic Trainer of the Gray Squad.
Dr. Floyd was presented the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2003 and received the Athletic Training Service Award in 1996. He received the District IX Award for Outstanding Contribution to the field of Athletic Training by the Southeast Athletic Trainers Association in 1990 and the organization’s highest award, the Award of Merit, in 2001. In 2004, he was inducted into the Alabama Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame. In 2001, he was inducted into the University of West Alabama Athletic Hall of Fame. He is the author of the textbook, Manual of Structural Kinesiology, now in its 16th edition.
Danny T. Foster, PhD, ATC, LAT 2005
Dan Foster is Director of Athletic Training Education in the Exercise Science Department at the University of Iowa. He is also an Associate Director of Athletic Training Services at the University. Dr. Foster was educated at the University of Iowa in Exercise Science. Athletic Training Education started at the University Iowa in 1973. Dr. Foster took over the administrative direction of the Program in 1976. From that time on, Dr. Foster was involved in professional education in some form or another: first with the Professional Education Committee of NATA, then CAHEA and CAAHEP as a Joint Review Committee member, and the NATA Education Council Entry-level Committee. Dr. Foster has also been a member of the NATA Pronouncements Committee, a JAT reviewer, and an REF reviewer. He served the state and district NATA organization as an officer or advisor through most of his professional career.
Among other duties on campus, Dr. Foster was the athletic trainer with the University wrestling team for 13 years and now volleyball for the past 19 years. During the past 25 years, Dr. Foster participated in the USOC program and Olympic Festivals in Colorado Springs CO, Durham NC, and Minneapolis MN. He has authored chapters in a variety of modern sports medicine texts and published journal articles dealing with athletic training education, quality control, weight loss in wrestlers, and wound care in sports to name a few. Foster’s research interests are in the broad area of exercise and disease science with specific interest in atraumatic shoulder lesions and repetitive motion diseases. Currently he is working on projects to clarify syndesmosis sprains in athlete populations.
James Gallaspy, Jr, MS, ATC 1992
Before he retired in June 2000, Mississippi native Jim Gallaspy invested his life caring for athletes and educating new athletic trainers. His career in athletic training began early, as a junior high student, and continued long past graduation from Provine High School in Jackson.
A University of Southern Mississippi student, he worked for Hall of Fame member Larry “Doc” Harrington. With his new bachelor’s degree in hand, he ventured to Hollywood, Fla., where he worked as athletic trainer and teacher at McArthur High School. Then he traveled north to Indiana, where he continued his education at Indiana State University while he worked at Moline High School.
In 1974, Gallaspy returned to the University of Southern Mississippi, teaching and taking care of athletes for the next 26 years. During that time, he served as the Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association president, Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association president and a member of the NATA Board of Directors.
Gallaspy co-authored an athletic training reference volume with J. Douglas May entitled “Signs and Symptoms of Athletic Injuries”. In January 2004, the Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association inducted Jim Gallaspy Jr. into its Hall of Fame.
Mr. Gallaspy was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2001.
Joe Gieck, EdD, ATC, PT 1986
Dr. Joe Gieck is director of sports medicine, professor in human services, and professor of clinical orthopædic surgery at the University of Virginia. He was curriculum director of the University of Virginia's master's program in athletic training for 11 years and received the National Athletic Trainers Association distinguished educator of the year award in 1986 and college athletic trainer of the year award in 1979. He was inducted into the National Athletic Trainer's Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1993 he received the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Distinguished Service Award for Athletic Training. In 1999 the University of Virginia established the endowed Joe Gieck Professorship in Sports Medicine.
He currently serves as President of the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy for the Commonwealth of Virginia, a member of the Board of Health Professions and the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sport.
Dr. Gieck was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1990.
He was the recipient of the 1997 Kenneth Knight Outstanding Research Manuscript for the Journal of Athletic Training, the recipient of the 1999 NATA-REF New Investigator Award for Athletic Training Research, and the 2006 Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research. Dr. Guskiewicz was awarded Fellowship in the American College of Sports Medicine in May 2003, and was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education in September 2006. Dr. Guskiewicz and his wife Amy are the proud parents of four children, Jacob, Nathan, Adam, and Tessa.
Ken Knight, PhD, ATC 1995
Ken Knight, former chair of the Athletic Training Department at Indiana State University and currently a professor at BYU, is an accomplished clinician, scholar, professional citizen, editor, and educational innovator. He hold degrees from Dixie Junior College, Weber State University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has been a college athletic trainer for over 20 years, during most of which he was responsible for the health care of 8 to 10 athletic teams per year. He is a prolific scientist, as evidenced by his 5 books, 60 publications, and 140 presentations. For the past 10 years has been Editor/Editor-in-Chief of he Journal of Athletic Training. In addition, he has served on the editorial boards of 7 professional journals and on numerous professional committees for the NATA and the American College of Sports Medicine.
Educational and professional innovation includes leading the effort to develop the first stand alone masters degree in athletic training, 3 annual outstanding manuscript awards for the Journal of Athletic Training, Free Communications Sessions at NATA annual meetings, and the NATA News. His modularized clinical education program was influential in the policy shift from an hours requirement to a competency requirement for student clinical experiences.
Dr. Knight is considered a world expert on cryotherapy for the immediate care and rehabilitation of orthopedic injury. Also, his DAPRE technique has helped advance understanding of the neural component of orthopedic injury rehabilitation.
Dr. Knight was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2001.
Peter Koehneke, MS, ATC 2000
No one knew this injured high school athlete from a small Indiana community would have had such a far-reaching impact on the athletic training profession, but Pete Koehneke has had an enormous impact. Since 1998, he has paved the road for generations of new athletic trainers by helping establish more than 214 new accredited athletic training programs across the nation.
Koehneke earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana State University. After he worked as Rhode Island College’s head athletic trainer and instructor, he joined the ranks at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1978, where he worked his way to full professor, department chair, and director of the athletic training program.
He has worked diligently as CAAHEP commissioner, chair of the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Athletic Training, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, the NATA Education Council Executive Committee and its Long Range Strategic Planning Committee. He has been granted the NATA’s Distinguished Educator Award, its Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award and with the NYSATA Thomas Sheehan Award. Both the NATA and the NYSATA have inducted him into their Halls of Fame.
He sees the profession’s greatest challenge as being one of public relations, in convincing Congress to pass a uniform practice act so athletic trainers can have the same name recognition, respect and billing privileges as other health professionals.
Mr. Koehneke was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2002.
Carl Krein, MS, PT, AT Ret 1988
Carl Krein received his master's in Physical Education from the University of Connecticut, his bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from East Stroudsburg State University, and a certificate in Physical Therapy from Ohio State University. After serving as the head athletic trainer at SUNY-Potsdam, Mr. Krein was the head athletic trainer at Central Connecticut State University from 1966 to 1996.
During his tenure as a certified athletic trainer, Mr. Krein served as the president of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association and as a member of the Board of Certification, NATA Professional Education Committee, and the NATA Board of Directors. While on the BOD, Mr. Krein chaired the International Task Force and continues to serve as the NATA liaison to the Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Mr. Krein was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2001.
Scott Lephart, PhD, ATC 1999
An avid researcher, Lephart is the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory director, as well as department chair and associate professor for the department of sports medicine and nutrition in the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Lephart earned his undergraduate degree in 1984 at Marietta College and completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees in sports medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1984 and 1988, respectively. Although he’s fascinated with golf injury research, his other professional interests include musculoskeletal sports and female ACL injury prevention.
He has published more than 70 refereed papers, authored 26 textbook chapters, presented more than 100 papers nationally and presented more than 30 research papers internationally in 15 countries and on four continents. He wrote the textbook “Proprioception and Neuromuscular Control in Management of Joint Pathology,” which was published in 2000. He has been the recipient of many awards, including the NATA Research and Education Foundation’s William G. Clancy Jr., MD Medal for Distinguished Research and, in 1999, the NATA Distinguished Educator of the Year Award.
Lephart serves on several editorial boards, including the “Journal of Sport Rehabilitation” and “Sports, Exercise, and Injury.” He’s a reviewer for the “Journal of Athletic Training” as well as the “American Journal of Sports Medicine.”
William E. “Pinky” Newell, PT, ATC 1984
Often described as the father of modern athletic training, William “Pinky” Newell provided the foundation for what has become the athletic training profession. As a Purdue center, the Enid, Okla., native became known as “Pinky” because of his ruddy complexion. Soon, he finished his bachelor’s degree in physical education, served in World War II and then earned a certificate in physical therapy from Stanford. He began working as an athletic trainer with Washington State University in 1948 and then accepted the head athletic trainer position at Purdue, where he served as both head athletic trainer and physical therapist until 1977. He continued to work as head physical therapist there until he retired in 1984.
Former NATA president, Denny Miller, ATC, PT, remembered, “One of the highlights of his career was when the American Medical Association recognized NATA as a professional association in 1967.” Recognition by the AMA was a project Newell had pursued for years. The achievement brought the NATA into the arena with other medical professionals.
On Oct. 13, 1984, the association mourned the loss of William E. “Pinky” Newell. But his legend will continue to live, as thousands of NATA members continue their pursuit of professional excellence.
Mr. Newell was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1972.
David H. Perrin, PhD, ATC 1996
Dr. David Perrin received his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, a master's degree from Indiana State University, and a bachelor's degree from Castleton State College. Currently holding the position of Dean and Professor of the School of Health and Human Performance at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, Dr. Perrin served as the director of the graduate Athletic Training and Sports Medicine program at the University of Virginia and the director of the undergraduate athletic training education program at the University of Pittsburgh.
After serving as a member of the NATA Professional Education Committee, Dr. Perrin was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Athletic Training and was the founding editor of the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. He has published several textbooks, Isokinetic Exercise and Assessment, Athletic Taping and Bracing, The Injured Athlete, Third Edition, and is the editor of the five-textbook Athletic Training Education Series.
His awards from the National Athletic Trainers' Association include the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award in 1998, and the William G. Clancy, Jr., M.D. Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research in 1999. At the University of Virginia, he was recipient of an All-University Outstanding Teaching Award in 1997 and in 1998 received the Curry School of Education Foundation's Outstanding Professor Award. At the University of Virginia he is a member of The Raven Society and Omicron Delta Kappa. Perrin is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
Dr. Perrin was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2003.
Bill Prentice, PhD, PT, ATC 1997
Dr. Bill Prentice received a doctorate from the University of Virginia, a master's degree from the University of Delaware, and a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina. He is currently a Professor and Coordinator of the Sports Medicine Program and an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Dr. Prentice has served as an athletic trainer for the World University Games, Pan American Games, United States Olympic Committee, and the National Sports Festival.
Dr. Prentice is the author of several textbooks including Arnheim's Principles of Athletic Training, Rehabilitation Techniques in Sports Medicine, Therapeutic Modalities in Sports Medicine, and Therapeutic Modalities for Allied Health Professionals. He has also served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, American Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine Update.
A recipient of the University of Delaware's College of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics' Outstanding Alumni Award, Dr. Prentice has also received the "Freddie Award" for the outstanding video production in the field of rehabilitation at the 1994 International Health and Medical Film Festival and the NATA's Educational Multimedia Committee's Videotape Production award.
Dr. Prentice was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2004.
Richard Ray, EdD, ATC 2001
Dr. Richard Ray is an athletic trainer and professor of kinesiology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Since 1982 he has served as the program director for the athletic training education program. Dr. Ray received a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University and earned a master's degree in biology and an undergraduate degree in physical education from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Ray serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Athletic Training, as editor-in-chief of Athletic Therapy Today and has authored three books: Management Strategies in Athletic Training, Counseling in Sports Medicine, and Case Studies in Athletic Training Administration. Dr. Ray has authored more than 40 articles in scientific publications and presented papers at a similar number of local, regional, national, and international conferences and symposia.
Dr. Ray has served in a variety of appointed and elected positions in the National Athletic Trainers' Association and other related organizations. He was co-chair of the NATA's Education Task Force. He has served as president of both the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association and the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society. He was inducted into the MATS Hall of Fame in 1999.
John Schrader, HSD, ATC 1991
John W. Schrader has been instrumental in raising the public’s perception of athletic trainers by helping standardize certification and by developing consistent accreditation and certification routes nationwide. Dr. Schrader began his athletic training career in 1968 under Pinky Newell at Purdue University. As soon as he earned his bachelor’s degree, Purdue hired him as an athletic trainer. At the University of Washington, he taught at the college and high school levels, worked as an athletic trainer, finished his master’s degree and, as a member of a research steam, studied high school athletic injuries. Since then, he has served as head of the athletic training program, finished his doctorate and is now assistant professor of kinesiology in the school of health, physical education and recreation at Indiana University. He also coordinates the university’s post-certification graduate athletic training education programs.
A prolific speaker, writer and instructor, Schrader has been granted many awards. They include the NATA Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator, the Indiana Athletic Trainers’ Association Athletic Trainer of the Year, the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, the Bill Chisolm Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee Professional Service Award, and the Indiana Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame.
Dr. Schrader was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1998.
Paul Spear, PA, PC, MA, ATC, RN 1990
Paul Spear earned his bachelor’s degree from Marietta College and his master’s degree in physiology from Ball State University. He has been a professor emeritus of sports medicine at Marietta College and an assistant professor of nursing at the Ohio University College of Education. A speaker, a presenter and an author, he developed and implemented the first NATA approved major in sports medicine at Marietta College.
Chad Starkey, PhD, ATC 2006
Chad received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Ohio University, where he also served as an instructor and athletic trainer. After serving as the athletic training program director and associate professor at NU, he has returned to Ohio University as a Visiting Professor.
Dr. Starkey has received the NATA’s Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award, the EATA’s Cramer Award, and has given the Keynote address at the Great Lakes Athletic Trainer’s Association meeting in 1999 and the William E. Newell Memorial Address to the EATA in 2001.
John Thatcher, MS, ATC 2002
John Thatcher, East Stroudsburg University’s athletic training education program director since 1974, administers all aspects of undergraduate work in athletic training. He also teaches 15 sports medicine courses and is responsible for the initial evolution and development of 11 of those courses, which are a part of the accredited entry-level athletic training education program.
Affectionately known as “Thatch,” he serves as chief evaluation officer for the NATA site visitation team with the JRC-AT. He is on the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society advisory committee to its board of directors and has served on its professional education committee and long-range planning and finance committee. Slightly more experienced athletes may be interested in his recently published study about how glucosamine supplements affect joint pain and range of motion in an osteoarthritic population, which he and others presented to the American College of Sports Medicine National Conference in Indianapolis in 2004. Among dozens of other works on a variety of sports medicine studies, he has also written “Exercise and the Older Adult—Adapting to Musculoskeletal Changes” for the American College of Sports Medicine Workshop for the Certificate of Advanced Qualification.
In 2003, East Stroudsburg University named Thatcher its Distinguished Professor of the Year and the NATA Education Council presented him with the Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator Award. In 2002, the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society inducted him into its Hall of Fame.
Karen R. Toburen, EdD, ATC 1995
Dr. Karen "Toby" Toburen received her doctorate from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro and her master's and bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse. Dr. Toburen served as Professor and Athletic Training Program Director at Southwest Missouri State University and the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse.
During her career, Dr. Toburen has served as chair of the NATA Convention Committee, Vice-Chair of the JRC-AT, and as a member of the Continuing Education Committee and the NATA Education Task Force, and the Professional Education Committee. In 1988, she served as an athletic trainer for the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea and has had extensive international travel experience as an athletic trainer with USA women's basketball.
Dr. Toburen has received the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award and was inducted into the UW-LaCrosse Wall of Fame in recognition for her coaching career with women's basketball and field hockey and was the first active coach to be elected president of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Dr. Toburen was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1999.
Paula Turocy, EdD, ATC 2004
Award-winning instructor, author and athletic trainer, Paula Sammarone Turocy is one of three founding faculty members in the Duquesne University athletic training education program. After earning her bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate at West Chester State College and her master’s degree from Michigan State University, Turocy finished her doctorate in education with an emphasis in medical curriculum at the University of Virginia.
She was head athletic trainer for volleyball, gymnastics and swimming and diving at the University of Pittsburgh. She was head women’s athletic trainer and assistant athletic trainer for football and basketball at Eastern Kentucky University and worked as a member of the U.S. Olympic medical staff for the world university games in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in 1987. She also worked at the U.S. Olympic festival in 1986 and was a part of the U.S. Olympic committee’s elite athletic sports medicine network. She has served as Chair of the JRC-AT
Turocy is the recipient of several awards, including the Duquesne University Teacher of the Year, the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society Distinguished Merit Award, and the NATA Service Award . She has been listed in the Who’s Who in American Women, in Who’s Who in American Education and in Who’s Who in Health Sciences Higher Education.
Thomas Weidner, PhD, ATC 2003
Thomas G. Weidner, PhD, ATC, completed his undergraduate and graduate work in Health Education at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. A certified athletic trainer since 1981 and member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association since 1976, Dr. Weidner previously served as Director of the Athletic Training Education Program at California State University - Northridge (1985-1991). Currently a Professor at Ball State University, he is Director of the Athletic Training Education Program and Research Laboratory.
Over the years, Dr. Weidner has been involved in numerous grants and studies, published many benchmark papers and made a multitude of presentations dealing with upper respiratory illness and athletic training clinical education. He developed the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA) Research Committee and has served as chair since 1993. Further, Dr. Weidner was awarded the 2003 GLATA Distinguished Educator Award. Since 2000, he has been a member and/or chair of the Education Council Clinical Education subcommittee. Dr. Weidner has been visually-impaired or blind his entire career.
Larry Willock, MS, ATC 1993
An athletic training pioneer in New Mexico, Larry Willock is the head athletic trainer of the United States Air Force Academy.
New Mexico’s first athletic trainer, Willock grew up in Santa Fe. In 1971, he was among the first 17 people in the United States to sit for the newly created NATA certification examination. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of New Mexico, where he served for the next 25 years as an assistant athletic trainer and worked his way to head athletic trainer. During that time, he has inspired more than 100 UNM students to become athletic trainers.
Willock helped establish the New Mexico Athletic Trainers’ Association and served as its first president. He has been named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, the New Mexico Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, and has been granted the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Kenneth E. Wright, EdD, ATC 2000
Dr. Wright is professor and chair of the program in sports medicine at The University of Alabama. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University, his master’s degree from Syracuse University and his doctorate from Middle Tennessee State University. Additionally, he has served as Head Athletic Trainer at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Morehead State University.
Dr. Wright has received the Outstanding Alumnus award from The College of Health Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University and the Academic Excellence Award for outstanding teaching research and service in the College of Education (1998).
Dr. Wright has numerous publications to his credit including video series titled, Sports Medicine Evaluation Series and Sports Medicine Taping, a computer-assisted instructional program, Sports Injuries, and two textbooks, The Comprehensive Manual of Taping and Wrapping Techniques and Basic Athletic Training. Dr. Wright is serving as chair of the United States Anti Doping Agency Doping Control Officers Committee and on the editorial board of the International Advisory Board of Physical Therapy in Sport and the Journal of Athletic Training. Previously, he has chaired the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Educational Multimedia Committee.