The NATA-Cast

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, explore what NATA's annual convention means across different stages of an athletic training career. Joining the conversation are Axel Moncada, MA, LAT, ATC, a fourth-year certified athletic trainer; Michelle Holt, MA, ATC, OPE-C, an athletic trainer for thirteen years and working in physician practice with an orthopedic surgeon; and Tom Abdenour, DHSc, ATC, CES, a Hall of Famer with nearly five decades in athletic training spanning professional basketball and collegiate athletics. Together, they reflect on the energy, connection and professional growth that define the convention experience. Axel shares lessons learned from attending early in his career, Michelle discusses the value of reconnecting with colleagues and getting involved through volunteering and Committee Day, and Tom highlights the importance of lifelong learning and the significance of his Hall of Fame induction. The episode also offers practical advice for first-time attendees, including finding a convention buddy, stepping outside your comfort zone and taking advantage of opportunities ranging from networking to on-demand education and pre-conference programming.

NATA 2026 is June 29 - July 2 and happening in Philly.  Learn more and register to attend at convention.nata.org.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, are joined by Andy Carter, MS, LAT, ATC, Michael Donahue, DAT, MEd, ATC, and Mary Housel, MS, LAT, ATC, from NATA’s Council on Practice Advancement to discuss the growing role of per diem athletic trainers. Drawing from survey data collected from 394 per diem ATs across 44 states, the conversation explores why athletic trainers pursue per diem work, with many citing supplemental income and nearly one-third reporting it as necessary to earn a livable wage.

The guests examine the wide range of compensation rates and unpack the operational, legal and clinical challenges that often accompany per diem assignments, including inconsistent physician oversight requirements, confusion around liability coverage, documentation continuity concerns, emergency action planning and varying interpretations of state practice acts. The episode also highlights practical considerations and best practices for both ATs and employers, including the importance of professional liability insurance, written contracts, informed consent, legal compliance and developing stronger physician relationships to support safe and effective patient care.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, are joined by Karly Foster, MEd., senior director of education at NATA, for a conversation about the evolving future of education, events, and professional development within NATA and the athletic training profession. Foster shares her journey from middle school teaching into association management and discusses how NATA is reimagining the convention experience through its Future of Convention Task Force. Guided by member feedback, the effort is focused on creating more hands-on learning opportunities and fostering more meaningful in-person connections. Along the way, Foster previews the yearlong NATA Leadership Institute, discusses the secondary school mental health preparedness micro-credential, and shares details about a pre-conference emergency care session in Seattle in partnership with AOSSM. The conversation wraps with a look at NATA’s ongoing strategic planning listening sessions and the importance of member engagement and recruitment in shaping the association’s future.

Show Notes

Submit a course idea: https://nataeducatesubmissions.expotracker.net/Login.aspx

Strategic listening sessions: https://www.nata.org/strategic-listening-sessions

AOSSM: https://educate.nata.org/AOSSM_preconf_2026

SSAT MC: https://educate.nata.org/ss-mental-health-micro

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE are joined by Tyler Lesher, DHSc, ATC, CSCS, a private practice performance therapist, Adam Annaccone, EdD, LAT, ATC, CES, PES, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at The University of Texas at Arlington, and Murphy Grant, LAT, ATC, NASM-PES, chair of the NATA AT Compensation Task Force, for a candid conversation on athletic trainer compensation and professional value.

Sparked by concerns around pay, workload and responsibility, the discussion explores why compensation continues to lag and what can be done to address it. The group examines factors such as cost of living, workload demands and the need to better demonstrate the value athletic trainers bring through clearer documentation and communication of ROI.

They also take on broader structural questions, including autonomy, reimbursement, employer education, potential title changes and the role of associations versus unions. Throughout the episode, the conversation stays candid and solutions-focused, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and engagement across the profession.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this episode of NATA-Cast, recorded during NATA’s Hit the Hill Day in Washington, D.C., hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, are joined by Deanna Kuykendall, NATA’s Director of Government Affairs, and Jim Twaddell, Senior Policy Advisor at Venable LLP, to discuss the impact of advocacy in action for athletic trainers. The conversation highlights how ATs connect directly with congressional offices to advance key priorities, including mental health funding through the Dr. Lorna Breen Act and efforts to standardize credentialing within the Defense Health Agency. They also reflect on the success of grassroots efforts like the H2F campaign and share ways members can stay engaged through district meetings, action campaigns, and ongoing feedback.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, are joined by Lauren Stephenson, MA, ATC, Michael Goldenberg, MS, ATC, CES, and Dave Csillan, MS, LAT, ATC, to explore how an annual National Athletic Training Month trip to New York City’s Today Show Plaza has become a powerful platform for visibility and advocacy. What began as a simple idea—sparked by seeing other professions featured on national television—has grown into a decade-plus tradition. The group reflects on the early days of pre-dawn travel, long hours in the cold, and the intentional strategy behind showing up consistently with creative messaging to help broadcasters and the public better understand the role of athletic trainers. At its core, the conversation centers on advocacy, visibility, and community building. The guests highlight the importance of bringing students into the experience from the beginning, creating opportunities for networking, mentorship, and real-world engagement that make advocacy both meaningful and memorable. They also discuss how the initiative has matured over time, with stronger coordination, leadership structure, and alignment with NATA’s broader communications efforts. Throughout the episode, the group underscores how consistency, creativity, and collective effort can elevate a profession’s voice and create lasting impact.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, take listeners inside the upcoming NATA presidential election, explaining how the process works, what has changed, and why participation from every athletic trainer matters.

They are first joined by NATA President A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT, and Presidential Election Oversight Task Force Chair Tim “Westy” Weston, MEd, ATC, who walk through the full election timeline, from initial declarations through the final vote. The conversation also highlights several updates designed to improve transparency, fairness, and communication, including virtual town halls  and expanded eligibility that allows more volunteer leaders beyond past and current district directors to run for president.

The episode also introduces listeners to the two candidates for NATA president. David Gallegos, MA, ATC, Cert. MDT, Deputy CEO of Southwest Sport & Spine, reflects on his leadership journey and shares his perspective on advancing visionary board discussions, strengthening individual member value, and addressing recruitment, retention, and professional identity in the profession. Rob Marshall, LAT, ATC, a long-time secondary school athletic trainer and association leader, discusses the importance of boots-on-the-ground perspectives, enhanced recruitment and retention resources, and clearer governance and leadership development across the association.

The conversation reinforces a central message: every member’s voice and vote play an important role in shaping the future of NATA and the athletic training profession.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In the season premiere of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE, and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE, share a special live recording from the recent AT Alliance meeting, bringing together leaders from across the athletic training profession. NATA President A.J. Duffy III, MS, ATC, PT  joins Brian Conway, LAT, ATC, of the Board of Certification, MaryBeth Horodyski, EdD, ATC, LAT of the NATA Research and Education Foundation, and Toni Torres-McGehee, PhD, SCAT, ATC of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education to discuss how the Alliance has evolved into a unified effort to advance athletic training across workplace settings. The conversation highlights strategic planning and governance priorities, credentialing and accreditation updates, research and workforce initiatives and coordinated advocacy to strengthen recognition and value of athletic trainers. The episode also explores key challenges facing the profession, including recruitment and retention, transition to practice, compensation and work-life balance, concluding with audience dialogue on supporting mid-career professionals and sustaining the workforce.

NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

NATA-Cast is back with a refreshed format, new hosts and a renewed energy, while staying grounded in what matters most: the athletic training profession.

In this teaser trailer, meet the new voices behind the mic and hear what listeners can expect in this next chapter. We’re expanding the conversation, elevating diverse perspectives and bringing in guests from across workplace settings, leadership, advocacy and even staff!

What hasn’t changed? Our commitment to advancing athletic training and spotlighting the people who make an impact every day.

Same greAT content. New conversations. Stronger connection.

Subscribe now and get ready for the relaunch.

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]

In this compelling episode of “The NATA-Cast”, host Kasee Hildenbrand PhD, LAT, ATC, is joined by Dani Moffit PhD, LAT, ATC and Jamie Mansell, PhD, LAT, ATC, co-authors of the white paper “Athletic Training: Risk Management Strategies for Avoiding and Responding to Sexual Misconduct.” Together, they delve into the motivations behind their research and discuss actionable recommendations for addressing vulnerabilities within athletic training.

Tune in as they explore the challenges of implementing these strategies, the importance of stakeholder involvement and how the athletic training community can shift the culture to prevent future incidents. This conversation also highlights how this critical work fits into the broader dialogue on sexual misconduct in sports and the next steps for advancing this vital conversation.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to fostering safer environments in athletic training and beyond.

RESOURCES:
White paper: “Athletic Training: Risk Management Strategies for Avoiding and Responding to Sexual Misconduct.”

Follow The National Athletic Trainers' Association on social media!
Facebook
X
Instagram
LinkedIn

Have an idea for an episode or series? Send us an email! 
[email protected]