Thursday, March 15, 2018

In celebration of National Athletic Training Month, the GNAC is profiling athletic trainers throughout the conference. These trained medical professionals at every school work to keep the student-athletes of the GNAC healthy, active and safe.

National Athletic Training Month is an initiative of the National Athletic Trainers Association. To learn more about the month and role athletic trainers provide to the college athletics community, Click Here.

Name: Isaac Perry
Institution: Central Washington University
Years at Institution: 4
Hometown: Santa Cruz, California

Colleges Attended & Degrees: Fresno State (Undergraduate, Athletic Training), Chico State (Graduate, Athletic Training)

Sports In Which You Have Served As A Primary Athletic Trainer: Football and basketball.

What Prompted Your Interest In A Career In Athletic Training: I really loved the idea of being able to work as a healthcare professional and work in the athletics setting. It's great to be able to help athletes and teams accomplish their goals and work in a fun an exciting environment.

Who Has Been The Biggest Influence On Your Career: Ed Ferreira (Fresno State) was the one that got me interested in athletic training when I was in college. He gave me a passion for the profession that has helped me decide what I wanted to do in life. Scott Barker (Chico State) helped shape me as an athletic trainer. He helped me develop many of the skills and knowledge I use on a daily basis.

For You Personally, What Are The Most Satisfying Aspects Of Being An Athletic Trainer: Being able to connect with and help our student-athletes. Whether it's returning from an injury or growing as a person it's great to see them succeed.

What Are The Most Challenging Aspects Of The Job: Any kind of injury that holds an athlete out can be challenging. Athletes want to play and coaches want them back. It's the job of the athletic trainer to make that happen as quickly and safely as possible.

What Is The Most Misunderstood Aspect Of The Athletic Training Profession: At the end of the day, we are healthcare professionals and the decision we make is for the well-being of the athlete. Sometimes it is hard for coaches, players and fans to remember this when we have to pull someone from a game.

What Is One Key Element Of Your Job That Most People Would Not Realize: All injuries are different. Sometimes they react one way and sometimes they react another. Because of this, athletic trainers are constantly learning about new injuries, new treatments and new rehab techniques.

What Has Been The Biggest Change In Athletic Training During Your Career: I think in the last few years it has been great that people have started to see the importance of athletic trainers at all levels. Making sure they are at every high school and reviewing the athletic trainer to student-athlete ratio at every level of play. We still have a long way to go but we are moving in the right direction.

What Do You See As Primary Health Concerns Currently In College Athletics: Making sure to look at the all-encompassing health of the student-athlete. We see orthopedic injuries all the time, but it's also important to remember to monitor cardiac health, mental health and the overall well-being of our athletes.

What Advice Would You Give To A High School Or College Student Interested In Pursuing A Career In Athletic Training: Get plenty of observation hours at as many different facilities as you can. There are many different ways to do things as an athletic trainer so it's great to learn where you'd like to work in the future.