Athletic Training

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Faculty

Five full-time professors are dedicated to instruction within the Athletic Training Program. Additional instruction is provided by ASHS core health sciences faculty as well as a number of adjunct faculty. This arrangement provides the student with exposure to a variety of teaching styles and learning opportunities by a faculty with diverse healthcare related experiences.

John Parsons, Ph.D., ATC, AT - Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Parsons, a BOC certified and state licensed athletic trainer, serves as Assistant Professor and Director of the Post Professional Athletic Training Program. He earned a bachelor's degree in sports medicine from Marietta College, and master of science degrees in exercise and sports science from the University of Arizona, and in medical informatics from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a doctoral degree in human communication from Arizona State University. Dr. Parsons’ previous healthcare experience includes athletic training in the secondary school and clinical settings. His areas of research interest include human and organizational communication, with an emphasis on how narrative, discourse and activity contribute to organizing processes. He has written and presented nationally on issues of organizational and management issues in healthcare and education, and currently leads the NATA’s Healthcare Reform Think Tank.  Dr. Parsons’ research agenda also includes the study of the effects of sports related injury (SRI) on health-related outcomes in athletes, especially pediatric and adolescent athletes. He has published on the related topics of disablement and health-related quality of life as they relate to sports-related injuries. Dr. Parsons currently serves on the NATA Post Professional Education Committee and the BOC Standards Committee, and sits on the editorial boards for the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy Today. He is also the Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee for the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Tamara Valovich McLeod, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS - Curriculum Vitae

John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine

Dr. Tamara Valovich McLeod, an associate professor in the Athletic Training Program, is a NATABOC certified athletic trainer and NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist. She received her bachelor's degree in sports medicine from Mercyhurst College and her Master of Science in kinesiology from the University of Colorado. Dr. McLeod completed her doctor of philosophy degree in education with an emphasis in sports medicine from the University of Virginia. She is the director of the ASHS Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory, and her research has focused on the pediatric athlete with respect to sport-related concussion. Dr. McLeod has a secondary interest in injury screening and prevention programs. She served as a certified athletic trainer at the high school, collegiate and professional levels and as an instructor in the kinesiology department at the University of Virginia prior to joining the faculty at ATSU. Currently, Dr. McLeod serves as the District 7 representative on the NATA Research and Education Foundation Board of Directors and is on the programming committee for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association. Dr. McLeod was a contributing author for the NATA Position Statement on the Management of Sport-Related Concussion and a consultant and contributing author on the Appropriate Medical Coverage for Secondary School-Aged Athletes. She is currently chairing the writing group for the NATA’s Position Statement on the Management of Pediatric Overuse Injuries. She serves on the Editorial Board for The Journal of Athletic Training, The Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, and Athletic Training and Sports Health Care and is a reviewer for Perceptual and Motor Skills, Athletic Therapy Today, Journal of Neurotrauma, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the Board of Certification.

Alison Snyder , Ph.D., ATC - Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Alison Snyder, a BOC certified and state licensed athletic trainer, serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and Assistant Director of Research Support through the Office of Research, Grants, and Information Technology Systems. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and physical education from Whitman College in Washington and her Master of Science degree in exercise physiology at the University of Toledo in Ohio. In addition, she received her Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Toledo, where she majored in applied physiology and completed a minor in human anatomy. Most recently, Dr. Snyder completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Clinical Outcomes Research, awarded to her by the NATA Foundation. Dr. Snyder’s teaching emphasizes the assessment of clinical outcomes and evaluating the end result of healthcare services and she instructs in both the Post-Professional Athletic Training and Doctor of Health Sciences programs. Her primary research area of interest is in measuring the outcomes of various athletic training interventions as well as evaluating HRQOL of high school and college athletes who suffer sport-related injury. Another interest of hers is the use and development of patient-based outcomes instruments for the purpose of outcomes assessment and measuring the end result of healthcare services. During her doctoral studies, Dr. Snyder taught in the athletic training education program at the University of Toledo for four years. In addition, she has served as an athletic trainer with Health South and outreached to Whiteford (MI) High School and Summerfield (MI) High School. Dr. Snyder is a member of the NATA Outcomes Advisory Panel and serves on the Arizona Governmental Affairs Committee. Additionally, she is a grant reviewer for the NATA Foundation and a reviewer for the Journal of Athletic Training, Journal of Sport Rehabilitation Research, and Athletic Training and Sports Health Care.

Barton Anderson , M.S., ATC, AT - Curriculum Vitae

Barton Anderson, a BOC certified and state licensed athletic trainer, currently serves as the clinical education coordinator and an assistant professor in the Athletic Training Program. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training from Missouri State University, and holds a Masters of Science degree in Sports Health Care from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Prior to joining the Athletic Training Program at ATSU, Mr. Anderson worked for five years as a clinical athletic trainer for St. John’s Sports Medicine. He has also held clinical positions in both the high school and collegiate settings. Mr. Anderson's teaching is focused on clinical education and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries. Mr. Anderson serves as the EMR Manager for the ATSU Secondary School Athletic Training Practice Based Research Network. His research interests are clinically oriented and include post-surgical rehabilitation, manual therapy techniques, and functional testing following ACL reconstruction, as well as investigating clinical reasoning processes and clinical education at the post-professional level.

Eric Sauers, Ph.D., ATC, FNATA - Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Sauers is a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS), A. T. Still University (ATSU), in Mesa, Arizona. He is a nationally certified and state licensed athletic trainer and maintains a faculty appointment in the ATSU Post-Professional Athletic Training Program, in which he served as the Program Director from 200-2009 and continues to teach courses and advise masters theses. He received his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Seattle Pacific University and his master of science degree in sports health care as a member of the first graduating class of the ATSU Arizona School of Health Sciences. He completed his doctor of philosophy degree in health and human performance at Oregon State University (OSU), majoring in sports medicine with a minor in adult/university education. His primary research interests are related to the assessment of clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life in athletes and the examination and rehabilitation of the athletic shoulder. Dr. Sauers has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles and given numerous state, regional, and national presentations related to his research. He is an active member of the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists where he currently serves on the Research Committee. Dr. Sauers is the Associate Editor for Clinical Outcomes for the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation and an Editorial Board member for the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal.  Currently, he serves as the Chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Post-Professional Education Council and as a member of the NATA Strategic Implementation Team, Education Council Executive Committee, and the NATA Foundation Research Committee.  Recently, Dr. Sauers was recognized for his dedication to the athletic training profession with the distinction as a Fellow of the NATA.

Kenny Lam , Sc.D., ATC - Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Lam, a BOC certified athletic trainer, is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow within the Center for Clinical Outcomes Studies at A.T. Still University. Dr. Lam received his bachelor of science degree in athletic training and his master of education degree in human movement from Boston University. He also earned his doctor of science degree in rehabilitation sciences with a specialization in movement sciences from Boston Unviersity, where he taught within the entry-level athletic training program as a teaching fellow. His research interests include measuring the outcomes of athletic training services as well as investigating the long-term effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructive surgery on gait patterns. As part of his post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Lam teaches within the Post-Professional Athletic Training Program and serves as the Clinical Practice Site Coordinator for the Secondary School Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN), where he oversees the day-to-day function as well as all aspects of training and education for clinicans across the country within the PBRN. Prior to attaining his doctoral degree, Dr. Lam practiced as a certified athletic trainer at Rutgers University - New Brunswick Campus (NJ), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA), and Boston University (MA).

Health Sciences Faculty

Kellie Huxel Bliven, Ph.D., ATC - Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Kellie Huxel Bliven, a BOC certified athletic trainer, serves as an assistant professor of Anatomy and Athletic Training.  She teaches anatomy in the audiology, physician assistant, and interdisciplinary health sciences programs.  Dr. Bliven received her B.A. degree in biology and physical education from Denison University, M.S. degree in kinesiology from Indiana University, and Ph.D. degree in kinesiology with an athletic training emphasis from Temple University.  Prior to her appointment at ASHS, Dr. Bliven was an assistant professor of Athletic Training at Indiana State University, where she director of the research laboratory and taught in both  accredited graduate and undergraduate programs for 3 years.  Her research interests include neuromuscular control, specifically as it pertains to dynamic restraint of the shoulder.  Dr. Bliven is a member of the BOC’s exam development committee, serves as the associate editor for the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, and is a reviewer for various athletic training and sports medicine research journals.

R. Curtis Bay, Ph.D. - Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Bay, is an associate professor of biostatistics in the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. For the 12 years prior to joining ATSU, Dr. Bay served as director of medical research, Department of Academic Affairs, Maricopa Medical Center, in Phoenix. He is a graduate of Arizona State University, where he received a doctorate in psychology, with an emphasis in statistical methodology. Dr. Bay teaches courses in research methodology and statistical analysis. His current areas of interest concerns the relationship between patients’ illness epistemology and their subjective and objective responses to therapeutic interventions, as well as the application of structural equation modeling to medical research.

Susan K. Hillman, M.S., M.A., ATC, PT

Hillman, a BOC certified and state licensed athletic trainer, is an associate professor in health sciences. She serves as the director of anatomy for Arizona School of Health Sciences programs. Ms. Hillman's career includes 12 years as director of athletic medical services and head athletic trainer at the University of Arizona. She has served as a consultant, assistant athletic trainer, and physical therapist for the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as the Philadelphia Eagles football clubs. She has served on the editorial board of the journal Athletic Therapy Today and the review board of the Journal of Sports Rehabilitation. She currently serves as a reviewer of home study courses for the BOC, and as a committee member for the NATA Role Delineation Study. In 2004, she received the Distinguished Educator Award from the RMATA, and the year before she was named Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA). Hillman earned a master's degree in physical therapy from Stanford University and a master's in physical education and athletic training from the University of Arizona, as well as a bachelor's degree in the same field from Purdue University. Hillman has published "Introduction to Athletic Training and was the author of Interactive Functional Anatomy, a DVD-ROM featuring cutting edge technology, also in its second edition. Hillman has other articles, book chapters, online courses and DVD/CD-ROM publications as well as a prolific history of speaking engagements. She is currently serving as the editor and contributing author of another athletic training textbook due to be published in 2010.

Adjunct Faculty

Gary D. Delforge, Ed.D. AT-Retired

Dr. Delforge, professor emeritus and past chair, Department of Sports Health Care at the Arizona School of Health Sciences, maintains an active presence in the Athletic Training Program. Dr. Delforge's illustrious career as an athletic training educator has earned him numerous honors and awards, including the Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Athletic Training Educator Award, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, and induction into the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, and the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame. Dr. Delforge has served on the NATA Board of Directors and chaired the NATA Professional Education Committee. Prior to starting the Athletic Training Program (formerly Sports Health Care program) at ATSU, Dr. Delforge spent 32 years at the University of Arizona where he served for seven years as the head athletic trainer before devoting 100 percent of his time to athletic training education. Dr. Delforge started one of the first two accredited post-professional athletic training education graduate programs in the country at the U of A and has mentored and educated a distinguished list of leaders in the athletic training profession. He has written numerous journal articles and book chapters, as well as the highly respected textbook “Musculoskeletal Trauma: Implications For Sports Injury Management.” He has also given numerous state, regional, and national presentations including a Keynote Address at the NATA National Meeting. Dr. Delforge earned his Ed.D. in rehabilitation administration at the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in health, physical education, and recreation at Kent State University.

Jackie Kingma, , M.S., ATC, PA-C, P.T.

Jackie Kingma, a BOC certified and state licensed athletic trainer, a certified physician assistant and a licensed physical therapist, serves as an adjunct associate professor in the Athletic Training program. Kingma received her Bachelor of Science degree in physical/health education and athletic training from Ball State University and a Master of Science degree in physical education and athletic training from the University of Arizona. She earned a second Master of Science degree in physical therapy at the University of Rhode Island and a third Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies at ASHS. In 2005, she was inducted into the Ball State University Athletic Training Ring of Honor (Hall of Fame) and was named the University of Rhode Island Distinguished Physical Therapy Alumnus. In 2004, she received the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Service Award. Kingma has given numerous presentations at the state, district, and national levels on clinical and rehabilitative topics.

Lori Michener, Ph.D., P.T., ATC, SCS

Dr. Lori Michener, a licensed physical therapist, board certified sports physical therapist, and nationally certified athletic trainer, is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to going to VCU-MCV in July 1999, Dr. Michener taught in the Department of Health Science at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa., and in the Department of Physical Therapy at MCP Hahnemann University. At VCU-MCV, she teaches Orthopaedics in the entry-level Physical Therapy Program. Dr. Michener's research interests are concentrated in the areas of shoulder and cervical spine with particular emphasis on the three-dimensional measurement of glenohumeral and scapular kinematics, as well as assessment of functional limitations and disability in patients with shoulder and/or cervical dysfunctions. Dr. Michener received a BS in general studies from Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, Pa. She then went on to receive her M.Ed. in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. Following that, she obtained a second BS in Physical Therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y. Finally, Dr. Michener obtained her Ph.D. in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy from MCP Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pa. Recently, Dr. Michener received a multi-year, multi-site grant from the NATA Foundation to study the effectiveness of rehabilitation for subacromial impingement syndrome. Dr. Michener collaborates with the outcomes working group in the Athletic Training program to study athletic training outcomes and examine the role of disability models in athletic training. In addition, she serves as the clinical outcomes research mentor for Dr. Alison Snyder's post-doctoral research training.

Jamie Sauers, M.S., P.T., SCS, CSCS

Sauers is a licensed physical therapist, board certified sports physical therapist, and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Currently, she serves as the president, clinic director, and co-founder and owner of Achieve Orthopaedic and Sports Therapy. Jamie earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from St. Louis University. She then received a master’s degree in sports health care from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. She is a board certified sports clinical specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Jamie has practiced for 12 years in orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, specializing in the rehabilitation of the post-operative orthopaedic patient, sports rehabilitation, and the female athlete. Sauers was a Division I scholarship athlete in women’s basketball and has been the rehabilitation consultant for the Phoenix Mercury WNBA team for the past two seasons. She also is adjunct faculty in the Athletic Training Program at the Arizona School of Health Sciences, where she lectures on post-operative rehabilitation, sports-specific injuries of the female athlete, and female knee injury prevention programs.