PERSPECTIVES 25th Anniversary - Fall-Winter 2018

30 Nova Southeastern University Health and Human Performance Fort Lauderdale Master of Science Program Athletic Training Athletic Training Program Transitions to Master of Science Program THE NSU ATHLETIC TRAINING PROGRAM (ATP) initially received accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education in 2003 and implemented an undergraduate program. For more than 15 years, the ATP included a strong history of preparing stu- dents for athletic training careers in high schools, colleges, universities, clinics, and with professional teams. “The faculty and supporting staff were encouraging and supportive with the success of my educational career in athletic training,” said Christine Sacramento, head athletic trainer at Somerset Academy and an ATP alumna. ATP alumnus Miguel Motolongo, M.S., an athletic trainer at the Los Angeles Football Club, shared the following insights. “The ATP provided me with an extensive back- ground in the field of sports medicine,” he said. “Its faculty members are local leaders and considered experts in the profession. With state-of-the-art equipment, laboratories, and prestigious clinical sites, NSU’s ATP prepared me for an exciting career in professional sports.” In the summer of 2018, the ATP will continue its tradition of developing successful athletic trainers at the graduate level with its inaugural class in the Master of Science in Athletic Training (M.S.A.T.). “I will gain experience as an emergency medical technician from the beginning and have a 12-week immersion clinical rotation to make sure I am really set for my professional career,” said Shelby Peterson, the first student accepted into the M.S.A.T. Program. “I also know I will be learning from a variety of health care professionals, which is why I feel extremely confident when pursuing my professional career.” Pradeep Vanguri, Ph.D., LAT, ATC, athletic training program director, provided his viewpoint about the program’s history. “Our profession has come a long way, and our program at NSU has certainly mirrored the national trend for graduate education in athletic training,” he explained. “Being housed in the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences provides a unique opportunity for our faculty members and students to work with other health care pro- fessions in and out of the classroom. We look forward to the continued growth and success of our M.S.A.T. Program, building on the traditions we have already established.” ● “Being housed in the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences provides a unique opportunity for our faculty members and students to work with other health care professions in and out of the classroom.” —Pradeep Vanguri, Ph.D., LAT, ATC, athletic training program director