For all the hard work put on display by Nova Southeastern student-athletes and the glory that comes with their many successes throughout the year, there is always a crucial team working behind the scenes that keep the Sharks’ squads healthy and ready to perform. As a very eventful National Athletic Training Month (NATM) comes to a close, the Sharks want to place the spotlight on the NSU Sports Medicine department and thank them for all they do for our Shark student-athletes.
Headed by Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Zevon Stubblefield – now in his 13th year with the Sharks – NSU has one of the most developed sports medicine departments in NCAA Division II, combining the efforts of seven full-time staff members and a host of student athletic trainers to care for the medical needs and well-being of over 350 student-athletes from a multitude of different sport disciplines. The Sharks’ full-time group consists of Stubblefield, Amy Gatens, Jason Palmateer, Jessie Bollback, Amanda Leon, Patrick Roosta and Ben Wood.
“I am so grateful for the athletic trainers at Nova Southeastern University,” Stubblefield said. “They are a very dedicated, positive and compassionate group of professionals. NSU athletic trainers value the physical, social and emotional welfare of all NCAA student-athletes, exemplified through collaborative efforts in injury prevention, medical care, education, academic mentorship, service and research. Our student-athletes are fortunate to have Jason, Amy, Jessie, Amanda, Patrick and Ben helping them achieve their career goals.”
The role of an Athletic Trainer (AT) goes well beyond taping ankles and providing water. ATs are all educated in five different domains of sports medicine, including prevention, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, immediate and emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation and providing organized and professional health and well-being for the student-athlete.
For NSU, the AT role also aids the program in incoming physical examinations, everyday practice support, physician referrals and aids the athletes and department in staying up to date on injury trends, statistics and research – in addition to being called upon as emergency first responders.
Outside of the sporting world, a variety of medical fields rely on ATs for medical assistance, and athletic training is on track to become one of the fastest-growing medical fields, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Physicians, hospitals, clinics and other employers demand ATs for their versatile wellness services, and injury and illness prevention skills. In addition, ATs provide another important aspect to healthcare, specializing in patient education to prevent injury and re-injury.
At Nova Southeastern, the Sharks are cared for by a proven group, which includes a role in the university’s COVID-19 Task Force, as well as a winner of the 2019 College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year from the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida. Most of our Sharks AT team have master’s degrees and one is a Doctorate of Athletic Training (DAT) student. The group holds numerous certifications, including functional movement screening, strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), EMT, soft tissue mobilizations and regularly present research at national conferences, are guest lecturers and members of professional committees.
For more information about National Athletic Training Month or the professional field and association, please visit: National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
For all the latest from NSU Sports Medicine, follow on Twitter @NSU_AT and on Instagram @NSU_AT. To stay up with all the payoffs for all of NSU Sports Medicine’s hard work with the Sharks, follow the athletic department on Twitter @NSUSharks, on Instagram @NSUSharks and on Facebook /NSUSharksAthletics.
