WASHINGTON - During National Athletic Training Month, the Gallaudet University Athletics Department would like to extend a special thanks to our Bison athletic trainers;
Mariko Kobanawa,
Tom McKnight,
Teri Wood,
Jeffrey Oakley and to the student and part-time workers in the athletic training office.
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 "Care You Can Count On."
Stay tuned for profiles of our Gallaudet athletic trainers throughout the month of March.
Athletic trainers provide medical services to all types of patients, not just athletes participating in sports, and can work in a variety of job settings. Athletic trainers relieve widespread and future workforce shortages in primary care support and outpatient rehab professions and provide an unparalleled continuum of care for the patients.
Athletic trainers improve functional outcomes and specialize in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury. Preventative care provided by an athletic trainer has a positive return on investment for employers. ATs are able to reduce injury and shorten rehabilitation time for their patients, which translates to lower absenteeism from work or school and reduced health care costs.
Are you wondering how you can participate in NATM this year?
Show Appreciation: Thank an athletic trainer in your life for their care, knowledge, and support. Consider nominating an AT in your life for an award!
https://www.nata.org/membership/honors-and-awards#other-awards
Use Social Media: Share posts, photos, or videos using the official hashtag (#NATM2026, #CareYouCanCountOn) to highlight an athletic trainer or celebrate the profession. Tag the NATA (@NATA1950) and Gallaudet Bison Athletics (@GallaudetBison)
Share Experiences: If you are an AT, share stories about your work or a favorite moment/memory. If you are a student-athlete, share how an has AT helped you. If you are a coach or an administrator, share how you value and recognize the ATs in your department.
Learn More: Explore the profession and discover where to begin if you are interested in becoming an athletic trainer. Find more information here:
https://caate.net/Search-for-Accredited-Programs.
Visit NATA: Check the NATA website for resources, including logos, social media images, and sample proclamations to help with your recognition efforts.
Also see:
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, visit
www.nata.org.
