Modern Strategies in Concussion Prevention

A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

In this episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales sits down with Travis Turner to dissect current consensus guidelines, emerging clinical technologies, and practical preventive strategies for athletic trainers. From interpreting consensus research to managing complex return-to-sport scenarios, this discussion provides actionable insights designed to elevate clinical practice.

Key Takeaways from the Amsterdam Consensus

The discussion opens with an overview of the international consensus process. Turner breaks down the preventative section of the extensive research consensus statement originating from the October 2022 international conference in Amsterdam.

Consensus Thresholds: The statement reached a 78.6% consensus among panel experts, just shy of the official 80% consensus threshold. Despite missing the formal threshold, it offers vital, research-backed guidance.
Implementation: The publication serves as an essential framework to ensure clinicians approach daily practice from an informed, evidence-based baseline.

Innovative Approaches to Return-to-Sport

Addressing unique athlete presentations during return-to-play requires creative adaptations. Morales raised a case study involving a diver experiencing dizziness and lightheadedness when looking down at the water during practice.

Dynamic VOR Integration: For athletes struggling with complex visual environments during rehabilitation, Turner suggests introducing Vestibular-Ocular Reflex (VOR) exercises inside moving apparatuses—such as glass elevators or while walking up and down stairs. This creates environmental visual motion while maintaining a controlled ground surface.
Core & Cervical Stability: Maintaining strict core stability and neck strength throughout the competitive season is essential for non-contact aquatic athletes.
Simulated Visual Environments: Utilizing stationary cardio equipment combined with dynamic visual stimulation (e.g., watching TV during exercise) can bridge the gap before full sport-specific re-entry.

The Evolution of Wearable Technology

Wearable technology continues to expand beyond traditional impact tracking in contact sports.

Expanded Applications: Data collection sensors are moving from helmets to wrists, trunks, and limbs. Sports such as gymnastics and equestrian barrel racing now utilize body-worn sensors to evaluate biomechanics, rotational forces, and body angles during motion.
Accessibility: As sensors become smaller and more cost-effective, their integration into everyday athletic training protocols will significantly increase.

Culture & Education: Driving Athlete Compliance

Education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing injury risk and facilitating proper care.

Two-Fold Educational Approach: Effective programs must address both proper movement biomechanics to prevent injury and symptom recognition to improve early identification.
Reporting Trends: Increased education has directly contributed to higher self-reporting and peer-reporting rates, overcoming previous cultural barriers where athletes hid symptoms.

Practical Prevention: Cervical Conditioning & Protective Gear

When implementing targeted neck-strengthening programs in high-impact sports, athletic trainers often face compliance challenges.

The “Shotgun” Integration Approach: Rather than relying on dedicated weight room sessions, embed neck-strengthening drills across multiple touchpoints—such as field warm-ups, weight room activations, and cool-downs.
Manual Resistance (“Buddy System”): Simple partner-resisted manual neck exercises at the end of training sessions foster early habits in younger athletes, preparing them for advanced equipment in college or professional settings.
Emerging Devices: Devices like the FDA-cleared Q-Collar aim to apply mild pressure to internal jugular veins to reduce internal brain movement during impacts. While gaining visibility in high school and professional settings, continuous evaluation of surrounding research remains critical.

Guest Contact Information

Guest: Travis Turner
Email: travis.turner@uth.tmc.edu (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston / Texas Medical Center)

Episode Credits

Host: Chase Morales
Audio Engineer: Shelby Gaytan
Equipment provided by: Russell Sadberry
Recording made possible by: Bob Marley and the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute team

October 20, 2026August 22, 2026

AI in Healthcare: Navigating Efficiency, Ethics, and Clinical Justification

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

In this episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales sits down with Dr. Ashlyne Elliott and Dr. Layci Harrison following their presentation at the Sports Medicine Update. Together, they explore the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence across athletic training, health professions education, and daily clinical practice.

As athletic trainers face increasing administrative workloads and packed daily schedules, AI tools offer significant efficiency gains. However, utilizing these tools safely requires strong human oversight, ongoing critical appraisal, and diligent patient privacy standards.

1. The Administrative Assistant: Efficiency vs. Oversight

Athletic trainers are frequently strapped for time, balancing direct patient care with heavy documentation and administrative responsibilities. Dr. Ashlyne Elliott highlights that AI can function as an efficient assistant for creating initial drafts of emails, policy documentation, and routine administrative tasks.

However, AI outputs must always be supervised and verified. Failing to fact-check generated material risks introducing errors into clinical workflows, which can negatively impact patient care or create legal liabilities.“It can help with initial drafts, emails, or drafting policies. But if we’re not fact-checking and double-checking our work, we could get into gray areas that impact patient care negatively or leave us up to legal scrutiny.” — Dr. Ashlyne Elliott

2. Ambient AI Scribes & Clinical Risks

Automated ambient recording tools—designed to listen during clinical encounters and construct SOAP notes automatically—are gaining traction in healthcare environments. While these scribes can streamline documentation for clinicians seeing high patient volumes, uncritical reliance introduces severe risks.

Dr. Elliott referenced a scene from the medical television drama The Pit, where a busy provider relied on an automated scribe without reviewing the transcript. A transcription error regarding patient medications altered the overall plan of care. In real-world healthcare settings, even a small margin of AI error can lead to adverse drug interactions or life-threatening oversight.

3. Data Privacy and Predictive Bias

When evaluating AI applications and athlete management platforms, athletic trainers must scrutinize data handling and model development:

Protected Health Information (PHI): Consumer-facing AI tools and free applications often store submitted data as public training material. Clinicians must review store disclosures and privacy agreements to protect sensitive patient records and maintain HIPAA compliance.
Demographic Representation in Machine Learning: Predictive algorithms are shaped by the data used to train them. An AI model built primarily on data from Division I male collegiate athletes will not yield accurate predictive insights when applied to high school populations.

Dr. Layci Harrison urges clinicians to ask software vendors explicit questions regarding how their predictive models were developed before incorporating recommendations into practice.

4. Demystifying the “Black Box” Theory

Traditional statistical analysis (such as linear regression performed in SPSS) allows researchers to trace and audit every mathematical calculation. In contrast, advanced machine learning operates within a “Black Box”—processing complex variables in ways human reasoning cannot directly inspect.

Dr. Harrison stresses that regardless of how sophisticated an algorithm is, clinicians remain legally and ethically accountable for their treatment decisions.

Clinical Responsibility: If an AI tool recommends an ACL rehabilitation protocol and a patient suffers an injury due to premature loading, citing “the AI generated the plan” does not offer legal protection. Clinicians must be able to independently justify every clinical decision.

5. AI in Education: Cultivating Critical Thinking

Dr. Harrison and Dr. Elliott emphasize that educators must guide students in using technology safely rather than attempting to restrict it. Students already use AI to study, design practice scenarios, and seek immediate feedback.

The priority for educators and preceptors is ensuring students maintain core clinical reasoning skills. While AI can accelerate workflow, clinicians must understand foundational principles to evaluate whether an AI output is accurate and appropriate for patient care.

Show Credits

Role	Contributor
Host	Chase Morales
Audio Engineer	Shelby Gaytan
Equipment Provided By	Russell Sadberry
Recording Support	Bob Marley and the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute team

October 6, 2026August 22, 2026

Navigating GI Evaluation in Sports Medicine: Red Flags, Gut-Brain Axis, and Athlete Care

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Explore GI evaluations, red flags, the gut-brain axis, and supplement trends with Dr. Sean Healy on the Sports Medicine Broadcast hosted by Chase Morales.

Sports Medicine Broadcast
A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

Executive Summary

Gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are among the most common yet challenging non-musculoskeletal issues encountered by athletic trainers in clinical and sideline settings. In this episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales sits down with team physician Dr. Sean Healy to break down essential GI examination techniques, triage methods for acute abdominal pain, the interplay between psychological health and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and practical guidance on supplement safety and gastroenteritis management.

Key Takeaways for Athletic Trainers

1. Basic Physical Examination & Quadrant Triage

Evaluating abdominal complaints begins with taking a structured patient history and correlating symptoms to specific anatomical quadrants. When evaluating an athlete presenting with abdominal discomfort:

Quadrant Mapping: Correlate localized pain to underlying structures (e.g., right lower quadrant pain suggesting appendicitis).
Pain Trajectory: Pay close attention to how pain migrates. For instance, appendicitis often originates periumbilically before localizing to the right lower quadrant over several hours.
History Taking: In younger or pediatric athletes, reframe questions in multiple ways to obtain an accurate clinical timeline.

2. Immediate Red Flags & Triage Thresholds

Distinguishing urgent medical conditions from benign or non-urgent GI distress is vital for quick referral. Dr. Healy highlights several immediate red flags requiring urgent higher-level care:

Red Flag Symptom	Clinical Concern	Recommended Action
Fever	Systemic infection/inflammation	Measure body temperature; urgent referral if elevated
Persistent Vomiting	Obstruction, severe gastroenteritis, dehydration	Evaluate fluid status; withhold oral intake; refer
Hematochezia or Hematemesis	Active gastrointestinal hemorrhage	Immediate emergency/physician referral
Rebound Tenderness / Guarding	Peritoneal irritation (peritonitis)	Avoid deep palpation; immediate physician transfer

3. The Gut-Brain Axis and Managing IBS

The relationship between neurological/psychiatric factors—such as anxiety and performance stress—and GI motility is significant.

Gut-Brain Correlation: Pre-competition anxiety commonly manifests as lower GI distress or IBS flares.
Treatment Considerations: While some anti-anxiety medications can cause secondary GI side effects, others resolve both neurological and intestinal symptoms simultaneously.
Conservative Strategies: Talk therapy and dietary adjustments (e.g., low-fat, Mediterranean diet, or avoiding spicy foods and alcohol) are effective non-pharmacological tools.

4. Navigating Supplement Trends and Hydration

With the rise of protein-dense foods and pre-workout products, athletes are consuming high quantities of nutritional supplements.

Hydration Demands: High protein intake and creatine supplementation increase systemic fluid needs. Inadequate hydration alongside high protein consumption often leads to constipation.
Pediatric Oversight: Athletic trainers should ensure coaches, parents, and guardians are aware when youth or high school athletes are using specialized supplements.

5. Acute Gastroenteritis & Over-the-Counter Cautions

When managing acute gastroenteritis or suspected “stomach bugs”:

Avoid Early Imodium (Loperamide): In the first 24 to 48 hours of suspected infectious diarrhea, avoid anti-diarrheal agents like Imodium. Trapping infectious pathogens within the GI tract can prolong illness and delay recovery.
First-Line Care: Prioritize oral rehydration solutions (electrolyte beverages like Gatorade or Powerade) and diet progression. Most viral gastroenteritis cases self-resolve within 24 to 72 hours.

6. Destigmatizing GI Health and Step-Up Referral

Athletes often feel hesitant or embarrassed to report gastrointestinal issues. Athletic trainers should work to normalize gut health conversations and establish a progressive referral pipeline:

Athletic Trainer Assessment -> Primary Care Physician (PCP) -> GI Specialist

Guest Contact Information

Dr. Sean Healy can be reached directly for professional inquiries via email:

Email: Sean.T.Healy@uth.tmc.edu

Podcast Credits

Host: Chase Morales
Audio Engineer: Shelby Gaytan
Equipment provided by: Russell Sadberry
Recording made possible by: Bob Marley and the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute team

Presentation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jNlHXVZti9k

September 22, 2026August 22, 2026

Working Around Upper Extremity Injuries: Maximizing Athletic Potential in Rehab

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Sports Medicine Broadcast

A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

When an overhead or rotational athlete—such as a baseball pitcher, softball player, volleyball server, or tennis player—suffers a significant upper extremity injury, traditional care often calls for shutdown periods lasting anywhere from six weeks to several months. While restricting arm motion is crucial for surgical or tissue healing, completely shutting down the athlete can lead to lost athleticism, decreased conditioning, and a difficult return-to-play process.

In this episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales is joined by Cathy Nguyen, Xavier Porter, and physical therapist Ryan Collins to dive into strategies for keeping overhead athletes conditioned and engaged while protecting healing shoulder and elbow tissues.

Training Beyond the Injured Arm

Overhead performance relies heavily on total-body coordination, trunk rotation, and lower-body ground reaction forces. When the arm is immobilized or restricted, clinicians have a valuable window to address other components of the kinetic chain:

Lower Quarter & Ground Forces: Maintaining single-leg strength, lower-body power, and leg drive so the athlete does not lose the foundation of their throwing or hitting mechanics.
Trunk & Core Rotation: Safe, controlled hip and trunk rotation work keeps the core responsive and strong without placing mechanical stress across the healing arm.
Cardiovascular Conditioning & Movement: Avoiding long periods of inactivity prevents overall physical decline and eases the physical transition back to sport-specific drills.

Protocols Are Templates, Not Rigid Rules

Standard rehabilitation protocols for procedures such as SLAP repairs, UCL reconstructions, or rotator cuff repairs are designed around histology—how tissue heals over specific timeframes. While respecting these tissue-healing boundaries is mandatory, Collins points out that protocols should serve as adaptable templates rather than rigid, calendar-only directives:

Avoid Automatic Time-Based Progression: Moving an athlete to the next phase purely because a calendar week has passed can overload tissues that are not yet ready or flexible enough.
Prevent Monotony & Stagnation: Relying solely on basic wrist curls, passive stretching, or light band work for weeks can lead to boredom and sloppy execution. Challenging athletes safely keeps their buy-in high.

Key Progression Criteria Before High-Velocity Loading

Before introducing plyometrics, medicine ball throws, or return-to-throwing protocols, clinicians should look beyond simple pain ratings:

Full Mobility & Range of Motion: Ensure full structural motion is established without compensatory mechanics.
Baseline Controlled Strength: “If you can’t do it slow, you definitely can’t do it fast”. Validate that slow, controlled movements (e.g., standard push-ups or consistent band resistance) are well-tolerated before attempting explosive tasks.
Movement Coordination & Quality: Verify that the athlete can properly sequence their core and hips without substitute patterns that increase inflammation or stress nearby joints.

By viewing rehabilitation as an ongoing part of athletic training, sports medicine professionals can ensure that sidelined athletes return to the field fully prepared, strong, and confident.

Speaker Contact Information

Guest: Ryan Collins, PT, ATC
Email: Ryan.Collins@memorialhermann.org

Episode Credits

Host: Chase Morales
Audio Engineer: Shelby Gaytan
Equipment Provided By: Russell Sadberry
Recording Made Possible By: Bob Marley and the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute team

YouTube Presentation: https://youtu.be/D4l77KKSfkU

September 8, 2026August 22, 2026

Addressing Faulty Throwing Mechanics: Biomechanics, Sequencing, and Injury Risk

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

In a recent episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales, along with Ross Little and second-year M.A. student Dorothy Bailey, sat down with Dr. Craig Garrison, Director of Research and Education at the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Garrison shared critical insights on identifying and correcting faulty throwing mechanics, understanding the biomechanical drivers of modern throwing velocity, and implementing practical strategies to protect overhead athletes across sports.

The Evolution of Velocity and Biomechanics

In today’s sports landscape, throwing velocity serves as the baseline measuring stick for recruitment and advancement. High school baseball pitchers striving for Division I recruitment are now expected to consistently throw in the low-to-mid 90s—a notable contrast to a decade ago when lower velocity ranges were far more common.

This rise in velocity is heavily linked to advancements in biomechanical evaluation and motion analysis technology. By leveraging data-driven insights, clinicians and strength coaches can optimize kinetic sequencing, helping athletes generate explosive power while aiming to mitigate tissue stress.

Kinetic Principles Beyond Baseball

Although baseball pitching dominates discussions around overhead biomechanics, the core mechanical principles extend across multiple disciplines. Dr. Garrison highlighted that track and field throwers—specifically javelin athletes—exhibit nearly identical mechanical principles and injury risk profiles:

Force Generation: Throwers must produce substantial force through their drive limb and transition efficiently onto their stride limb.
Energy Transfer: Force generated from the ground must be transferred sequentially up the kinetic chain into the upper extremity.
High-Stress Breakdown: Flaws in timing or force transfer place extreme stress across the elbow joint, frequently leading to UCL tears, shoulder pathologies, and Tommy John surgeries in both baseball pitchers and javelin throwers.

Balancing Force Production and Kinematic Sequencing

To lower injury risk, clinicians must evaluate both force production and kinematic sequencing. An athlete who produces exceptional lower-body force but lacks proper sequencing will experience high stress on the upper extremity, drastically increasing injury risk.

Mechanical Factor	Primary Function	Clinical & Training Focus
Lower Extremity Power	Force generation from the ground	Squats, jumps, explosive lower-body force production
Kinematic Sequencing	Transferring force up the kinetic chain	Auditory cueing, rhythm drills, metronome synchronization
Workload & Load Management	Controlling cumulative joint fatigue	Tracking pitch counts, training volume, and day-to-day loads

Actionable Strategies for Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists

When designing rehabilitation protocols or performance programs for young overhead throwers, focus should remain on foundational movement rather than isolated arm exercises.

1. Build Power from the Legs

Forces delivered at ball release originate in the lower body. Training should prioritize lower extremity power, squat performance, and jumping mechanics. The upper extremity primarily serves as the vehicle for delivering the force generated by the legs and core.

2. Implement External Auditory Cueing

Because a baseball pitch is delivered in approximately 250 milliseconds, the human brain cannot consciously process complex internal mechanical adjustments mid-throw.

To overcome this, Dr. Garrison advocates for external cueing using simple tools like a metronome:

Match the metronome tempo to the athlete’s desired pitching tempo.
Align the initial beat with stride-foot contact and the subsequent beat with the point of ball release.
Allow the athlete’s central nervous system to self-organize and adjust rhythm naturally through auditory cues, eliminating conscious overthinking.

Managing Athlete Capacity and Gaining Buy-In

Addressing biomechanics effectively also requires managing realistic athlete capacities and behavioral compliance:

Understanding Movement Capacities: Neuromuscular coordination and movement capacity vary significantly. Clinicians and coaches must occasionally lead candid conversations with parents and young athletes regarding individual physical limits and ceiling potential.
Overcoming the Compliance Barrier: Healthy youth athletes often struggle to appreciate subtle mechanical adjustments. Buy-in generally increases following an injury or through proactive coaching and parental reinforcement.

Summary & Guest Information

Addressing throwing mechanics requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes lower-body force generation, external timing cues, and careful workload management.

Guest: Dr. Craig Garrison (Director of Research and Education, Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute)
Contact Email: Craig.Garrison@memorialhermann.org
Episode Link: sportsmedicinebroadcast.com/faultymechanics

YouTube Presentation: https://youtu.be/FGm5caSDJDg

August 25, 2026April 28, 2026

Full-Time PRN AT with Elicia Black

Elicia Black is choosing Full-Time PRN work.

Can You Make a Living as a Full-Time PRN Athletic Trainer? | Elicia Black Interview

Host Jeremy Jackson sits down with Elicia Black to discuss a career path few attempt: becoming a full-time PRN Athletic Trainer. Elicia shares her journey from the Navy to her current non-traditional role, providing essential insights for anyone considering a flexible career.1

Episode Synopsis

Elicia Black, a certified Athletic Trainer, details the financial realities, logistical hustle, and unique work-life balance of working as a full-time PRN Athletic Trainer. She discusses her decision to leave the long hours of a high school setting for the freedom of contract work. Learn what it takes to secure repeat contracts (like the one Elicia holds with HISD), how to protect the value of the AT profession, and the trade-offs between flexibility and relationship building. Elicia also introduces her emerging cash-based business, EB Training, which provides virtual AT services focused on injury prevention and rehabilitation for first responders.1

Key Discussion Points

Elicia’s path from the Navy, through Physical Therapy school aspirations, to her Master’s at Texas Tech.
The difference between high school, junior college, and D1 rotations, and why Elicia chose to avoid high-level collegiate athletics.
The financial breakdown of working as a PRN Athletic Trainer in the Houston area (approx. $50/hour, estimated $30k annual income), and the necessity of “hustling” for contracts.
The work-life balance of PRN versus the 12+ hour days of a traditional high school AT job.
Advice on why ATs should avoid jobs paying $25/hour to maintain professional value.
Details on EB Training, Elicia’s business providing virtual athletic training to first responders for injury prevention and rehab.
Elicia’s preference for manual therapy, such as Graston, over other modalities.

Mentioned in the Podcast

Sponsor: Exotherm Smart Pad. Use code SMB for a discount, or email info@Exotherm.com for a bulk order discount.
Guest Socials:
- Instagram/TikTok: @Alicia.black.atc
- YouTube: EB Training
- LinkedIn: Alicia.ATC
- Website: barbellrehab.com – Elicia Black

References: Dr. Josh Yellen (positively impacting AT education), Bob Marley (AT contract emails)

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email info@xothrm.com and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

McDonald; Dermoneuromodulation; Medbridge; CEUs Online CEUs; affiliate link

August 11, 2026April 28, 2026

AT in Idaho

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

As an AT in Idaho, Tracy Collins shares the beauty of the state and some of the challenges the Athletic Trainers face. With over 300 ATs, the Idaho ATA joins the Sports Medicine Broadcast to discuss work-life balance.

Tracy Collins Idaho Athletic Trainers Association

Summary:

Host Jeremy Jackson sits down with Tracy Collins, Head Athletic Trainer at Lewis-Clark State College, to discuss her long career and the unique life of an AT in Idaho. They cover Tracy’s journey from a record-setting high school track athlete to a veteran healthcare professional, the challenges and solutions for AT coverage in the state’s rural settings, and what the Idaho Athletic Trainers Association is working on with their practice act. Tracy also gives her top recommendations for experiencing the stunning outdoor activities and travel destinations that the state of Idaho has to offer.

Key Takeaways:

Professional Challenges: The rural and geographically spread-out nature of Idaho presents financial challenges for full-time athletic trainer positions in many high schools, though areas like the Treasure Valley are well-covered.
Personal Background: Tracy Collins is a record-holding runner from Lewiston High School, an alumna of Boise State, and has been married to a track and field coach for 32 years.
Legislation: The Idaho Athletic Trainers Association is focused on working with the new Department of Professional Licensing structure and is considering updating its 23-year-old licensure practice act.
Travel and Nature: Tracy’s favorite aspect of living in Idaho is the access to the outdoors, recommending that visitors see Hells Canyon and the volcanic landscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

Mentioned in the Broadcast:

Lewis-Clark State College (LC State)
The Idaho Sports Medicine Institute
Exotherm heating pads (Product from partner Johan Wing in Boise, Idaho)
Idaho Athletic Trainers Association: Idahoata.org

Contact Tracy Collins:

Email: TCollins@lcsc.edu

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

July 28, 2026April 28, 2026

AT in Georgia with Rob Dicks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Being an AT in Georgia is a lot like being an AT in Texas. Rob Dicks knew he wanted to become an AT by the time he started high school. He is now leading the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association.

Podcast Summary

This episode features Jeremy Jackson and Rob Dix, the current President of the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association (GATA). Rob shares his journey from a 14-year-old aspiring ‘sports doctor’ to a seasoned Athletic Trainer, driven by an early interaction with an AT after an MCL sprain. He recounts his experience balancing a high-achieving student life and a career that included internships with the Buccaneers and the Falcons. Rob eventually prioritized family, leading him to a 22-year career at Lagrange College, where he transitioned through several administrative and leadership roles, culminating as an Associate AD before returning to high school athletics at Callaway High School.

Rob discusses his leadership philosophy, ‘We are better together,’ and his role as a servant leader for GATA members. He highlights his commitment to mentorship, including co-founding a large support group/think tank for brown and black athletic trainers. On the legislative front, Rob addresses current challenges facing AT in Georgia, such as opposition to updating the Practice Act and the exclusion of athletic trainers from a dry needling bill that could make the practice illegal for ATs in the state. Despite the challenges, Rob notes Georgia’s leadership in the profession: the state is now number one nationally for heat illness policies and is a top contender for secondary school AT hiring and salary data. The ultimate goal is to place an AT in every school system with athletics.

Show Notes: The State of AT in Georgia with Rob Dix

Host: Jeremy Jackson
Guest: Rob Dix, President of the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association (GATA)
Website Link: sportsmedicinepodcast.com/ATinGeorgia

Episode Highlights

Rob Dix discusses his passion for athletic training, his pivot from an NFL career path to collegiate and high school settings, and his dedication to leadership and mentorship within the profession.

Key Takeaways for AT in Georgia:

The Journey to AT: Rob’s interest began at 14, influenced by his high school coach and solidified by his first AT, Jenny, after an MCL sprain in 10th grade.
A Career Pivot: After working with the Falcons, Rob chose a career path at Lagrange College (22 years) to better prioritize his family life.
Leadership Philosophy: Rob leads with the motto, ‘We are better together,’ viewing his role as serving the needs of GATA members.
Mentorship & Community: Rob is a dedicated preceptor and helped start a support group/think tank for brown and black ATs, which has grown to over 1,600 members.
Practice Act Challenges: A major focus for GATA is navigating legislative challenges, including opposition to the Practice Act update and the exclusion of AT in Georgia from a dry needling bill.
Georgia as a Leader: Georgia is ranked number one in the nation for heat illness policies and is a leader in secondary school AT hiring and compensation, making it an attractive state for practicing AT in Georgia.

Connect with Rob Dicks:

Email: rob.dicks.sr@gmail
Instagram: Rob_dsr
Facebook: Rob Dicks

Group: The Brown and Black AT Think Tank (contact Rob for involvement)

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

July 14, 2026April 20, 2026

AT in Florida with Dr. Vanguri

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Being an AT in Florida offers many opportunities. Dr. Pradeep Vanguri joins Ben Stephenson and Jeremy Jackson to share what being an AT in Florida is like.

Leadership in the Sunshine State: Dr. Pradeep Vanguri on the Future of Athletic Training in Florida

Jeremy Jackson and Ben Stevenson welcome Dr. Pradeep Vanguri, President of the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida (ATAF), to the Sports Medicine broadcast podcast to discuss the professional landscape in Florida. Dr. Vanguri shares his personal journey and outlines the crucial initiatives shaping athletic training across the 67 counties of Florida.

Dr. Vanguri’s interest in sports medicine began in high school in North Carolina, but his decision to become an athletic trainer was cemented in college at East Carolina University after realizing he preferred being on the sideline with teams over working in a clinic or hospital setting. He eventually moved to the state of Florida, where his focus on service led him to the ATAF.

His leadership journey within the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida includes:

Serving as the Education Committee Chair for approximately six years.
Serving as Secretary for three years.
Serving as Vice President and then President-Elect.
Currently, he is in his third year of a three-year term as ATAF President, guiding the profession in Florida.

The Athletic Trainer Landscape in Florida

Dr. Vanguri emphasizes that the core strength of athletic training in Florida is its people—the dedicated clinicians and the close-knit professional community. The state offers numerous settings for athletic trainers, including industrial, college/university, secondary school, and professional teams like the Miami Dolphins, Panthers, and Inter Miami. The state also provides excellent opportunities for new and seasoned athletic trainers to continue their practice through collaboration, mentorship, and access to research from academic programs.

A common issue is the lack of full-time coverage and a high rate of turnover for athletic trainers across the 67 counties. The ATAF’s goal is to recruit talent to Florida and work to ensure they stay by focusing on appropriate coverage, quality of life, and compensatory salary and benefits. Medical systems across major regions of Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and the Panhandle, are supporting these efforts.

Dr. Vanguri detailed three major initiatives he is championing during his tenure as President in Florida:

Loan Reimbursement Inclusion: Working to include athletic trainers in an existing state loan reimbursement program for rural assistance, which is centered within the Florida Department of Health, without asking for an increase in overall program funding.
Third-Party Reimbursement: A critical effort to quantify the value of athletic trainers and establish them as licensed medical professionals who deserve a “seat at the table” in the broader medical community. The ATAF is focused on supporting entities with a strong medical system infrastructure in Florida that can handle the billing.
CPR and AED Initiative: Working to help the general public understand the importance of layperson CPR and addressing the lack of interest in helping a victim due to the fear of legal retribution.

Why Athletic Trainers Should Choose Florida

Dr. Vanguri’s sales pitch for the state of Florida centers on its people. He urges athletic trainers to move to Florida for the opportunity to connect with individuals making a difference, as well as for the mentorship, research opportunities, and clinical growth provided by the state’s top-notch athletic trainers and supportive medical systems. While the sunshine and alligators are a perk, the central reason to come and stay in Florida is the robust professional community and the emphasis on work-life balance.

The Athletic Trainers Association of Florida annual meeting is scheduled for July 10th to 12th in Orlando, Florida.

To connect with Dr. Vanguri or the ATAF:

Email: president@ataf.org

Website and Social Media: ataf.org

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.

June 30, 2026February 2, 2026

Dr. Robert Fullick – Athletic Shoulder

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Spotify | RSS

Dr. Robert Fullick joins Ben Stephenson and Amari Mercadel at the Sports Medicine Update to discuss shoulder evaluations in the athletic shoulder.

Run down of extra tests, such as bear hug.

You learn more as time goes on, good training and fine-tuning over the years. A bear hug assesses a specific part of the subscapular tendon. Other testing may be normal with an upper subscapular tendon injury.

How can I do all the tests? Do I skip some?

We go from doing all the tests to gaining the confidence to know what the athlete is telling me to help figure out what tests to use. I would recommend doing all the tests until you gain enough knowledge to be able to skip around. You’re gonna get better as you go. I used to have doubts about the shoulder early in my career but look at me now. I see every MRI of every patient that I see, and I see every surgical evaluation that might need it. So I would say I’m pretty good at what I do. I’ve gotta be the best I can so that I’m not the guy saying that we’re gonna do physical therapy because I don’t know exactly what’s wrong, they’re gonna go see another guy.

Tell us more about your background, especially with the shoulder.

My sports background put me in a unique situation where I was comfortable in the locker room. My mentor in Boston worked for pro teams and I got into being on pro sidelines and sitting with different people. Being a young resident covering high-level sports on my own. Foster relationships when I moved to Baltimore got my sports fellowship.

I don’t wanna be wrong, I hate being wrong. When you see someone do an eval, is there something that you are like “Oh, I wouldn’t do that”?

I would say the biggest thing that I see missed is not disrobing the shoulder to see the skin, posterior shoulder, etc. Then you’re looking at the testing and trying to discern between a cuff strain versus labral. Thats not your fault. Based on the findings, timing, MOI, you can determine whether the patient needs imaging or do they just need physical therapy and some rehab. I would not be hard on yourself. Everyone is going to be in a different spot.

What are your recs for prehab?

Complex scenario but I tell everyone the stronger the rotator cuff and the more motion going into surgery the better the recovery is going to be. Pre-op motion strongly indicates early post-op motion in my opinion.

Reducing shoulder injuries; how do we know if the humeral head is fractured?

It’s an impossibility; I might have the luxury to know what a fractured arm looks like, but you might not. If a bone looks crooked, if a shoulder is out of palace then you try to make it look normal. If you go to reduce and you feel movement of the patient feels pain or a clunk or the humeral head doesn’t feel 100% out, then maybe you might think a fracture. You’ll never be able to know in that split second. I still see in the ER that they miss posterior dislocations. If you don’t get an axillary view, you don’t get the full workup. You gotta find a way to get that view, if not, get a CT scan. If you miss a posterior dislocation on the field, that’s okay, you’re doing the best that you can do with what you have.

Relocations on the sideline: tips and tricks
Milch maneuver? For the anterior, the external rotation and abduction should be able to relocate. I had a patient just walk his fingers up his head, didn’t even have to touch the patient to relocate the shoulder (patient had hsitory of numerous dislocations), just know the basics and principles. You can prevent labral damage by getting the head in quicker

What about those with repeated dislocations?

If you encounter those with dislocations with sneezing and sleeping, typically they need intervention and surgery for the labrum and bone loss. Patients have more motion post-surgery because trust is restored within the joint.

Contact Us

Sponsor List

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

Xothrm – Best heating pad available – Use “SMB” or email info@xothrm.com and mention the Sports Medicine Broadcast.

Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)

HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration, DRINK HOIST

MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some money, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Athletic Dry Needling – Save up to $100 when registering through our link.