Advocating for Athletic Training in Alaska

Advocating for Athletic Training in Alaska 🩺❄️

I had the opportunity to attend Bernadette Wilson’s fundraiser for Alaska’s governor, and it was great to connect with someone who already understands what athletic trainers do — she was a former figure skater and has firsthand experience with the AT profession.

What surprised her, though, was how much athletic training has evolved beyond the traditional sports setting. We talked about how athletic trainers are now embedded in industrial environments, supporting workers in different industries to reduce injuries, improve productivity, and lower healthcare costs. How ATs could fit perfectly into the re-ignited oil industry on the Kenai Peninsula.

We also discussed how virtual athletic training rooms can play a key role in rural healthcare access in the bush, connecting Alaskans to injury prevention, early intervention, and streamlined referrals — shifting care from reactive chronic management to proactive, preventative health.

Alaska has a unique opportunity to lead the way in redefining what healthcare looks like — and athletic trainers are ready to be part of that solution.

I’ll keep the conversation going, how about you?