Three Students Selected to Present at VATA Symposium-November 2007

Three BC ATEP seniors were selected to present at the Virginia Athletic Trainiers' Association Meeting and Clinical Symposium January 11-13, 2008.  Mary Helen Clemmer of Staunton, Virginia will present:  Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques for the Athletic Trainer.  Classmate Jennifer Glazer of McGaheysville, Virginia will discuss a case study entitled Carpometacarpal Joint Arthroplasty in an Athletic Trainer.  Finally, Katie Snyder of Frederick, Maryland will present Clinical Case Study: Tibiofemoral Dislocation in an Intercollegiate Football Player.  Congratulations to these three students as they attempt to distinguish themselves among their peers with these presentations.

Athletic Training Program Hires Two New ATCs-July 2007

Barbara Long, Director of the Athletic Training Program is pleased to announce the hiring of two new staff certified athletic trainers for the coming academic year.  Ellen Hicks, MEd, VATL, ATC and Sarah Cook, MA, VATL, ATC join the athletic training staff, bringing a diversity of experiences with them.  Ms. Hicks is a graduate of Bridgewater College with a degree in Biology followed by a master's degree from Northwestern State University in Health Promotions.  She has previously been employed by Rockingham County Public Schools as the head athletic trainer at Broadway High School.  Sarah Cook is a graduate of the undergraduate athletic training program at Colby Sawyer College and has recently finished her master's degree in Sports Psychology at the University of Minnesota.  Welcome to both!

Haverford Meeting Allows Time for USOC Training Center Tour and Discussion - April 2006

A meeting of the Haverford Group allowed Professor Barbara H. Long the opportunity to network with college athletic administrators from around the country. The Haverford Group is a membership of several Division III schools which come together twice annually to discuss important topics for D-III sports. Member schools in attendance at this years spring meeting included Bridgewater, Colorado College (site of the meeting), Occidental, Grinnell, Washington & Lee, Swathmore, Wesleyan, Skidmore, Clark, Wellesley, Depaw, Bryn Mawer, Austin College, and Pomona-Pitzer. Administrators discussed many topics of interest to D-III sports--recruiting restrictions, drug testing, non-traditional season play, budgets, and where D-III sports is headed. Prior to the meetings, Professor Long took the opportunity to discuss athletic training with a member of the USOC Training Center Staff. Hopefully, a relationship can evolve from this initial meeting. Without a doubt, a relationship with the USOC would give the ATS a tremendous opportunity in the future. Who knows what will happen?

The Liberal Arts of a Professional Program: 60th Annual Hula Bowl - January 2006

How often does one get to combine ESPN Sports, soon to be professional athletes, and the liberal arts? When Professor Barbara H. Long, MS, VATL, ATC saw the opportunity to go to Hawaii, she jumped on it. "One day this e-mail came to my attention searching for athletic training staffs to provide services to the Division I football all-stars in Honolulu, Hawaii. Of course, I said yes without even talking to anyone (including my husband)." The connection was made with the Athletic Training Educational Program Director at Baylor University in Texas--the staff charged with organizing the healthcare services at the event. Professional staff and students applied for inclusion in the opportunity and the rest was history. Ten members of the Bridgewater College Athletic Training Program were selected from nearly 100 applications to attend the event. Senior athletic training students--Angel Aversa, Carla Boelte, Stacy Gallo, Abigail Hansberger, Caitlin O'Meara, Erin Seabrook and Courtney Williamson accompanied professional staff--Chris Horschel, Barbara Long and Charity Tyree to the Hawaiian event. Since the event was happening during the last week of interterm, it was feasible for a number of our students to go. Thankfully, several professors and the College agreed that the opportunity was a great way to give the seniors a way to separate themselves from their peers in the job market and supported the students trip. A few of the athletic training students needed classes in the interterm for graduation but the professors were extremely helpful in accommodating the "chance of a lifetime."

When Professor Long reflects on what she hoped to accomplish with this trip, it really had very little to do with the beauty of the environment. As a professional staff member working with elite athletes before at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the World University Games, she knew what a charge the students would get in knowing that they had the same education and knowledge as senior students coming from larger schools like Baylor and Seaton Hall. "I really felt as if the exposure to large school senior athletic training students would give our kids the perspective that they are receiving great experiences and opportunities in our program." That realization seems to be the consensus around the athletic training room.

Another thing that Professor Long hoped to accomplish with the trip was to share a bit of Hawaiian culture and history with the senior students. "My son, Tyler, is a huge fan of everything involving World War II. When I told him about Mommy's chance to visit Pearl Harbor he was so excited. I decided that it was an important component of our trip and one the athletic training students should not miss." From an afternoon tour of Pearl Harbor, hiking Diamond Head, enjoying a luau or finding a new set of "cousins" the Bridgewater College Athletic Training Students got to see how their professional program gave them the opportunity to engage culture, history, and music in a way seldom offered. Long comments, "I suspect these kids will take things away from this experience for years to come--many more things than I could have taught them in a week of class."

Pre-Placement Students Admitted to ATEP - January 2006

Three students were admitted to the Athletic Training Educational Program at the end of January 2006. Mary Helen Clemmer, native of Staunton, Virginia, Adam Devilbiss from Westminster, Maryland and Jennifer Gravatt of McGaheysville, Virginia complete the admissions for this year's class. Each of these students have strengths that will enhance the already strong foundation of athletic training students. If you see Mary Helen, Adam or Jennifer, remember the tough road to admissions into the ATEP--congratulate them on their accomplishment!

Preseason at BC: Do You Remember The Craziness? - August 2005

If you are a graduate of the BC athletic training program, you probably remember all of the craziness associated with pre-season athletics. Who could forget the 6:00AM breakfast checks and injury treatments? How about the second week of pre-season when everyone is a walking zombie? Each year, athletes converge on the BC campus for nearly two weeks of intense practice. The teams practice once, twice even three times a day in a effort to cram conditioning and strategy into a few brief moments. Every session is covered by the staff of athletic trainers, professional and students. What you might not know is that pre-season for the athletic training staff starts three days prior to the athletes arrival. The athletic training staff, professional and students alike, go through intense training on hydration measures, emergency treatment protocols, spine boarding, equipment fitting and CPR/AED recertification. This is a time when all of the staff can refine the skills necessary for keeping our athletes on the field, on the court and in the game. Look at the link to see some pictures from preseason 2005.

Bridgewater College Announces New ATC Hire - August 2005

Following a one year stint as a graduate assistant ATC, Charity Tyree, MS, ATC has been hired as a full-time ATC with athletics at Bridgewater College. Tyree is a 2005 graduate of James Madison University with a master's of science in exercise physiology. Her responsibilities will be soccer, women's basketball and softball. Charity leaves August 19 for a trip with the men's and women's soccer teams to Italy. Bridgewater Athletic Training Program is pleased to have Charity her full-time.

Additionally, Michelle Beery, ATC will replace Kelly Patton, MS, ATC as the contracted athletic trainer from RMH Rehab Services. Beery is a native of the local area and graduated from James Madison University with a degree in athletic training. Michelle will work with the volleyball and track teams at Bridgewater College.

100 Percent Placement for the Class of 2005 - June 2005

The three 2005 graduates of the BC athletic training program are all placed in the field of athletic training. John Erik Carlson will be working as an athletic trainer with Advantage Physical Therapy in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Two other students, Tara Elliott and Natalie Swick will be working as graduate assistants (GA) at Division I collegiate institutions. Elliott will be a GA and research assistant at Georgia Southern University where she will be pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology with a concentration in athletic training. Swick will be a GA at Northwestern State University while completing a master's degree in health promotions. Congratulations to each of you as you continue our proud tradition of great graduation placements.

2nd Annual Athletic Trainer Olympic Games - May 2005

Athletic Training Students (ATS) participated in the Second Annual Athletic Trainer Olympic at Wildwood Park in Bridgewater on May 8, 2005. There were four competition categories and two teams. The categories included blind fold ankle taping, water bottle tossing, blind fold ice application and capture the rubber duckie. When all was completed, John Erik Carlson's team won the gold scissors. Throughout the competition, participants enjoyed a delicious cook-out, received student superlatives and the Most Valuable Athletic Trainer and Athletic Training Performance Awards were presented.

O'Meara Receives VFIC Summer Research Grant - April 2005

Caitlin O'Meara, a junior athletic training major from Westminster, Md., has received a $2,500 grant from the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges 2005 Summer Science Research program. Her research, "Prevalence of Psudomonas in water bottles, coolers, faucets and hoses used for hydrating athletes,"� is a continuation of a study started this spring looking at Pseudomonas aeruginosa in whirlpools commonly used in athletic training rehabilitation settings. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathological organism associated with causing nosocomial illnesses in healthcare settings. This study will attempt to determine at what level Pseudomonas is present within the devices used to properly hydrate athletes during participation. O'Meara will be conducting the research on campus under her advisor Barbara H. Long, director of athletic training.

New Students Admitted to ATEP - January 2005

Bridgewater College is pleased to announce the admissions of five sophomore students to the athletic training educational program. Beth Beauchamp, Mya Braxton, Courtney Bukva, Anne Fisher and Courtney Harvey all successfully completed the prerequisites for admission. Spring clinical affiliation assignments have been made and each will continue their education this spring by taking core courses and learning in their affiliations. Congratulations ladies on your hard work!

Horschel Attends The APPLE Conference - January 2005

Chris Horschel, MEd, ATC leads a contingent of staff and students to the APPLE Conference at the University of Virginia. In an effort to assure that all student-athletes are offered the best services with regards to substance abuse issues, Horschel and five others attend the NCAA funded event at UVA on January 21-23, 2005.

Long Granted Tenure - December 2004

President Phillip C. Stone has announced that Barbara H. Long, assistant professor of health and exercise science, has been awarded tenure, effective July 1, 2005. Long, a 1988 graduate of Bridgewater College, came to the College from Rockingham Memorial Hospital in 1999. As director of athletic training, Long has not only managed the athletic training program on campus, but also developed the curriculum and shepherded the College's application process to successful completion for accreditation in athletic training. Stone noted that Long has "established herself as an outstanding teacher, a valuable colleague and an effective leader in the athletic training field. I am delighted to have her as a member of our tenured faculty."

Senior Students Selected to Present at VATA Symposium - November 2004

Senior athletic training students will present their research at the Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association Symposium and Business Meeting. Each student has spent fall semester and interterm reviewing research and preparing their individual presentation. John Carlson will speak discuss "Spontaneous Pneumothorax in a Collegiate Male Basketball Player: A Case Report." Natalie Swick reports on "Pharmaceutically Induced Rhabdomyolysis in a Collegiate Athlete: A Case Study." Tara Elliott will spend her time assisting Professors Long and Hale with "Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Colonization in Apparently Healthy College Students" presentation which is a result of her Honor's Project.

Hale and Long to Present at the VATA Symposium October 2004

Chase Hale and Barbara Long have been selected to present two original research projects to the Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association Symposium and Business Meeting on January 14-15, 2005. While visiting Williamsburg, Virginia for the conference, they will discuss "The Role of Athletic Hydration Levels on Standard Assessment of Concussion (SAC) Scores." Following that presentation, they will present review the outcome of a pilot study entitled, "Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Colonization in Apparently Healthy College Students."

Tyree Joins Staff - August 2004

Charity Tyree, ATC, former Bridgewater College athletic training major joins staff as new graduate assistant athletic trainer. Ms. Tyree was a standout student winning several academic scholarships for graduate school. She will be replacing Amanda Marvin, MS, ATC who has taken a head athletic trainers position in Northern Virginia. Charity will complete her master's degree at James Madison University in the spring of 2005. Welcome back Charity!!!

ATS Awards Presented - May 2004

The Bridgewater College Athletic Training Program announced the recipients of the Athletic Training Performance and Most Valuable Athletic Training Student Awards. Tara Elliott of Stuarts Draft, Virginia was awarded the Athletic Training Performance Award for academic excellence, professionalism and skills critical to the athletic training profession. This award was voted by the certified athletic training staff.

Isaac Colbert was selected by his peers to receive the Most Valuable Athletic Training Student Award. The selection criteria included characteristics of leadership, integrity, dedication, dependability and personality. Colbert is a native of Rockville, Maryland.

1st Annual Athletic Trainer Olympics - May 2004

Athletic training students and certified athletic trainers competed in the 1st Annual Athletic Trainer Olympic Games at Wildwood Park on Wednesday May 5, 2004. There were four competition categories and two teams. The categories included blind fold ankle taping, water bottle tossing, blind fold ice application and capture the rubber duckie. When all was completed, Isaac Colbert's team won the gold medal with Zach Wimmer's team following as silver medalists. Throughout the competition, participants enjoyed a delicious steak and chicken cook-out, received student superlatives and the Most Valuable Athletic Trainer and Athletic Training Performance Awards were presented.

100 Percent Placement for the Class of 2004 - April 2004

Isaac Colbert, Nikki Farr and Kathleen Mitchell have all been admitted to graduate programs for the coming year. Mitchell will be attending the doctoral program in physical therapy at Shenandoah University. Nikki Farr finds herself attending James Madison University pursuing a Master of Science in Kinesiology. Colbert has been admitted to graduate studies at North Dakota State University--he is awaiting further word from other institutions to determine which graduate program he will attend.

Placement rates for students graduating with a major in athletic training since 2002 (first class to graduate with the major) are at 89% (16/18 students). Our graduates either continue their education in graduate school or take entry-level jobs within the healthcare field. Currently, we have graduates in the following locations: graduate programs in medicine, physical therapy, kinesiology, exercise physiology or careers within high school, clinic, collegiate and military settings.

Mitchell to Present at Alpha Chi Convocation - April 2004

Kathleen Mitchell, ATS, senior from Front Royal, Virginia will present her original research at the Thursday April 22, 2004 Alpha Chi Research Convocation. Mitchell's research was funded in part by 2003 Dominion/VFIC Summer Student Science Research Program. The presentation entitled Silicone Gel Products and Scar Integrity will summarize the methods and conclusion of this multidisciplinary research project. Mitchell has already presented her findings to the Virginia Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Symposium--Student Program.

New Cub Cadet Big Country is Here! - February 2004

Hess Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center has generously donated a Cub Cadet Big Country All-Terrain Vehicle to the BC Athletic Training Program. This ATV will make transporting supplies and equipment to and from event/practice locations much easier. It will also ensure safe transport for injured athletes from these locations. The Bridgewater College Athletic Training Program wishes to extend our gratitude to the employees of Hess Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center. You will see your favorite athletic trainers touring around on the Big Country during outdoor events!