Oct. 17, 2024
The CAATE is proud to recognize the positive achievements and dedicated work of Nathan Newman! Continue reading learn more about his contribution to the CAATE and the athletic training field.
How did you become involved with athletic training?
This goes back to my first week of undergraduate education. I was from a small, rural town in Iowa and have never met an athletic trainer before I entered college. Growing up, I had a desire for a career in either high school education or healthcare and wanted to involve my love of sports in any way possible. I was leaning towards healthcare when I started college and my advisor suggested I go to meeting on the first Wednesday afternoon to learn about the athletic training track within my exercise science major. That meeting with my Program Director, Dan Foster, changed everything. I loved what I heard and kept falling in love as I shadowed athletic trainers at the University of Iowa and applied to the program. I had a great experience with my preceptors during my education and in particular with Jennie Sertterh and the women's basketball team. I thought clinical practice of athletic training was my career. In my first full-time position I had the opportunity to teach a few courses as an adjunct instructor. While I loved the clinical athletic training setting and helping athletes rehabilitate their injuries, my past desire to be an educator was still there and I slowly realized I enjoyed more seeing students have those "ah ha" moments and grow and develop. Additionally, I could exponentially increase my ability to help athletes by educating future athletic trainers and finally I could make the same impact that Dan Foster had on me and my career path. That led me to get my doctoral degree and a career in education. I taught at Loras College for 7 years and served as both a Coordinator of Clinical Education and Program Director during my time there. I then jumped at the chance to help create and launch a new Master of Athletic Training Program at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa where I still am today.
How did you become involved with the CAATE?
I had already served the profession through our state association on the Honors and Awards Committee and had joined the Executive Committee as the Treasurer. I knew the impact one can have in a service role and how important it is for members of a profession to give back in whatever way they can. As I reached this part of my career, my goal in service is always, how can I help. How can I use the experiences, knowledge, and skills I have to benefit those in the profession and around me. I started out by volunteering to be a CAATE peer reviewer. Having been a program director for a few years and having been through several site visits, this felt like a natural first step. This has been a great experience in so many ways and led me to seek out a role on the new Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee to continue to use my experiences and knowledge to help. Along the way, I also have helped out on the ATCAS Advisory Committee to help provide ways in which programs can continue to benefit from its use in the admission process.
What are some highlights from your athletic training career?
I have had the chance to work in a variety of settings and teams that have been so rewarding. Being on the sidelines of NFL games during an internship and 2 NCAA final fours for soccer at the D3 level were things I always remember. The many trips I have been able to go on with various teams and for athletic training professional development have taken me to 40 of the 50 states and have let me meet so many great colleagues across the profession. And on the academic side, seeing all of our students and alumni that have gone through the various programs I have been associated with is so rewarding. The growth of students in the program, excitement when they pass their certification test, and then hearing about and witnessing their professional accomplishments are so fun to watch occur. Finally, help start a new program at Drake and working with my colleagues to grow that program has been the greatest challenge but most satisfying part of my career.
What is a highlight from your involvement with the CAATE?
It is always great to visit other programs and see all the great things that are being done by the programs and hear from students who are excited to be athletic trainers. Additionally, this past year when the Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee was formed and began working, that was very rewarding to help out with . It was a pleasure to work with Jessica Barrett and the rest of the committee to develop some means to improve the accreditation process from multiple aspects.
In your words, how do you believe you are contributing to the CAATE mission?
(The CAATE mission: Serving as a catalyst to advance athletic training education through the promotion of quality improvement, innovation, diversity, and best practices for student recruitment.)
Easily the participation on quality assurance and improvement committee hits directly at the CAATE mission. We are trying to improve the program review process and hopefully that will be seen by accredited programs in the near future.
Why do you believe students, faculty, and athletic trainers should become involved with the CAATE?
As my program director said many years ago, if you are a member of a professional organization you should look for ways to give back in order to ensure its future success. Students, faculty, and athletic trainers all have limited amounts of time, but each one should look at their own skills, knowledge, and experiences related to athletic training and decide to give back. If one has a passion for improving through the profession through the advancement of athletic training education, the CAATE is the best way to make an impact. It doesn't have to be a large role, all of the volunteer roles within the CAATE play an important part and need to be filled by individuals who are excited and passionate about advancing athletic training education.
Can you share words of inspiration or a quote about your experience in athletic training or the CAATE?
Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. - attributed to Howard Zinn. This has been my approach to service. I always try to find the way in which I can give back and help patients, students, or colleagues. Whenever I join a committee or start in a new position, I try to find the way in which my voice and experiences can help and the best role for me to play. This way, no matter how small, I know it can be impactful and when combined with those around me, make a bigger difference.