Athletic Trainers are advocates by nature. Probably the most noteworthy is that of being an advocate for the health and safety of physically active individuals. But what else do AT’s advocate for? Or, maybe the question is better phrased, what else should AT’s be advocates for? We talk about being properly recognized and identified as healthcare providers, better pay, and better working conditions. But how do we go about achieving such things? It starts with being an advocate for each other.
Athletic Trainers are not used to being in the spotlight. Most of us work behind the scenes and are comfortable that way. But, if people are going to truly understand who we are, what we are capable of, and what our value truly is, we are going to have to step out from behind the shadows. Now, I know that most people are not going to go out and sing their own praises, I don’t blame them. But why wouldn’t we want to sing the praises of our friends and colleagues? We all know AT’s who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, so let’s recognize them for it!
NATA award nominations are open right now until September 15th. The first step to being an advocate for each other can be as simple as nominating someone for an award. This may seem like a small thing but I assure you that celebrating the achievements of our friends and colleagues is certainly not small. This is realistically just the tip of the iceberg. Once a colleague wins an award, go a step further and notify their employer and the local news media. But don’t stop there, notify their state and national legislators! Before long many people will be asking, what did that AT do to earn such recognition? And now the doors have been opened and the opportunity to truly advocate for each other on a large scale has presented itself. Now we have a platform to explain to our employers and our community exactly who an AT is, what an AT does, and precisely how important it is to make sure that every physically active individual has access to an AT.
With NATA award nominations open I urge you, take a few minutes to decide who you will nominate for an award this year. Everyone knows someone deserving, let’s start being advocates for each other the way we are for our patients. Use the following link and let’s show our communities, our employers, our states and the nation how many great AT’s there are in District VI! http://www.nata.org/honors-awards
Josh Woodall; M.Ed., ATC, LAT
SWATA President
