About Our Program

Important Notice:  USF is proposing a transition from the BSAT to a post baccalaurete professional degree beginning in 2015.   It is anticipated that the last undergraduate applications will be accepted for the 2014-15 academic year.   Students interested in applying for 2014-15 must have all pre-requisites completed or in progress diuring the spring of 2014 to be eligible.  Students should contact the Athletic Training Advising Office for more information.

History of Athletic Training at USF

The history of athletic training at the University of South Florida dates back to 1968 and the hiring of Tony Jonaitis as USF's first Athletic Trainer. From the late 1960's - 1980's, Tony was the primary sports medicine figure at USF, building the foundation of the entire athletic department, including the treatment of student-athletes, intra-mural athletes, staff, faculty, and the Tampa Bay area community. The university's "team physicians" were few and Tony provided care to all inter-collegiate athletic teams. His work has been recognized by the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida, which inducted Tony Jonaitis into the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida- Hall of Fame in 2006.

In 1982, Lenny Currier was hired to assist Tony Jonaitis in the athletic training room. Lenny advanced to the position of USF Head Athletic Trainer when Tony joined the faculty of the USF School of Physical Education. In the fall of 1983, Lenny recruited Barry Clements and Gwen Hoffman who joined the team as USF Assistant Athletic Trainers. During his tenure, Barry has held numerous positions in the Department of Athletics, including Assistant Athletic Trainer, Head Athletic Trainer (1985), Assistant Athletic Director (1992). Since 2001, Barry has the role of Associate Athletic Director for Programs and Sports Services.

Steve Walz joined the team in 2000 as USF's Head Athletic Trainer and was promoted in 2002 to Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Sports Medicine for USF Athletics. Steve has the distinction of serving as the USF Football Program's first Head Football Athletic Trainer when it began in 1996.

While our formal academic model in athletic training education spans the last 39 years, it's important to note that even prior to that numerous students seeking certification from the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (NATABOC) achieved it by way of internships. It was Barry Clements who initiated USF's formal Athletic Training Student Program in 1983, during his tenure as Head Athletic Trainer. The program began with only two interns and grew to include as many as twenty interns, averaging ten to twelve students per year.

When changes in the athletic training profession and academia established a more formalized education preparation, Barry Clements and Steve Walz began to develop an accredited Athletic Training Education Program. Steve focused on a feasibility study and Barry began discussions with the USF School of Physical Education to house the new athletic training education program. After two years of discussion and preparation, the USF Athletic Training Education Program began, implemented within the USF School of Physical Education. In the Fall of 1999, Dr. Dave Klossner was hired as the Athletic Training Education Program Director. The program was granted Candidacy status by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) for the 2000-2001 academic year due to his exceptional efforts. In the fall of 2000, Joanne Turk was hired as the Clinical Coordinator. In August 2001, Shane Stecyk was hired as the Interim Program Coordinator and visiting instructor. In July 2002, Dr. Micki Cuppett was hired as the Program Director, tasked with the responsibility of writing an Athletic Training Education Program self-study and to coordinate the site-visit for accreditation. The program's curriculum development and self- study for accreditation were collaborative efforts that included numerous members of the School of Physical Education, Wellness and Sports Studies, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, team physicians and clinical instructors. The self- study was submitted in September of 2002 with the site visit taking place during the Spring of 2003. The USF Athletic Training Education Program obtained initial accreditation in October of 2003.

Our Athletic Training Education Program continued to grow each year with an average incoming class of 20 to 25. In 2003, Valerie Rich was hired as a doctoral graduate assistant and served as clinical coordinator. In 2005, Dr. Pradeep Vanguri was hired and took over the responsibilities of Clinical Coordinator. Valerie Rich finished her PhD and is now employed in the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Montana. In 2006, Dr. Cuppett, then the Athletic Training Education Program Director, was recruited to teach in the the USF Morsani College of Medicine, and Dr. Vanguri became the program's director.

Summer of 2007, marked the start of a new era in our athletic training history. In a bold move to further strengthen its role in Sports Medicine and a buildup of sports safety and orthopedics at USF Health, the program was moved from the College of Education to the Morsani College of Medicine. Our Athletic Training Education Program is anchored in the medical school's Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Dr. Jeff Konin served as Director of the Athletic Training Education Program during the fall of 2007 to oversee the transition to the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Dr. Konin also serves as Executive Director of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute. In January of 2008, Dr. Micki Cuppett once again took over to direct the Athletic Training Education Program. Dr Gianlucca DelRossi and Dr. Pradeep Vanguri round out the full-time Athletic Training Education Program faculty. Dr. Vanguri also serves as the program's Clinical Coordinator. This program also utilizes many affiliate faculty for both instruction and clinical supervision of students.

Overview

The USF Athletic Training Education Program is a limited access program designed to prepare students for a successful career as a qualified health care professional - educated and experienced in the management of health care problems associated with the physically active. If selected to the major, students must successfully complete required criteria set forth by the Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, in addition to completing the regular university application process. Successful completion of the major qualifies students to take the athletic training profession's Board of Certification Examination, as well as all relevant state practice requirements.

The USF Athletic Training Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Graduates from our program establish successful careers as athletic trainers in secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional sports programs, sports medicine clinics, and other athletic health care settings. Interested students should contact our office for informational meetings.

This website outlines the proposed four-year course sequence for students, a listing of approved clinical sites, on-line application forms and much more.

Expectations

For any athletic training education program to be successful, each of the stakeholders involved with the educational process must commit to a standard of excellence. The following contributions are expected from each of our stakeholders:

Faculty

• To provide current, evidence-based information in preparation for students becoming a entry-level certified athletic trainers
• To encourage students to be critical thinkers in an effort to become life-long learners
• To engage students in ongoing research and development integrated within the curriculum
• To model and promote professional behaviors for students to learn from

Staff

• To support the needs of the faculty, clinical instructors, and students providing for a positive learning environment
• To recognize athletic training education students as future health care professionals
• To integrate with the athletic training education program stakeholders with professionalism

Clinical Instructors

• To provide students with sound, evidence-based learning opportunities
• To supplement classroom knowledge with clinical experience for students, recognizing the importance of both
• To abide by program, university, and professional standards and policies and procedures
• To serve as positive working role models for athletic training students
• To communicate with faculty and students in an effort to provide continuous excellence for learning opportunities

Administration

• To support faculty, staff and clinical instructor program needs to deliver quality education
• To recognize athletic training students as future health care professionals

Mission Statement

The mission of the USF Athletic Training Education Program is to provide our students with the most comprehensive, progressive, educational and clinical foundation on which to build a career in athletic training. Our educational program encompasses current research and formal instruction in the prevention, recognition, evaluation and rehabilitation of the physically active. Upon successful completion of this program, our students are eligible to sit for the Board of Certification Athletic Trainer's Examination.

Vision

The vision of the USF Athletic Training Education Program is to be recognized as a leader in the field of athletic training by contributing to and advancing the knowledge base of injury prevention, injury recognition, injury management, and inter-professional collaboration. Through the acquisition of evidence-based information and the use of new techniques and research, the USF Athletic Training Education Program will serve as a model for community partnerships and innovative programming.

Goals & Objectives

Goals

1. The program seeks to provide an effective and interactive learning environment for students wishing to pursue a career in athletic training.
2. The program seeks to develop the critical thinking, decision-making, and communication skills necessary for success in athletic training, allied health care, and a broader spectrum of professions in today's society.
3. The program desires to expose students to hands-on experiences, clinical settings, and professionals representing a wide range of allied and medical health care professions.
4. The program works to provide a foundation for success predicated on both a didactic and clinical knowledge base.
5. The faculty, clinical athletic trainers, and athletic training students strive to create an environment consistent with quality heath care for the athletes/patients in the clinical setting while achieving the educational goals of the student and the program.

Objectives

1. Graduates will be prepared for an entry-level position in athletic training in a variety of settings with a wide range of athletic populations.
2. Graduates of the Athletic Training Education Program will be able to demonstrate specific knowledge in the field of athletic training as demonstrated by passing the national certification examination for athletic trainers.
3. Graduates of the Athletic Training Education Program will be recognized as prepared for an entry- level position or advanced study in athletic training by external constituencies, program faculty, potential employers and self-evaluation.
4. Graduates of the Athletic Training Education Program will find ready employment in the field.