Keiona Nance is a second-year master’s degree student in the Athletic Training Program. Her stellar work has resulted in two awards this year: a $1,000 grant from the Research and Education Foundation of the National Athletic Training Association (NATA) to support her research, and NATA’s John A. Mayes–Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee Scholarship, given annually to a qualified entry-level athletic training student from a diverse ethnic background.
I was originally interested in PT [physical therapy], but after learning what athletic training [AT] was and all of the components of heath care you provide (prevention, emergent care, rehabilitation) I knew that was more of what I was interested in.
I chose UB because of the 3+2 option that is available. I knew taking advantage of this fast-track opportunity would save me both time and money while reaching the same end goal.
At my first clinical placement, I always wanted to be a perfectionist. But I’ve learned that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. My preceptors have provided me with some of the best constructive criticism to perfect my skills.
My favorite aspect of the program is the size. There are only nine students in my cohort including myself so I am able to get that one-on-one time with professors whenever it’s needed.
Athletic trainers do not only work with athletes. There are a wide variety of jobs that are available within this field, ranging from the typical high-school or collegiate setting to industrial settings, [in companies like] Delta or Amazon, for example.
Upon graduation I plan to gain some work experience for a few years then attend an athletic training residency program to become a physician extender, working as an assistant to orthopedic surgeons in the OR.
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