I want my profession back...

First lets get a few things straight:

FACT:  I have been a Certified Athletic Trainer for 20 years.

FACT:  I STILL love being a Certified Athletic Trainer

FACT:  I love my job.

FACT:  I am not burnt out.

FACT:  I am not opposed to change (as long as its for the better)

I have been quite vocal in the past that I felt the change to Master's Degree was a mistake.  However, that is done.  So now we all have to make sure its done right.

So what has prompted my ire?  Stories that are coming back to me from my former students and others.  It is not WHAT or HOW we are teaching.  It is WHO is teaching and HOW they are treating students.  It is time to drop the inferiority complex as a profession.  I know the landscape of healthcare is changing and we need to change with it, I know other professions are trying to hold us back, but this profession was built on rolling up our sleeves and doing good work.  We got respect based upon how well we treated our patient population.  Its time to focus on that again.

We used to be focused on how MANY students we got to pass the exam.  Now we are only concerned with what PERCENTAGE in your program pass the exam.  (Yes, I get why....doesn't make it right).  Congratulations, you are now teaching to a test.  Perhaps we can spend time actually teaching these young potential Athletic Trainers how to actually put their knowledge to good use?  We need to do a better job of setting these students up to succeed and continue their career. 

Yes, this generation of students are different than mine.  A sense of entitlement only continues to exist if you allow it to.  Educators need to stop complaining they have no work ethic and help INSTILL that work ethic.  Its called mentoring, its an important part of the educational process.  Trying to intimidate and instill fear is not mentoring.  Its simply running students out of your program to help meet your stats.   I am tired of hearing stories of professors playing mind games with their students.  Yes, congrats, you got your Phd, MEd, or your DAT, you are very smart.  We get it.  It does not make you a better teacher or mentor because you stayed in school for so long.  Yes students graduating know have been given a knowledge base far more advanced than I ever had at that stage in my career.  That doesn't mean they can actually use it and be successful.  Don't worry, they passed their test, you did your job.  If they don't succeed or stay in the profession just say they couldn't hack it or no one else respects Athletic Training, not your fault. (Keep telling yourself that).

The only reason one should go into Athletic Training education is a desire to help these future colleagues learn and grow.  Instead we have too many people becoming educators because they don't want to work as a clinical Athletic Trainer anymore.  Its the truth and most of you know it.

Here is another news flash, time to start being a bit more selective about who your preceptors are and where you are sending your students.  I get that its a struggle to have enough sites to go around.  Am I a clinical site?  Nope. Been approached over and over again from multiple programs.  I continue to say no.  Why?  Because I don't feel I have the time or resources to do the job right.  I refuse to take a student just to do it.  Here is another tip, stop trying to sell being a clinical site to an Athletic Trainer by saying the students will be a big help.  That's not the purpose.

One final parting shot (here is the time to get your popcorn)....

Can we please stand up to the drone producing faction of Athletic Training education that is brainwashing students that there is only ONE way to be an Athletic Trainer and that everyone else is inferior and wrong in how they do their job.   I am certain they everyone reading this knows EXACTLY WHO and WHAT I am talking about.  If your offended...you are probably a member of that hive mentality of arrogance and elitism.  And no, I am not shy and will gladly say the same right to those peoples faces.  If you know me, you know that I could care less what they think.

I know there are still good people and good educators out there fighting the good fight. There are still those becoming educators for the right reasons. There are still programs who are doing things the RIGHT way.  I respect and applaud all of you.  There are just a lot less of you every year and its a shame. 

Sorry for the rambling, but it was time to resurface.

I want my profession back.

Time to go to work.

It gets extremely frustrating as I constantly follow the struggle of the profession.  The struggle to gain recognition in the public eye as well as the medical community.  The of struggle of colleagues trying to either become established in the profession or stay in the profession.  The struggle is real.

So what are we going to do about it.  Most of us only focus on the endgame.  If we continue only to focus on that, we are going to be lost.  Instead we need to shift our way of thinking.  Instead of complaining about being accepted by the public and medical community for what we do.  We need to start simple.  Instead of saying that there is no way we can stay in the profession and thrive as individuals and giving up, we need to get back to basics.  

It starts with each day.  Each day you go to work, make sure that on THAT day you have done your job to the best of your abilities.  You have provided the best care you could have for each athlete on THAT day.  While you are doing that, ensure that you have carried yourself as a professional.  Make a point to interact with athletes, coaches, parents, administrators, and other medical professionals in a way that is appropriate of the respect that you seek.  At the end of the day look back and take stock.  Was there anything you could have done better?  Then, you will go back and do it all again the next day.  

As you continue to focus on your daily goals you can begin to think a little bigger.  What issues have arisen on a daily basis that made your goals more challenging.  Which of those goals are in your control, and which ones are not.  Those that are in your control are ones that are easier to address.  However, if we recognize those things without actually addressing them we are stuck.  How can we ask others to make changes when we are not willing to make them ourselves?  We must then take those challenges that our not in our control and prioritize which ones we can begin to address.  Once we make that determination, we can start formulating strategies to address those challenges.  We tend to make the mistake of trying to take on too many of these challenges at once.  Take a step back on go one at time.

How can we be successful taking on those bigger challenges?  We need allies.  We need supporters that will feel as strongly about those challenges as we do.  The problem is that you can't always expect others to have that same passion about the subject.  That is when you need those supporters to "Buy In" to YOU.  You don't need them to feel as strongly about the issue at hand, you need them to feel strongly about YOU.  If they do, they will be an ally and a resource.  It is the relationships that we develop that are important to our success.  How do we get people to buy in to us as individuals?  Do your job.  Do it well.  Every time we get an outsider to buy into us as individuals is a win for the profession.  Those "buy ins" add up to credibility.  

Unfortunately it works both ways.  Whenever someone does not do their job to the best of their abilities it affects all of us, because all the outsiders associated with that Athletic Trainer extend their view of that individual to the profession.  Every time someone does not act in a professional manner, whether it be in person or on social media it affects all of us.  The only thing that spreads faster than positivity, is negativity. How can we address that issue?  Be a mentor.  Guide those that need guidance.  It is a burden we must all share for the good of the profession.

If we all take responsibility for our own actions as professionals, that will allow each and every one of us to positively influence the profession.  That positivity will help us gain momentum in the bigger picture initiatives.  This burden is on each an every one of us.  

Time to go to work....


#AT4ALL
#AT4EVER

The Path of Athletic Training

    Each of us has a journey. Somewhere, somehow we decided that we wanted to help others be safe, be healthy and heal. We then chose to learn, cultivate and discover methods and skills that would help us do so. Time and time again we use those skills so ingrained in us that they are now like a reflex.  Some of us have been a part of this profession so long it is like breathing.  It is not just what we do, but who we are.  Some of us have just begun our journey and are still getting comfortable as professionals. It is still so new, it's like a dream.  A dream where one day we watched and observed another use their skills and said to ourselves, this will be MY path too.  In the blink of an eye we woke up from that dream to realize it was our time to travel onward and start our journey.

     So passionate are we, that we continue to shape the destiny of those behind us.  We are now the ones being observed and watched.  It is our actions that cause others to see THEIR path right before their eyes. The desire we have inside of us to help others recover and be active is not enough for us. We want others to feel the joy and satisfaction we feel every day.  We mentor those on the path behind us.  We try and give them the foresight and wisdom we have acquired so that they may join us.  We must ALL be guides on the journey for there are many traveling that need our help. 

     It all sounds so simple. Yet, as we all learn, life is never that simple. The paths we travel are never that easy. They have twists and turns requiring us to have fortitude to stay on course. They are bumpy and rough at times requiring us to be strong to stay the course.   The trek is exhausting to the point we must sometimes slow down or delay our journey.  All of our paths are different.  Some of us don't make it very far down the path succumbing to the struggle.  Those of thus that continued remember fondly those we once traveled with arm in arm, helping each other along the way.  We look back on those that are no longer in our profession with lament.  We strive to find a way to not lose more in the future.

     As a profession we now look ahead at the roads in our future. Many of us with different views of what the correct path the profession should take.  All of us passionate about those views.  While we continue to shape and mold those paths ahead, we must remember the most important thing, to do so united.   The road is about to take many twists and turns.  The road is about to get very bumpy.  We are stronger together.  Forge on fellow traveler.  I will see you on the path.

#AT4EVER

Todd

The Bond of Athletic Training

     I am traveling later today up to Amherst, MA for a UMASS Sports Medicine Alumni Golf Outing and Dinner.  Its an event I haven't been able to attend for 7 years for one reason or another.  I am really excited to make it up this year.  I was a Graduate Assistant at UMASS from 1997-1999.  I was newly certified and it was my first real experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer.  Those two years were extremely important to my development as a professional and I look back on them fondly.

     This event along with #NATA2014 coming up got me thinking about one of the most special things about being a Certified Athletic Trainer, the bond.   There is an amazing bond amongst those of us in this profession.   We have all shared similar experiences, struggles and triumphs that outsiders probably can't relate to.  We can swap stories about experiences as an Athletic Training student.  Many of us can discuss what it was like to balance being a Graduate Student and an Athletic Trainer.  There are the perils of job searches.  The quest to find life balance.  The trials and tribulations of coordinating love/family life in a job with unique demands.  Some of these experiences are good, some are not.  Regardless, we can share them together.  

     When things aren't going great, we can reach out to a colleague and they understand.  They understand in ways that other friends and family members will not.  We NEED each other.  Life can throw us many curveballs.  No matter what comes our way, we never have to tackle these obstacles alone.  There is always someone out there who will listen, share, and offer advice that no one else can give. Some of us work in settings where its easy to talk to a colleague.  Some of us work alone where that can be more of a challenge.  We must not let that stand in our way.  Some of us have found new ways to reach out through social media.  We have created a network that understands us and is just a click away.  

 Don't be afraid to seek out that help.   Don't be afraid to share.  Don't be afraid to listen.  

     We must make sure that this is a two way street.  While there are many seeking help, answers and guidance, there are more of us with experience to give it.  It is our duty to be a mentor to our colleagues in need.  We must reach out and offer our wisdom knowing that many are hesitant to ask.   

     This bond that exists between us is our strength as a profession.  Its a resource we should all be using to help us succeed.  In a time where our profession seems to be at a major crossroads, we must come together.  As the discussion of major educational change has the potential to fracture this bond, we must persevere and unite.  As the frustration of colleagues leaving the profession raises so many questions about our future, we must seek out these answers collectively.
 

     Together we find strength.  Together we find solutions.  Together we grow.  


    #AT4EVER


Todd

See you in Indy?

     There have been some very animated discussions on twitter in the past week or so regarding the Athletic Training profession.  It certainly has been interesting to follow and in some cases participate. As productive as these sessions can be in stimulating discussion, they can only take us so far.  These discussions need to be more in depth, involve more people, and be constructive.  They need to be open minded and productive.  If only there was an opportunity for many of us to be in the same place at the same time, face to face.  Imagine how productive we could be.  This would be even better if we were able to get the many leaders and decision makers in the profession to join us.  We could get the most up do date information on the subjects that matter most to us.  We could voice our opinions to them knowing that we have a forum to be heard.
     So yeah....this already exists.  #NATA2014 is coming up in Indianapolis June 25th-28th.  Its an opportunity to learn, network, and grow as a professional.  Its an opportunity to be heard, to listen, to congregate and discuss.  The question is, will you take advantage of it?  Like many of us, I can't attend nearly as often as I would like.  Sometimes my work schedule doesn't cooperate, sometimes my family life doesn't cooperate, sometimes my wallet doesn't cooperate.  This year, I'm in.
   I have a number of goals when I am able to attend.  One goal is I hope to learn a few new things.  I want to come home with some new information.  I also like to review and refresh some things I haven't seen or thought about in a while.  I love to network.  I enjoy catching up with old friends and colleagues that I haven't seen in a while, and look forward to making some new friends and acquaintances I can utilize to help me grow as a professional.
    For those that are attending, what are your goals?  What do you hope to do in Indianapolis?   Do you make the most of this opportunity?  Will you make an effort to learn?  Will you make an effort to network?  Will you use the opportunity to have your voice be heard on subjects that matter to you?  Professional development is the key to the growth of our profession and each of us as professionals.  This meeting is a great chance for us to do so.

    Here are some suggestions for #NATA2014:

• Leave the negativity and anger at home.  Instead bring passion and drive.
• If your a Young Professional utilize the resources, wisdom, and experience of some of the veterans to help guide you.  Reach out to them and don't be afraid to strike up a conversation.
• If your a veteran AT reach out to the Young Professionals in attendance.  Start up a conversation.  You can certainly provide them with some guidance, and they can certainly give you some insight into what its like just getting started in our profession.    
•  Keep an open mind and be open to change.

     For those unable to make it to Indy, perhaps you can keep connected through social media.  Now more than ever you can have a presence without even being there.  Its also never to early to start planning to make the trip next year.
     To those that will be joining us in Indy, I hope you make the most out of the trip, and that our paths cross.  This is an amazing profession full of wonderful people.  Whenever I make it to Convention I always leave refreshed, recharged and excited for the future.  I hope you do too.

#AT4EVER
#AT4ALL

Todd

So how did we get to the end of the Tunnel?

     So in my last post I talked about how I was in a good place at the end of the year this year. I also asked how you were doing at this point. Whether you were feeling good like me or ready to scream out in angst at the top of your lungs.  I also gave you a homework assignment. I asked you to look back and see if you can figure out what lead you to this point.

     First of all, let me get one thing perfectly clear. Me feeling great at this point in the year, is not normal.  Usually I am so mentally fried that I am barely able to finish up the year without snapping. This year is different for some reason. The weird part was nothing job related was really any different.  Still the same stresses and challenges.  Still the same unpredictable and at times long hours.  Still the same hurdles in balancing work and family. 

     This was however a personally far more challenging year.  It started with the diagnosis and then tragic loss of a friend and co-worker to cancer at 25 years old. It got more difficult with my mom battling (and currently kicking the butt of) breast cancer. I had shoulder surgery that I had been putting off for 14 years. Then throw in two other very difficult situations at work dealing with serious illness and it was a whopper of a year. 

     I'm not going to lie, there were an awful lot of tears shed this year.  So how am I in a good place at the end of the year? I think what it came down to is the simple fact that I love my job.  I love what I do and where I do it.  So when things got rough I found comfort in the routine and people at work.  

     When weather caused havoc in the school and athletics schedules, I didn't seem to mind. When an athlete was being a pain in the butt, I shrugged it off. When a coach was a pain, I took a deep breath and kept plugging along.  

     It's about perspective and this year gave me an awful lot of it.  So where does that leave you?  Why am I sharing this?  If you want to be happy, if you want to be in a good place mentally,  you have to have balance and perspective. If I did not love my profession, if I did not love where I work, I am not sure I could have gotten through this past year.  

     Hopefully people can find this perspective and balance without having to deal with difficult situations. So perhaps now is a good time for you to sit back and evaluate things and see what you need to do professionally to be happy. Whether that is maintaining the status quo because things are good, or making some changes because they are not. Now is a great time of year to take stock, recharge the batteries and make a plan. 
   

Oh, it also helps to have an awesome spouse and two great kids.  That helps too. 

#AT4EVER

Todd 

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

     It is that time of year.  Things are winding down and wrapping up for many Athletic Trainers at all different settings.  The proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" is approaching us.  So the question is, where is your head at? Mine is going in 20 million different directions.  I am winding down the school year with my teams and preparing for the post season.  I am starting my list of end of the year things to do.  I am trying to get a grip on all the things I have coming up with my own kids.  It is quite overwhelming.
      Even though my head is spinning,  I'm ok.  Actually, I am more than ok.  In fact, I'm great.  I am a few weeks away from year 17 as an AT being totally in the books.  I'm finalizing the last of the summer plans for the family. I'm getting ready for NATA in Indy (blog post coming on that topic).  I'm already starting to think about pre-season in August.  Here is the kicker, I feel great.  I'm not fried, bitter, cranky, angry or miserable. 
    I used to be ready to drop at this point of the year just waiting to be done.  This year is different.  My job is still the same.  Still have a wife and two kids to balance in the mix.  Still the same stresses to deal with as always. Don't get me wrong, I am certainly ready for the year to be over.  The difference is instead of crawling across the finish line, I am cruising across at a good pace.  Perhaps I am little older, a little wiser, a little more seasoned.  I still can't quite put my finger on it. 
     So where are you?  Do you feel as good as I do?  Are you spitting at this post on your screen because you want to run to a rooftop and scream at this point in the year?  I think we all have an mission here.  We all need to sit down and figure out where we are, and how we got here.  If you are feeling as good as I am, lets figure out why and make sure we do that all over again next year!  If you are in a bad place, then you need to figure out why and make sure you change that for next year. 
     Lets make this a homework assignment.  Lets all sit down for a few minutes and write down (or more likely type into your phone while watching a game) what our state of mind is now and see if we can fish out the reasons why.  My next post I will share mine.  Lets see if we can either keep things going the right way, or turn things around if they are not.
    It feels great to cruise along the finish line.  You know what is better?  Sprinting across it. 

#AT4EVER