There appears to be a common misconception about athletic trainers. They are much more than a personal trainer at a gym. No offense to any personal trainers.
Athletic trainers are responsible for the care of athletes and active people with knowledge based in prevention, nutrition, conditioning and rehab, as well as the ability to respond in a medical emergency.
The Athletic Training Program at GCU is a young program. First accredited in 2002, it recently earned reaccreditation through 2017 by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. The commission was so pleased with the program it extended the next accreditation timeframe by five years.
Donna Gerakos and Cindy Seminoff lead the department. Both bring a combined experience that helps prepare students for the challenges and opportunities in the athletic training field.
“Students should expect a lot of work, but also a lot of fun,” says Gerakos. “They are often surprised to find this is not an easy major. It takes a lot of work, discipline and time management.”
According to Seminoff, part of an athletic trainer’s responsibility is the physical well being of the athlete. People tend to forget how much medical knowledge is required.
“Lives depend on the skill of an athletic trainer,” she says. “Part of athletic training is responding to serious emergencies with a high level of medical knowledge.”
Once students complete the Athletic Training Education program they then have to take and pass a national certification exam. Following the exam they must become licensed in the state they intend to practice.
The program provides the steps for students to meet all requirements of national certification. Initial classes prep students with basic medical knowledge. A foundation that is built upon with each course. Students reach clinical labs where they begin to physically work and act out situation. When the instructor feels a student is ready, the next step is working hands-on with an athlete.
Students are always under the supervision of a certified athletic trainer. Any questions or any actions that will be applied to an athlete go through the certified trainer first.
Certified athletic trainers are not limited to working with athletic teams – even if it is the most popular choice. They can also move forward with careers in secondary education, in clinic settings wehre the focus is rehab, military or corporate positions.
Gerakos says one key trait an athletic trainer requires is the ability to multitask. Rarely will a trainer be in a quiet one-on-one situation. They are often called to communicate and direct people for tasks to get done. Everything must be recorded as well. Record keeping is crucial to all fields of medical care.
“I always called myself the team mom,” says Gerakos. “I took care of their injuries, but I also then scheduled doctor’s appointments to follow up on injuries. I was the first line of defense when it came to the physical well-being of my athletes.”
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