Administrative Topics in Athletic Training: Concepts to Practice

Greg Gardner, EdD, ATC, LAT is a Clinical Associate Professor of Athletic Training and Associate Director of the School of Nursing at the University of Tulsa. Dr. Gardner completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming and holds a master’s degree from the University of Arizona. In 1995, Dr. Gardner completed his doctoral work at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Gardner has extensive experience as an athletic trainer and has been a certified athletic trainer for 25 years. His career includes work at the high school, small college, and major college levels. Dr. Gardner served on the JRC-AT and remained with that group as the transition to Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) was completed. In November 2008, Dr. Gardner was elected the first President of the CAATE and began serving in that capacity in August 2009.     

Gary L. Harrelson, EdD, ATC received his bachelor’s of science in athletic training, master’s of science in exercise physiology, and EdD in administration and teaching all from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the Director of Organizational Development and Education (ODE) for the DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In his current role with the DCH Health System, he is responsible for positioning ODE as a strategic partner with many of the system’s stakeholders. The Department of ODE has been a catalyst for meaningful organizational development innovations in such areas as employee training and development, large scale change initiatives, performance improvement, and strategic planning processes. Gary is trained as a Gestalt Organizational Systems Development intervener where he contracts with individuals, intact work groups, and cross-functional teams to support them in accomplishing their mission and building relationships. Gary was instrumental in the implementation of Web-based training for the health system as well as being the co-developer and facilitator of a nationally recognized leadership development program by the American Hospital Association in 2002 as a “model program” for leadership development. As a result of his position within the DCH Health System, he either directly or indirectly supports the training and development initiatives across multiple healthcare professions.    

Since his certification as an athletic trainer in 1985, Gary has worked as an athletic trainer in multiple settings, including high school, clinic, collegiate, and professional sports. Gary has taught in the athletic training curriculums at the University of Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi. He was an associate editor for the Journal of Athletic Training and Athletic Therapy Today. Additionally, he is the coauthor of Physical Rehabilitation of the Injured Athlete, Third Edition and Principles of Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers as well as a CD-ROM, Joint Mobilization, and an 8-video series on evaluation. He has authored numerous articles and made many professional presentations at the state, regional, and national levels as well as internationally.   

Gary spends his spare time reading, writing, and bicycling. In 2007, he rode the entire Natchez Trace Parkway (444 miles) on his bicycle in just over 4 days. He has been married to his wife, Lisa, for over 20 years and they have one son, Noah.  

Andrew P. Winterstein, PhD, ATC is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he currently serves as the program director of their CAATE accredited undergraduate athletic training education program. He also maintains an affiliate appointment in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in the School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Winterstein has coordinated the athletic training education efforts since 1999 and has been at the University of Wisconsin since 1986. He provided clinical care as part of the athletic training staff in the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics for 14 years before moving over to direct the AT education program. A 1984 graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and Biology, Andy has had a variety of athletic training and educational experiences.  

Prior to his appointment at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Andy was a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon in Eugene. At the University of Oregon, he earned a Masters of Science in Applied Physiology and Athletic Training. In 1994, Andy received his Doctorate in Educational Administration with an emphasis in higher education and sports medicine related issues from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Winterstein’s academic interests include studying emerging technologies and their use in teaching and learning, medical humanities and their application to athletic training education, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). His papers and abstracts have appeared in the Journal of Athletic Training, Athletic Therapy Today, and Athletic Training and Sports Health Care. He has been privileged to make numerous professional presentations at the state, regional, and national level.    

A certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association since 1985, and certified member of the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association, Dr. Winterstein is active in many aspects of athletic training. He serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Athletic Training, is a reviewer and member of the editorial board for the Journal of Athletic Training Education and Athletic Training and Sports Health Care, and has served on several state, regional, and national committees. Dr. Winterstein has received numerous awards including the 2008 Great Lakes Athletic Training Association Outstanding Educator Award, 2007 Wisconsin Athletic Trainers Association Outstanding Educator Award, and the 2006 UW-Madison School of Education Distinguished Service Award. He and his colleagues are three-time winners of the NATA Educational Multimedia Committee award for educational innovations and have been awarded the MERLOT Classics Award for exemplary on-line learning objects. In addition to this text, he is the author of the Athletic Training Student Primer: A Foundation for Success published by SLACK Incorporated.   

In his spare time, Andy enjoys fly fishing, fly tying, reading, and writing. He resides in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife, Barb.