Tanya Watson – 540

Tanya Watson actually lived about 5 minutes from where I live now/ Although she has moved to New Mexico and spent most of her recent career there, we are connected.

The Women of Athletic Training

What is your AT Story?

Tanya Watson grew up in Las Cruces NM and found out about Athletic Training in Middle School and went to the Athletic Training Clinic at New Mexico State University (NMSU) for “growing pains” in her knees.  

Tanya attended NMSU, graduated in 2001 from the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) and BOC Certified in April 2002.

She then worked as a Licensed Athletic Training  Intern at NMSU for the Spring of 2002 covering the Track & Field team.

Following NMSU Tanya attended graduate school at the University of Wyoming 2002-2004 & obtained an MS in Kinesiology. While there she worked in athletics with football, swimming and diving, track and field, and wrestling.

Tanya was an Assistant Athletic Trainer at University of Alabama Birmingham from August 2004-June 2006 working with Women’s Basketball. She also supervised GA’s working with women’s sports.

From July 2006- July 2009 she was an Associate Athletic Trainer at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg MS, Working with Women’s Basketball & Men’s Tennis.

Tanya Watson was also adjunct faculty and the Interim Clinical Coordinator for the ATEP (2007-2008).

She returned home to Las Cruces New Mexico in August 2009 and worked at Las Cruces Orthopaedic Associates as a Physician Extender and Clinic Manager until September 2014 when she accepted an emergency hire Term/Temp Faculty position at NMSU to teach in the ATEP.

May 2017 earned an MA in Curriculum and Instruction at NMSU. Now I am the Athletic Trainer as Las Cruces High School (my alma mater).

What leadership are you giving to ATs now?

Tanya Watson is serving in her current role as Southern Rep on the New Mexico Athletic Trainers Association Board. She has been in this position since 2016.

What are some of your best memories in AT?

As a woman in AT what are some of your challenges?

Coming out of college Tanya was not even considered for professional sports jobs.

Felt an internal pressure to put her career on the back burned to move home and be closer to elderly parents. Men do this as well, but more often it is women taking care of the family over career.

What do you want your legacy to be?

That every athlete I took care of knows they received my best care I was able to provide at that time. That their skill level or nationality did not influence how I provided care.

Contact us:

Tanya Watson: email: tewatson79@gmail.com

Cathy Supak – csupak@HoustonMethodist.org

Jeremy Jackson

These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

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, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.

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, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.

Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.

Hoist logo; rapid hydration; Tanya Watson, Cathy Supak; Tanya; Watson NMSU