The NATA-Cast

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, welcome NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Committee members Marissa Fukunaga, EdD, ATC; Denton Norwood, MS, LAT, ATC; Jenny Van Meter, LAT, ATC; and Jason Viel, MS, LAT, ATC, to discuss the committee’s white paper on job satisfaction, risk reduction, recruitment, and retention. Drawing on survey responses from more than 700 secondary school athletic trainers, the group explores workforce challenges including long hours, compensation, limited autonomy, and a shrinking pipeline of ATs entering the setting. They also discuss the value athletic trainers bring to schools, practical steps administrators can take to improve retention, and findings from a follow-up survey of nearly 1,300 athletic directors.

Show notes

Check out NATA's Secondar School Resources (for members only): https://www.nata.org/professional-interests/job-settings/secondary-school/secondary-school-resources

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, host Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and guest host NATA President A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT, bring together a panel of experts to examine exertional heat illness and the heightened risk facing football linemen. Ciara Taylor, EdD, LAT, ATC, chair of the NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee and NATA liaison to the National Federation of State High School Associations; Eric McMahon, MEd, CSCSD, RSCCD, of the National Strength and Conditioning Association; Rebecca Stearns, PhD, ATC, of the Korey Stringer Institute; and Ernie Rimer, PhD, of the University of Louisville, discuss data showing that linemen account for more than 90% of exertional heat stroke deaths in collegiate and secondary school football and explore strategies for prevention. The conversation covers new NFHS guidance, wet bulb globe temperature monitoring, heat acclimatization, hydration, equipment modifications and emergency action plans, as well as factors that put larger athletes at greater risk. The panel also discusses position-specific conditioning, avoiding punitive workouts, monitoring training loads and hydration, coordinating with EMS and the importance of “cool first, transport second” when exertional heat stroke occurs.

Show notes

Here's a list of additional resources:

NSCA Strength and Conditioning Professional Standards and Guidelines: https://www.nsca.com/education/articles/nsca-strength-and-conditioning-professional-standards-and-guidelines

NSCA Safe Return to Training Guidelines: https://www.nsca.com/about-us/position-statements/safe-return-to-training/
https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Heat%20fact%20sheet%20final%2062626.pdf

What's Hot With Heat: A Roundup of Current Research, Protocols, and Life-Saving Measures: https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Heat%20fact%20sheet%20final%2062626.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NATA Task Force: The ATs’ Role in Implementing Heat Stress Mitigation Strategies in the Occupational Setting: https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/NATA%20Task%20Force%20Executive%20Summary%20The%20AT%27s%20Role%20in%20Implementing%20Heat%20Stress%20Mitigation%20Strategies%20in%20the%20Occupational%20Setting.pdf

NATA TASK FORCE: Preventing Exertional Heat Stroke Death in American Football Linemen: https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/NATA%20Task%20Force%20Preventing%20Exertional%20Heat%20Stroke%20Death%20in%20American%20Football%20Linemen%20Executive%20Summary.pdf

NFHS Preparations Must Begin Now to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses in Fall Sports, Activities: https://nfhs.org/stories/preparations-must-begin-now-to-prevent-heat-related-illnesses-in-fall-sports-activities

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, welcome Katie Sniffen, PhD, ATC, chair of NATA’s Athletic Training and Public Health Committee, for a conversation about the important role athletic trainers play in public health. Sniffen explains public health through the 10 essential services and explores why ATs may not always recognize the broader, population-level impact of their work. She highlights athletic trainers’ contributions to promoting safe participation in physical activity through primary, secondary and tertiary injury prevention and discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic brought greater visibility to their public health role through surveillance, contact tracing and return-to-play policies. The conversation also explores the origins and ongoing work of NATA’s Athletic Training and Public Health Committee, its recognition by the American Public Health Association, and resources and opportunities for athletic trainers interested in becoming more involved in public health.

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, welcome Diane Sartanowicz, MS, LAT, ATC, and Chris Troyanos, ATC, for a behind-the-scenes look at the athletic trainers who have helped build and support the Boston Marathon’s extensive medical operation. Diane and Chris reflect on decades of service and volunteerism as race medicine evolved from a small finish-line effort into an interprofessional system of nearly 1,900 volunteers serving more than 30,000 runners across the start, finish and 26 medical stations along the course. They discuss the expanding role of athletic trainers beyond traditional sidelines, medical innovations that have improved runner safety, and the team’s response during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Chris also reflects on passing the leadership torch to Stephanie Walsh, while Diane shares why volunteering, building relationships and getting involved can create valuable opportunities for the next generation of athletic trainers.

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, welcome Brad Floy, PhD, LAT, ATC; Kara Werner-Sanders, MAC, LAT, ATC; Mikki Collins, MS, ATC, LAT; and Deanna Kuykendall, NATA Director of Government Affairs, to explore how the rapidly changing name, image, and likeness (NIL) landscape is affecting athletic trainers and athlete health care. The panel discusses the expansion of NIL through revenue sharing, collectives, and increased athlete transfers, along with growing concerns around medical privacy, injury information, return-to-play decisions, liability, and outside providers and recovery products. They share practical strategies for protecting athletes and ATs, including stronger documentation, second-opinion protocols, complete medical records for transfer athletes, and clear policies developed with administrators and legal counsel. The conversation also highlights NATA’s federal advocacy efforts to protect athletic trainers’ medical authority and the important role ATs can play in educating stakeholders and advocating at the state level.

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In this special, guest-free episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, turn the microphones on themselves to share the career paths that led them to the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the experiences that continue to fuel their passion for the profession. They reflect on the mentors who shaped their journeys, discuss leading the association through significant organizational challenges, and provide an inside look at NATA's ongoing transformation through its "It's a New Day at NATA" initiative. The conversation explores the association's renewed focus on governance, technology, member experience, volunteer engagement, and building a stronger foundation for the future of athletic training.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE welcome Jacob Ortega-Schultz, MAT, AT, ATC, Emily Swisher, MBA, MS, ATC, Kylie Moraes, MAT, LAT, ATC and Nikki Harris, DAT, LAT, ATC to discuss NATA's white paper, Compensation Insights for Early and Career Advancing Athletic Trainers. Together, they explore why compensation extends far beyond salary, highlighting the importance of benefits, workplace flexibility, professional development, retirement and career growth opportunities. The conversation also offers practical advice for evaluating job offers, understanding total compensation, negotiating with confidence and using data and transparency to make informed career decisions.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

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In part two of this special Hall of Fame series, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, continue celebrating the NATA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 with conversations featuring Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC, Thomas Kaminski, PhD, ATC, FNATA, Robert Casmus, MS, LAT, ATC, and Jack Ransone, PhD, ATC, FACSM. The inductees reflect on careers dedicated to advancing athletic training through clinical education, research, mentorship, governance, athlete safety, and international sports medicine. They discuss leading the profession through change, translating research into clinical practice, strengthening professional standards, developing future leaders, and giving back to the profession, while sharing personal stories and advice that continue to inspire the next generation of athletic trainers.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

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In this special two-part episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, celebrate the 2026 NATA Hall of Fame class by highlighting the remarkable careers of Michael Carroll, MEd, AT, ATC, Linda Fabrizio Mazzoli, MS, LAT, ATC, and Michael Higgins, PhD, ATC, PT. The inductees reflect on the experiences that shaped their careers and discuss their lasting contributions to athletic training, including athlete safety, leadership, business innovation, clinical education, manual therapy, and professional advocacy. They also share lessons learned from decades of service and offer advice for the next generation of athletic trainers on getting involved, embracing leadership, and leaving the profession stronger than they found it.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, welcome Brian Conway, LAT, ATC, and Anne Minton, MBA, ICE-CCP, from the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) to explore how certification processes continue to evolve through changing accreditation standards, new technologies, and a commitment to maintaining best practices. Brian and Anne also provide an update on the Athletic Trainer Compact, including its development, current legislative progress, and what athletic trainers need to know about obtaining compact privileges. The episode covers continuing professional certification resources such as Pathfinder and the new Sync CE platform, while also highlighting broader industry priorities, including workforce recruitment and retention, collaboration across the profession, and the future direction of athletic training.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

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