FIU AT Newsletter - March 2015

Athletic Training | Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Running With Scissors
March 2015
Student Professional Development Fund
Inside this
issue:
Student
Spotlight
2
Educator
Spotlight
2
Alumni
Spotlight
3
Student Club
Updates
4
Special
Announcements
5
Dates to Remember 5
The Athletic Training Program
started a new initiative that was
launched on March 5th during our
Annual Athletic Training Continuing Education Symposium—the
Student Professional Development Fund. The purpose of
the fund is to provide financial assistance to FIU Athletic Training
Student Committee Members (pictured left to right): Tiffany
Students (ATS) so that they may
(Committee Chair), Colin Murray, Billy Voltaire, and
attend state, district, and national Yam
Catherine Gallant (not pictured)
conferences throughout the academic year. Many ATSs who would like to advance their knowledge and
skill set by attending the National Athletic Trainers’ Annual Clinical Symposia, the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Annual Student Symposia, and
more.
Birthdays:
4/4 Dr. Restrepo
4/11 Andrew Gutierrez
4/22 Dr. Odai
4/26 Roy Diaz
To get this initiative started, Dr. Doherty-Restrepo developed a committee of student members that included Tiffany Yam (Chair), Catherine
Gallant, Billy Voltaire, and Colin Murray. All ATSs worked diligently during the March event to raise money for this fund. We successfully raised $1,220 which will be put towards students interested in attending the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo this upcoming year.
Cont. on p. 3
From the Director’s Desk……...…………………………….
The FIU Athletic Training
Program is now a part of the
Twitter world. Follow us at
@FIU_AT to be updated
with the most recent program news and other athletic training related topics.
I am pleased to share that some of our clinical
partners were selected to the 2015 Dean’s and
Presidential Honor Roll based on the high quality, clinical education experiences they provide
our students. Miami Dade County Public
Schools were included in the Presidential Hon-
or Roll. Pinecrest Physical Therapy and the
UHZ Sports Medicine Institute were included in the Dean’s Honor Roll. These clinical partners were recognized at the 2015 FIU Torch
Awards ceremony and they received a letter acknowledging their contribution to the education
of our students. Check out FIU News for more
information on these recognitions.
Thank you to all of our clinical partners for
providing our students with awesome clinical education!
Page 2
Student Spotlight: Kyle Fisher
Kyle Fisher has been named the
Student-of-the-Month for March
2015. He was nominated by his
Preceptor Rodrigo Martinez who
had this to say about Kyle:
"In the past few months I have
seen Kyle grow as a student. He
consistently asks questions to improve his knowledge on specific
topics. His skills as a clinician have improved
with each passing day. He takes his time on
evaluations, taking every angle into considera-
tion. While at Belen I have been
able to witness the increase in his
confidence as he takes initiative
when athletes walk into the athletic training room and coming up
with creative rehabilitation programs. His passion for athletic
training is contagious ensuring
myself and his peers to be better
each passing day."
Congratulate Kyle at #WWKFD (What would
Kyle Fisher do).
Educator Spotlight: Meredith Parry
& George Fernandez
Meredith Parry & George Fernandez have been named Educators-of-the-Month for March 2015.
Alexandra Griffin and Catherine
Gallant who nominated the two for
this recognition, had this to say
about the education they provide:
“Meredith Parry and George Fernandez are two of this program’s
best kept secrets. This pair does a
great job at encouraging their students to jump in and take the lead
on experiences that we may not be
the most comfortable, but will
cause us to be prepared for when
we are on our own. Meredith and
George have been a solid support
system, and at times some of the
greatest encouragement I have had
in my life. They are fair, sincere,
and are keen to helping their students in any way possible. They continue to
provide learning opportunities, which allows
us as students to confidently show to our patients that we have the skills and we know
what we are doing. This dynamic
duo deserves two thumbs up and a
round of applause.” - Alexandra
Griffin
“From the start of being at STU, I
immediately learned a great deal.
They give me the independence I
need during my last rotation but
still provide guidance when I need
it. They are always positive and
willing to let us get involved with
every aspect of the Athletic Training activities. Meredith is also letting me help create work outs for
the volleyball athletes because I
have an interest in strength and
conditioning. They are so receptive
to helping us achieve our goals in
any way they can and it is greatly
appreciated." - Catherine Gallant
Thank you both for providing great clinical
education for our students!
Running With Scissors
Alumni Spotlight: Tiffani Hall
Page 3
Tiffani Hall (Class of 2013) is our Alumni spotlight for March 2015. Tiffani has recently moved to Atlanta, GA where she is
working with the sports medicine staff at
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Progressive Healthcare for Delta Airlines.
What advice would you give current students? I think the best advice I can give to the
current students is to study hard and stay focused. This program is so rewarding but it is not
easy, because you have to do the work. I am
thankful for my FIU experience.
What is your favorite FIU athletic
training-related memory? My favorite
memory was in my last semester with my
awesome preceptor (Bailey Mintz), who allowed me to take over a back rehab for one of
the soccer players. It was a great experience
to see all of my clinical skills come to a full
circle.
Is there anything else you would like to
share? At the moment I am working in both
the traditional setting at the secondary level and
part time in the industrial setting at Progressive
Healthcare for Delta Airlines. I am so excited to
see where this career is going to take me next. I
also just want to thank some of the staff for
helping realize my potential
along my journey as an athletic training student. Thank you
Rodrigo Martinez, Mary
Lopez, Gabriel Casanova, Dr.
Restrepo, and Dr. Odai.
What is the worst injury you have witnessed/treated? Recently, I had an athlete
tear his ACL and meniscus during a track
meet. It was very unexpected but nonetheless
an athletic training moment. I am currently
treating and doing his rehab as he requested
me to assist him in his recovery.
Congratulations Tiffani!
Student Professional Development Fund Cont.
The experiences and networks that the students gain
from traveling to professional conferences are very
beneficial and this fund will
help expand this opportunity for more students can attend.
“Attending professional
conferences has helped me from both a professional and academic aspect. There’s textbook
knowledge and real-world knowledge, mastering both makes for a great clinician. Attending
professional conferences not only embellishes
on our textbook knowledge, but also an investment in our future as well as the well-being of
our future patients.” - Billy Voltaire (c/o
2015)
“Attending SEATA allowed me to meet professionals in the field
and start networking
with them and also with
the other students that
will soon be in the professional world.” - Patrick Roosta (c/o 2016)
“I find the environment at these conferences
(NATA and SEATA) constantly pushes me
toward being a better Athletic Trainer. I suggest all students and professionals alike attend professional conferences to better their
own practice and the profession of Athletic
Training.” - Kate Gallant (c/o 2015)
Running With Scissors
Running With Scissors
Page 4
Iota Tau Alpha, Alpha Kappa Chapter
ITA finished strong this semester with our last guest speaker, Dr. Sue Shapiro - Associate Professor and Program Director at Barry University. Dr. Shapiro has worked and taught in the field
of athletics and athletic training for the past 30 years. She earned a BS in Physical Education
from West Virginia University as well as a MEd and an EdD in Sports Medicine and Curriculum
Design form the University of Virginia. She has served as an athletic trainer at the collegiate
(University of Virginia 1976-83) and professional levels (Continental Basketball Association
1983-86 Cincinnati Slammers). Dr. Shapiro has also worked as a clinician for HealthSouth and
prior to moving to Miami, she also served as clinical director of sports medicine clinics in Cincinnati, Ohio and Albany, New York.
The students enjoyed hearing from Dr. Shapiro about her 30 years
of Athletic Training experience and as one of the trailblazers for
women in the profession. Belinda Rodriguez had this to say about
the experience — “For me, I love hearing stories about how women have come to break the glass ceiling in athletic training. Hearing and learning about all the struggles she went through just because she was a woman in a ‘man’s profession’ back in the day, I
know was not just inspiring to me but to others as well. It is women like Dr. Shapiro that other women in athletic training can look
up to and keep breaking every wall we come up against.”
Athletic Training Student Organization
March has been a busy month for the Athletic Training Student Organization! ATSO members
came out to cheer on our FIU Baseball team as they defeated Charlotte on March 22nd. On
March 25th, ATSO hosted a social dinner at Anthony's Coal-Fire Pizza where we enjoyed great
food and fun together! Also, ATSO members attended the FIU Women's Tennis match as they
took on Marshall University on March 28th! Thank you to everyone who has been supporting our
events. We have been having a good time and we look forward to seeing you at our future events!
Upcoming Dates:
April 1st: Healthcare Wine Fair (6-8:30 p.m.)
April 4th: Brunch & Sand Volleyball Tournament (8:30 a.m.— 12 p.m. )
April 18th: FIU Softball vs. WKU (4-6 p.m.)
April 30th: End-of-the-Year Party at Dave &
Busters (6:30-9:30pm)
Running With Scissors
Page 5
Dates to Remember
April:
April 16th: Mandatory Program Meeting for
enrolled students (AHC3-101, 11am-1pm)
April 30th: Due date for the Bobby Gunn
Scholarship Application
April 30th: End of the Year Party (Dave and
Busters, 6:30pm)
Special Announcements
We would like to congratulate
Allie Griffin who has accepted a National Football
League (NFL) summer internship with the New York
Jets. When asked about this
opportunity, she had this to
say:
“I am most looking forward to getting to know
new people, new journeys, and facing new
challenges. I am excited because this experience at a high level of pressure will prepare me
for most positions that follow. I have no idea
where this will take me but I feel extremely
blessed to be given the opportunity to represent myself as an Athletic Trainer on this level.
Working with the NFL will show that females
don't need to be shunned in this industry. We
can handle ourselves professionally, and hold
those we work with to the same
standards. Hopefully this will serve
as an example for other male dominant sports to open the door to female applicants in sports medicine.”
We would also like to give special
thanks to Rick Burkholder, Head Athletic
Trainer of the Kansas City Chiefs and President of the Professional Football Athletic
Trainers’ Society (PFATS) for coming to campus on March 31st to celebrate the end of National Athletic Training Month. He gave a
presentation to our students about leadership.
Under Rick’s leadership, the NFL has committed to expanding opportunities for female athletic trainers. Thank you Rick for all that you
do to promote the profession!
Ru