ATSU Faculty Research

About:

Cailee E. Welch Bacon, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FNAP is a professor in the Department of Athletic Training and a research professor in the Department of Public Health in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona at A.T. Still University. Dr. Bacon earned her Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Boston University, followed by a master of science in education degree in athletic training from Old Dominion University. She also earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in human movement science with a focus in athletic training curriculum and instruction from Old Dominion University, where she investigated the effectiveness of educational techniques to aid athletic trainers in learning the fundamentals of evidence-based practice. Dr. Bacon completed a post-doctoral research fellowship within the Center for Clinical Outcome Studies at A.T. Still University, which focused on patient-oriented outcomes. Dr. Bacon serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Athletic Training and the Journal of Athletic Training Education & Practice, and is the co-chair of the Association for Athletic Training Education Research Network. Dr. Bacon also serves as the Associate Director for the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN), where she primarily oversees the continuing education platform and the cost-free academic electronic medical record (AEMR).

Dr. Bacon has methodological expertise in survey and qualitative research design and
her research agenda seeks to understand how the educational outcomes of health professions education programs shape and guide the practice patterns of healthcare professionals. The long-term goal of her research is to identify key elements that drive successful educational outcomes in professional and post-professional athletic training programs, ensuring that future generations of athletic trainers can effectively provide athletic training services to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. To meet this long-term goal, Dr. Bacon’s current research initiatives focus on three distinct research aims: 1) strategies to enhance learner outcomes, 2) evaluation of athletic training education outcomes, and 3) examination of healthcare professionals’ practice patterns.

Dr. Bacon was named a Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2023 and named a Distinguished Research Fellow of the National Academies of Practice in 2024.