What is a Certified Athletic
Trainer (ATC)?
Every year thousands of students participate in interscholastic
athletics. Unfortunately, many of them also suffer injuries as
a result of their participation.
A certified athletic trainer (ATC) is an educated and skilled
allied healthcare professional specializing in athletic injuries,
specifically in the following domains:
- Prevention of athletic injuries
- Recognition, evaluation, and
immediate care of athletic injuries
- Rehabilitation and reconditioning
of athletic injuries
- Healthcare administration
- Professional development
In an effort to treat injuries more effectively, certified athletic
trainers work as part of a complete health care team that consists
of a licensed physician, other healthcare professionals, athletic
administrators, coaches, and parents.
Athletic trainers are certified by the National Athletic Trainers
Association Board of Certification (NATABOC). They must earn a
degree from an accredited athletic training curriculum and pass
a three part test administered by the BOC. They are also required
to stay current in the advancements in athletic training by obtaining
continuing education credits.
OrthoArkansas Athletic
Trainers
Tom Cantwell, ATC, LAT
Director
When Tom was playing high school sports, he had no one to help him
recover from his injuries. Once he learned of the field of
athletic training, a career choice was made.
Tom says his interactions with students over the past 20-plus
years have reinforced his choice. “Seeing the athlete
return to his or her sports more quickly than he or she would
without an athletic trainer is very satisfying. I’ve
always enjoyed working with student athletes and their parents,” he
says.
He is a founding member, past president, and member of the Hall
of Fame of the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association. His
work with the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association
and National Athletic Trainers’ Association is also widely
recognized.
Tom received a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis
in Athletic Training from Southwest Texas State University. He
enjoys spending time with family and raises Missouri Foxtrotter
horses as well as Border Collies.
 Traci Byrd, ATC, LAT, CSCS
It wasn’t a sports injury but the opportunity to attend
a workshop for student athletic trainers that confirmed Traci’s
decision about her life’s work.
“In high school, my head coach asked me to attend a student
athletic trainer workshop,” Traci says. “I knew
then that the combination of sports and medicine was what I wanted
to do. Athletic training is the perfect job for me.”
After high school, Traci attended Arkansas State University, receiving
her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. She has been
an athletic trainer since 1997 and currently works at Central Arkansas
Christian School.
“The interaction with my athletes on a daily basis is my
favorite part of being an athletic trainer. I enjoy following
an injury from the time it occurs to the moment the athlete returns
to participation. Also, being a friend and mentor to high
school athletes is a rewarding aspect of the job.”
Among Traci’s leisure time activities are golfing and spending
time with family and friends.
 Jim Clark, PTA, ATC
Jim’s life-long love of sports and an interest in orthopedics
drew him into athletic training as a career. Working with
young people is a bonus, he says.
“I love students’ energy and youthful approach to
life,” he says. “It is rewarding, as well, being able
to educate young athletes and rehab their injuries. I also like
being able to help with their preseason strength and conditioning.”
Jim is currently the athletic trainer at Bigelow High School and
is a Physical Therapy Assistant with OrthoArkansas.
An athletic trainer since 1993, Jim earned a Bachelor of Science
in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training and was the
first student in UCA’s Department of Kinesiology Athletic
Training Education Program to receive an athletic trainer certification
(ATC). He also received an Associate of Applied Science Degree
from Delta College. Jim is currently working toward his Certified
Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification through the
National Strength and Conditioning Association.
He is active in the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association. Jim served 12 years
in the Arkansas Army National Guard and was honorably discharged
in 2005 with the rank of Sergeant. He had tours of
duty in Honduras, Panama, and Iraq.
In his spare time, Jim enjoys weightlifting, jogging, hunting,
fishing, and watching his two young sons play sports.
 Christa Finney, MS, ATC, LAT
Trips to the athletic training room as an injured athlete brought
Christa back to the profession on the other side of the treatment
table.
“I was injured as a college athlete and spent some time
in the athletic training room,” she says. “Seeing
what the profession could do for athletes eventually led me back
into the field of athletic training from speech-language pathology. I
have never regretted the decision.”
She has been an athletic trainer since 1998 and enjoys interacting
with students at Bryant High School and Middle School. “I
love their energy and how they can make you laugh even on the hardest
day. Helping them through the physical as well as mental
aspect of an injury, being a friend and mentor, and making a difference
in their lives is especially important to me.”
Christa said it was rewarding to see one athlete return to play
after a particularly hard rehab and score three touchdowns in one
game.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from
Ouachita Baptist University and a Master of Science in Kinesiology/Athletic
Training from the University of Central Arkansas. Christa
is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association,
the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Arkansas
Athletic Trainers’ Association. She serves on the Public
Relations Committee and the Arkansas High School All-Star Committee
of the AATA. She is also an American Heart Association BLS
certified instructor.
Christa’s hobbies include travel, outdoor sports and activities,
spending time with family and friends, and working out at a local
fitness center where she is a cardio-kickboxing instructor and
personal trainer.
On Yee Leung, MS, ATC
On Yee Leung first realized her calling for athletic training her junior year in college, when she took a course taught by an athletic trainer. She then went on to do an internship with that athletic trainer the following year. On Yee graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science from Dallas Baptist University. She completed her Master's Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Arkansas. On Yee has been an ATC since April 2010.
“I love the enthusiasm the student athletes always have, competing with a true passion and love for the game,” On Yee says. The idea of helping athletes recover from injuries and get back to playing sports was a perfect fit for her.
On Yee’s favorite part of athletic training is watching an athlete mature and grow, even when faced with an injury and then watching them go on to accomplish their goals on and off the field. She especially enjoys working with the high school athletes at Sheridan High School.
In her free time, On Yee running, reading and hanging out with her friends. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Whitney Sullivan, ATC
 Whitney took a different route to becoming an athletic trainer than those who play sports, are injured, go to therapy, and find their life’s profession. A friend from her hometown introduced her to the field.
“When I entered the introductory class at the University of Central Arkansas, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into. Nevertheless, I quickly fell in love with the idea of working amidst the athletic population. I realized that I loved studying anatomy and performing injury evaluations. The rest is history.”
Working with the athletes at Benton High School, Whitney says she gains satisfaction in educating them on injury prevention and the process of moving them back to the field of play. In doing so, she says she often uses her background in anatomy and physical therapy.
Whitney received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from UCA in 2008 and became board certified and licensed shortly thereafter. She is a member of the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
In her leisure time, Whitney enjoys reading, softball, ultimate Frisbee, hiking and “anything that keeps me active.”
|
