Jun 11, 2018

Can’t Miss at the Convention

NATA 2018 is almost here! As you gear up for a week of learning, networking, and growing the athletic training profession in New Orleans, we’ve compiled a list of can’t-miss seminars and events at the convention. Keep reading to find out about all the highlights!

We know that a big part of the NATA Convention is the chance to attend seminars and expand your knowledge-based practice. This year’s class of presenters will certainly not disappoint! They look to touch on a variety of topics to keep you on top of the latest information for athletic trainers.

Many current and former T&C contributors will be presenting this year. Here’s a rundown of what they will be covering:

Wednesday, June 27

• 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Jennifer Ketterly, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, Sports Nutrition and Food and Nutrition Consultant in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area, brings her perspective on “Vitamin D and It’s Impact on Health, Athletic Performance and Recovery,” along with co-presenter Michelle Rockwell MS, RD, CSSD, Instructor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech.
• 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, FNATA, Professor and Chair of the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Rhode Island, speaks on “Unique Perspectives: A Comprehensive Debate Relative to Minimizing Legal Risk in Athletic Training.”
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Russell Baker, PhD, DAT, ATC, Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Master of Science in Athletic Training at the University of Idaho, presents on “Examining Stakeholder Attitudes of Professional Enhancement Related to the Post-Professional Clinical Doctoral Degree in Athletic Training,” during a course on “AT Practice, Education & Administration.”
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA, Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Athletic Training in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky, shares his thoughts on “Using MRI to Quantify Rotation of the Talus Among Individuals With and Without History of Lateral Ankle Sprain” in a session on “Diagnostic Imaging.”

Thursday, June 28

• 7:25 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Mark Timmons, PhD, ATC, Assistant Professor of Athletic Training in Marshall University’s College of Health Professions, offers a quick discussion on “Fatigue of the Lower Trapezius Produces Decreased Acromial Humeral Distance” during a seminar on “Caring for the Million-Dollar Arm.”
• 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tavis Piatolly, MS, RD, LDN, Education Program Manager at the Taylor Hooton Foundation, provides his thoughts on “Nutrition and Dietary Supplement Habits of High School Athletes: Strategies to Solve the Complex Puzzle.”
• 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Aaron Sciascia, PhD, LAT, ATC, PES, Assistant Professor of Athletic Training at Eastern Kentucky University, covers “Return to Sport for Upper Extremity Athletes: Are There Any Good Procedures Out There?” along with co-speaker Natalie Myers, PhD, ATC, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas State University.
• 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Nicole Alexander, MS, ATC, Staff Athletic Trainer at the University of North Carolina, shares “What to Expect When Your Team Travels Abroad.”
• 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Tim Neal, MS, AT, ATC, CCISM, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Athletic Training Education at Concordia University Ann Arbor, covers the “Athletic Training Role in Student-Athlete Mental Health” during a broader conversation on “Advancing Mental Health Services in the College and University Practice Setting.”
• 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Steve Broglio, PhD, ATC, Professor of Athletic Training and Director of the NeuroTrauma Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan, and Brian Pietrosimone, PhD, ATC, Associate Professor of Athletic Training and Co-Director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory at the University of North Carolina, discuss “The Business of Science: Securing Extramural Funding.

Friday, June 29

• 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Brian Pietrosimone presents again, this time on “The Evolution of Return to Sport Criteria After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Progression Toward a Multidimensional Approach.” Hi co-speaker for this seminar is Conrad Gabler, PhD, ATC, Athletic Therapy Program Director and

  Assistant Professor of Athletic Training at Weber State University.

• 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Thomas Kaminski, PhD, ATC, FACSM, Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Delaware, contributes “Head and Neck Size and Neck Strength Predict Head Acceleration in Collegiate Women’s Soccer Players” during the session on “Soccer from Head to Toe.”
• 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dustin Grooms, PhD, ATC, CSCS, Assistant Professor in the Division of Athletic Training at Ohio University, shares a seminar on “Disrupted White Matter Connectivity in the Motor Cortex and Corticospinal Tract After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction” as part of a course on “Central Nervous System in Lower Extremity Function.”
• 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. In his second presentation of the day, Thomas Kaminski discusses “Incorporating the Most Up to Date Sport-Related Concussion Standard of Care Guidelines.”
• 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Larry Cooper, MS, ATC, LAT, Head Athletic Trainer at Penn-Trafford High School in Harrison City, Pa., talks about “Minimizing Legal Risk” during a broader discussion on “The Line: Appropriate Professional Relationships.”

Besides the seminars, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is always a must-see event. Watch the new class don their green jackets on Thursday, June 28, from 2 to 3 p.m. This year’s inductees include:

• Kent Biggerstaff, ATC, LAT, Athletic Trainer and Conditioning Coordinator for the PGA Tour and Champions Tour
• Nancy Burke, MS, LAT, ATC, Athletic Trainer for the Fairfax County (Va.) Police Department
• John Davis, MS, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Montclair State University
• Martin Matney, MBA, LAT, ATC, Program Manager and Head Athletic Trainer at Work-Fit, LLC
• Gary Reinholtz, AT Ret, Professor Emeritus in Health and Exercise Science and former Head Athletic Trainer at Gustavus Adolphus College
• Rene’ Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC, Representative Chairperson, Professor, Program Director, and Internship Coordinator in the School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences at Central Michigan University
• James Thornton, MA, LAT, ATC, CES, Head Athletic Trainer at Clarion University

And be sure to wrap up the day Thursday by taking in the 2018 NATA Keynote Speaker, New Orleans Saints star quarterback Drew Brees. Heading into his 18th season in the NFL, Brees will recount a shoulder injury that almost derailed his career. However, thanks to the intervention of athletic trainers and a dedicated rehab program, he rebounded to win Super Bowl XLIV and be named MVP.

Along with the educational sessions, Hall of Fame induction, and keynote address, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss the trade show floor in the exhibit hall. It’s a hub of activity where you can learn about the newest sports medicine products, form relationships with vendors, and catch up with us at T&C. Our team has been attending trade shows for more than 25 years, and we’ve learned how to get the most from these events. Here are a few tips:

• Plan your trade show time in advance using our listings of all vendors by company name and booth number. Click here for the exhibitor listing in alphabetical order. 
• Click here for the exhibitor listing in numerical order.
• Finally, don’t forget to stop by the T&C booth. You can pick up a show packet that contains our May/June issue, with a special guide to products on display at the convention and new products just being launched. Remember to look through your packet for tickets—there are hundreds of opportunities to instantly win a prize from one of our participating advertisers. This is also a great time to renew your free T&C subscription.

Here’s where and when to find T&C at the AT Expo:

Booth #2070

–Wednesday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (restricted to certified and associate NATA members)

–Thursday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open to all registrants)

–Friday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (open to all registrants)