ATSU Faculty Research

This qualitative study examines the challenges faced by early-career (0–6 years) and career-advancing (7–12 years) collegiate athletic trainers and the factors shaping their decisions to remain in or leave the college/university practice setting. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 24 athletic trainers representing diverse institutions and competitive levels, the study identified compensation and job demands as critical influences on professional satisfaction and retention. Findings highlight widespread dissatisfaction with salaries that do not reflect education, workload, or experience, alongside concerns about long hours, extensive travel, and blurred work-life boundaries. Participants also emphasized the importance of benefits, professional development support, and supervisors who reinforced professional boundaries. The study underscores the urgent need for institutions to implement competitive compensation structures, sustainable workloads, and supportive workplace cultures to enhance recruitment and long-term retention of athletic trainers in higher education.

This national cross-sectional survey study examined racial and ethnic differences in athletic trainers’ (ATs) desire, pursuit, and attainment of leadership positions, as well as their perceptions of current leadership effectiveness. A total of 488 ATs participated, including a purposeful sample of racial and ethnic minority ATs and a random sample of National Athletic Trainers’ Association members. Findings revealed that while most ATs expressed interest in leadership and over half reported holding leadership roles—primarily at departmental or institutional levels—African American ATs perceived significantly greater barriers related to race and ethnicity. They also viewed current leadership as less effective in meeting their needs compared with White ATs. Results highlight systemic biases and in-group favoritism that may restrict leadership pathways for minority ATs, underscoring the importance of intentional strategies such as diversifying selection processes and fostering allyship to ensure equitable opportunities and inclusive leadership within the profession.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of athletic trainers (ATs) who transitioned from traditional employment settings (secondary school, collegiate, or professional sport) to physician practice. Using the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method, in-depth interviews with 11 certified ATs revealed three major themes: considerations for physician practice, tasks performed and skills gained, and transition experience. Participants identified improved work-life balance, reliable schedules, and exposure to patients across the lifespan as key motivators for transition. They also described acquiring new clinical and administrative skills, including surgical assistance, diagnostic testing, and navigating insurance processes. While many reported enhanced job satisfaction and reduced burnout, participants noted challenges such as limited upward mobility and variability in onboarding experiences. These findings provide valuable insight for ATs considering physician practice roles and for health care systems employing ATs, highlighting the balance of opportunities and constraints in this emerging practice setting.

This retrospective analysis investigated racial and ethnic disparities in performance on the Board of Certification (BOC) examination among 3,742 professional master’s candidates and 4,425 exam attempts between 2011 and 2020. Results revealed significant achievement gaps: White candidates had a 93.2% first-time pass rate compared with 86.9% for Hispanic candidates and only 74.8% for African American candidates. African American candidates also demonstrated the highest risk of failure on both initial and retake attempts, underscoring systemic inequities that hinder entry into the athletic training workforce. These findings highlight how examination disparities may bias admissions standards, reduce program viability, and perpetuate underrepresentation in the profession. The study calls for structural reforms by accrediting and credentialing bodies to ensure equitable preparation, reduce stereotype threat, and support persistence of underrepresented groups in athletic training.

This commentary highlights the urgent need to recruit and retain Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in athletic training research while reflecting on the authors’ lived experiences as women of color in the profession. It emphasizes how imposter syndrome and lack of representation limit the engagement and advancement of BIPOC researchers, often leading to professional isolation and barriers to career progression. The article offers actionable strategies to foster inclusion, including intentional mentorship, creating safe scholarly spaces, equitable collaboration, balanced service expectations, amplification of BIPOC scholars’ work, and valuing diverse research agendas. By centering allyship and systemic change, the commentary calls on all members of the athletic training research community to cultivate equitable opportunities and ensure the profession’s scholarship better reflects and serves diverse populations.

This national cross-sectional survey study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced employment patterns, well-being, and career satisfaction among early-career (0–6 years) and career-advancing (7–12 years) athletic trainers (ATs). Survey responses from 1,111 ATs revealed that over 30% changed employers and more than 25% shifted employment settings, with many migrating from traditional roles in high school, collegiate, and professional sports to clinic, industrial, sales, or higher education settings. While these changes improved personal well-being and job satisfaction for some, the pandemic overall decreased job satisfaction, career satisfaction, and optimism about long-term retention in the profession. Salary, compensation, and work-life balance emerged as the most important predictors of retention, underscoring the need for institutions to prioritize financial stability, manageable workloads, and strong administrative support to sustain the AT workforce in the postpandemic era.

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Muslim collegiate student-athletes who fast during Ramadan while continuing to train and compete in NCAA athletics. Through interviews with 12 athletes across seven universities, the research identified four major themes: the significance of fasting and Ramadan, intrinsic challenges (physical, emotional, and time-related), extrinsic challenges (limited resources, lack of understanding, and misconceptions), and the role of support systems. Participants emphasized the spiritual and cultural importance of fasting, while also describing difficulties with fatigue, nutrition, academic scheduling, and a lack of awareness among coaches and peers. Findings underscore the need for athletic trainers, coaches, and institutions to provide culturally informed support, including adjustments to training, education for staff and teammates, and stronger community connections, to promote both athletic performance and holistic well-being during Ramadan.

This qualitative study investigated how athletic trainers (ATs) practicing in Title 1 secondary schools contribute to primary and patient-centered care for adolescents facing barriers related to social determinants of health (SDoH). Through focus group interviews with 11 ATs, the study found that these providers often serve as caregivers, advocates, educators, and—most importantly—care coordinators who help students and families navigate insurance, transportation, translation, and referral challenges. Participants described how their unique accessibility and trusted relationships with student-athletes positioned them as a first point of contact for non-orthopedic conditions, while also revealing the significant role of ATs in mitigating health inequities within low socioeconomic communities. Findings underscore the potential for secondary school ATs to reduce disparities in adolescent healthcare by integrating patient-centered strategies and collaborating across systems of care.