From the Director

As we come to the end of another great academic year, the Department of Athletic Training would like to thank all of our alumni, faculty and staff for their support. A lot has happened this year, starting with the 10-year extension of accreditation for our undergraduate program, and ending with the granting of full accreditation status for our master’s program. These votes of confidence from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) are an affirmation of the dedication and hard work of our administration, faculty and support staff, as well as the continued success of our students.

In April, the Manchester College Board of Trustees voted to change our name to Manchester University, effective July 1. As we continue to experience progress and growth at Manchester, it’s important to remember that changing our name won’t diminish our ability to provide side-by-side experiences and personal attention to our students – in athletic training and university-wide. The Manchester experience, as it has always been, will be driven by our mission to graduate persons of ability and conviction who strive to improve the human condition.

Please enjoy these athletic training updates and we’ll see you in the fall.

Jeffrey A. Beer MA, LAT, ATC, CEAS
Program Director, Undergraduate Athletic Training Education

Lauren Kalis was one of two Manchester students to earn a Master of Athletic Training degree this year.

Manchester graduates first MAT students,
program is granted accreditation

Commencement 2012 was momentous for Manchester College, as its first two students to earn Master of Athletic Training degrees walked the aisle to receive their diplomas.

It was three years ago that Manchester received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to offer the MAT, and two years ago that Lauren Kalis and Kyle Whonsetler, Manchester’s first cohort of students seeking the degree, enrolled in the program. Last year, six more students enrolled.

Manchester’s MAT program is one of only 26 entry-level programs in the U.S., and the only one in Indiana. An entry-level master’s program is designed for individuals who wish to become certified athletic trainers, but hold an undergraduate degree in a field other than athletic training.

The curriculum consists of 51 semester hours over two years (including summers) and total immersion in the field of athletic training. Students gain clinical experience in a variety of settings, including NCAA Division III athletics, interscholastic athletic programs, and general medical environments. Students are also required to teach sections of undergraduate athletic training courses and to complete a substantial research project. When they graduate, they’re prepared to take the BOC examination to earn certification as an athletic trainer.

Graduating its first cohort of students earned full accreditation status for Manchester from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The third cohort of students will begin classes in July, 2012.

Manchester expands its clinical offerings

Athletic training students at Manchester get a variety of valuable off-campus clinical experiences, at both the undergraduate and master’s levels. In these rotations, students focus on specific medical conditions and practice athletic training in alternate settings. Clinical partners have included Huntington University and the University of Saint Francis, Manchester and Whitko High Schools, Manchester Family Clinic and the Center for Sports and Physical Therapy in Winamac.

During the 2011-2012 school year, Manchester has added several new clinical practice sites. Huntington North High School is a new clinical education site where athletic training students will work with student-athletes. New general medical sites include Walnut Street Family Healthcare, Midwest Eye Consultants, Manchester College Health Services and Manchester Family Dentistry.

Zach Dougal, assistant athletic trainer at Manchester and first-year clinical education coordinator for the AT program, is largely responsible for the expansion of venues. “Clinical education is not easy,” he says, “however, our clinicians continue to provide valuable knowledge and feedback to our athletic training students and improve their education of this profession overall.”

Along with the new sites come these additional approved clinical instructors and clinical instructors.

Approved Clinical Instructors (ACIs)
Clay Keeley, ATC – University of Saint Francis
Allison Elder, ATC – Huntington North High School
Jessica Stephens, ATC – Huntington North High School
Tracy Houser, ATC – University of Saint Francis (starting in fall 2012)

Clinical Instructors (CIs)
Elizabeth Struble, M.D. – Walnut Street Family Healthcare
Lori Zimmerman, M.D. – Walnut Street Family Healthcare
Dan Myers, D.D.S. – Manchester Family Dentistry
Nathan Trump, O.D. – Midwest Eye Consultants
Heather Banks, RN, BSN – Manchester College Health Services

“All of these medical professionals will serve to strengthen our clinical education, in both, our undergraduate and graduate AT programs,” says Dougal. “We are looking forward to another successful year in 2012-2013.”

SportONE partnership gives Manchester
a professional advantage

Ortho NorthEast (ONE) in Fort Wayne is one of the largest orthopedic companies in Indiana. Its divisions, such as SurgeryONE, ImagingONE, TherapyONE, SpineONE, and SportONE, provide specialized medical services.

The SportONE division focuses on athletic injuries with a team of orthopedic physicians and athletic trainers who partner with universities and high schools to enhance the well-being of student-athletes. These medical professionals provide beneficial service to contracted schools and assist with athletic events in the community as needed.

Manchester enjoys an affiliation with SportONE. This provides significant advantages:

1. Two athletic trainers from SportONE provide professional coverage to all Manchester student-athletes on an everyday, full-time basis.
   
2. A SportONE team physician visits campus weekly, free of charge to student-athletes.
   
3. An affiliation with SportONE entitles Manchester to a variety of services available through Ortho NorthEast.
   

Together, Manchester and SportONE work to bring the best and most efficient care to student-athletes to get them back on the playing field as quickly and safely as possible.

Visit the SportONE website.

MCATC has a great year!

A growing student organization, the Manchester College Athletic Training Club (MCATC) promotes athletic training as a profession and creates opportunities for students to network with professionals and supplement their classroom experiences. MCATC members participate in a variety of campus and community service activities. They also have a lot of fun! The 2011-2012 school year bustled with activities:

FALL SEMESTER

• The club hosted a professional development workshop to help younger students create resumes and cover letters.
• MCATC volunteered to help clean the Eel River, worked in a haunted house in town, served dinner at a local church, and participated in a blood drive.
• The club and took on the Spartan Sport Management Club in a game of dodge ball.
• The annual Christmas Party was a huge hit this year. MCATC sponsored a toy drive for Toys for Tots and donated over 200 toys to the local community. They also won first place for their Festival of Trees display in the Union.

SPRING SEMESTER

• MCATC welcomed back alumus Jim Forbes to speak on his profession as a chiropractor, and the executive cabinet arranged for local EMTs to speak on new CPR techniques.
  
• The club hosted a Mardi Gras dance and took a field trip to a Pacers game.
  
• During May Day weekend, MCATC hosted Paint Twister and raised money for the athletic training program.
  
• MCATC was awarded the 2012 Organization of the Year Award at the College’s Student Leadership Banquet.
  
• Taylor Harris, a junior and president of MCATC, received a nomination as Club President of the Year.
  
• Athletic Training awards went to:
  
  • Most Valuable Athletic Training Student: Taylor Harris
    
  • Most Improved Athletic Training Student: Makenna Hamilton
    
  • Most Outstanding Rookie Athletic Training Student: Jillian Bower

MCATC Vice President Zack Boger and President Taylor Harris accept the Organization of the Year Award at the 2012 Student Leadership Banquet.

Connect with us!

Please take this opportunity to update your profile, and share your news with alumni and friends of the department. In addition, please indicate your interest in participating with the College in other ways. (If you have already expressed your interests, there is no need to respond again unless your preferences have changed).

To contact us, email Jeff Beer at jabeer@manchester.edu.

<back to top>