WASHINGTON - During National Athletic Training Month, Gallaudet Athletics would like to extend a special thanks to our athletic trainers;
Mariko Kobanawa,
Tom McKnight,
Teri Wood and
Ilana Bell.
March is National Athletic Training Month, an opportunity to spread awareness of the impact athletic trainers (ATs) have on work, life and sport. Athletic trainers are health care professionals that prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate injuries for active people in many industries, including sports, military and clinical practice.
This year's slogan is "There's an AT for that."
Getting to Know: Mariko Kobanawa (15th season)
Kobanawa is in her 15th season as an Athletic Trainer on the Gallaudet Athletic Training staff as she joined in Fall 2008. Kobanawa was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer in June 2013. She graduated from Tokai in 1999 and received her master's degree from IUP in 2002. Kobanawa has been an Athletic Trainer for a total of 20 years.
Q: In your spare time what are your hobbies/favorite things to do?
MK: Photography. Time spent without a phone/texting/social media, capturing beautiful moments, and just being in nature is very important to me.
Q: What three words would your best friend use to describe you?
MK: Loyal, silly, lighthearted.
Q: When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
MK: A bird shop owner or a pianist.
Q: Who do you consider your role model/who you look up to and why?
MK: My grandmother. She's always true to herself, honest, laughing, and doesn't get angry too easily. She lets go of things she can't control and respects other people's perspectives. She is appreciative and is happy with little things in life. I want to grow old like her.
Q: What is your phobia / what is something that you are afraid of?Â
MK: Heights, needles, and frogs.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
MK: "A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch, but on its own wings."
#NATM2023 Profiles
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About NATA
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 45,000 members of the athletic training profession. For more information, visitÂ
www.nata.org.
