Parsons receives Athletic Trainer of the Year Award
Posted: March 8, 2007ATSU faculty member honored for distinguished service in state governmental affairs
MESA, Ariz. (Mar. 8, 2007) – At the annual winter symposium of the Arizona Athletic Training Association in Phoenix, John Parsons, M.S., ATC, AT/L, assistant professor in the Athletic Training program at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS), was recognized as the Warren H. Lee Athletic Trainer of the Year. The award is the second-highest honor given to active members in the state; the highest is Hall of Fame induction.
Parsons received the award in recognition of his service as the Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee, leading the association’s efforts in fundraising & grants, public relations, legislative strategy, and member education & communication.
Eric Sauers, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS, director of the Athletic Training program at ATSU-ASHS, said the award was a reflection of Parsons’ dedication to the profession and an indication of the quality faculty at ATSU.
“All of us in the Athletic Training department and at ATSU are proud to count John as one of ours,” Dr. Sauers said. “He is an asset to this department and the University, and this most recent award confirms again that he is a valuable member of the athletic training community and an invaluable leader of the profession.”
Parsons is a BOC-certified and state-licensed athletic trainer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from Marietta College and a master’s degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Arizona. He also holds a master’s degree in medical informatics from ATSU-ASHS and is currently completing work on a doctorate in organizational communication from Arizona State University. Parsons teaches both resident and online courses in the Athletic Training and Advanced Physician Assistant programs at ATSU-ASHS.
Warren Lee, the namesake of the award, served as the Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Arizona (UA) from 1970 until his death in 1982. He was a pioneer for the profession, overseeing the transformation of the AT program at UA, serving as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainters’ Association District Secretary and District Director, and remaining involved in community programs such as the Saguaro Little League.