Hometown:Park Ridge, IL (just outside Chicago)

Undergrad:University of Michigan (2010-2014)

Employment:Douglas County High School

Assistant Athletic Trainer (2014-2016)

In all honesty, the Sports Medicine graduate program has not been without its challenges, but it has provided a great opportunity to explore multiple areas of athletic training and to grow academically, professionally, and personally. I have been afforded multiple opportunities for involvement in research, clinical volunteering, continuing education and advancement of skills through hands on and advanced courses. Additionally, the curriculum is built on the idea of inter-professional collaboration and has stressed the importance of being able to work alongside various healthcare professionals and promote athletic training in a positive fashion. It is the people that I have met in this program, both mentors and peers, that have made it such a valuable experience and that pushed me to succeed.

My current research interests are in the area of athletic training education and how curriculums may be improved to better support the students' needs. I am currently completing my Master’s thesis, which focuses on how video technology may play a beneficial role in the development of clinical evaluation skills. As I prepare to graduate and pursue a "real job," I strongly believe that UCCS has provided me the best opportunity to be successful in my search and in my professional career.