Research Profile

Mission

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences serves as a learning-centered university dedicated to preparing highly competent professionals through innovative academic programs. The University is committed to continuing its osteopathic heritage and focus on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity, and underserved populations.

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About:

Kenny Lam, ScD, ATC, FNATA is a professor of clinical research within the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at A.T. Still University (ATSU). He received a bachelor of science in athletic training and a master of education in human movement from Boston University. He also completed his doctor of science degree from Boston University with a focus on movement sciences. Prior to becoming a faculty member at ATSU, Dr. Lam completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship within the Center of Clinical Outcomes Studies at ATSU with a focus on patient-oriented outcomes research. His current line of research seeks to understand the overall impact of sport-related lower extremity injuries on patient-oriented outcomes such as health-related quality of life. In addition to his faculty responsibilities, Dr. Lam serves as the director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN), the vice chair of the Institutional Review Board at ATSU - Mesa campus, and the director of Faculty Advancement and Mentoring for Excellence (FAME) within the Arizona School of Health Sciences. He also serves as a member of the Athletic Training Research Agenda Committee of the NATA Foundation and an editorial board member for the Journal of Athletic Training and Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. In 2022, Dr. Lam was named a Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Prior to earning his doctorate, Dr. Lam practiced as a certified athletic trainer at Boston University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Research projects:

Impact of sport-related injuries on patient outcomes

The purpose of this line of research is to determine the impact of sport-related injuries on a patient’s health status. Our investigations have determined the effects of previous injuries on current health-related quality of life (HRQOL), changes in self-report of function and HRQOL following injury through return-to-play, and the effects of treatment characteristics (type, amount, duration) on patient-reported outcomes following injury.

The Collection and Use of Point-of-Care Data

The purpose of this line of research is to characterize clinical practice - including patient, treatment, and quality characteristics - with the overall aim of enhancing the quality of patient care. We collect data via a web-based electronic medical research that is used by over 90 clinicians across 35 states within the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN).

The AT-PBRN is a the first and only AHRQ-affiliated PBRN within athletic training and, as of 2025, has recorded over 40,000 injuries, 350,000 athletic training services, and 13,000 patient-reported outcome measures.