I always had dreams of obtaining a doctoral degree. A few years after I finished my master's degree and was established as a secondary school athletic trainer, I decided it was time to fulfill that dream. The problem was there were no doctoral degree programs near me, and to pursue this dream I was going to have to move my family out of our home state. After some research, I found the online Doctor of Athletic Training program at A.T. Still University.

I was initially drawn to this program because I could obtain a quality doctorate from my current location while working full-time as an athletic trainer. I had some initial hesitations and concerns that I would struggle to connect with students and faculty due to the online format — but this was not the case! I have been able to connect with students and faculty during my four years in the program.

Another part of this program I have enjoyed is the ability to practically apply content learned online to my current practice. In the middle of my program, I was promoted into a supervisor role where I manage outreach athletic trainers. Using content I learned in the Leadership and Education track (coursework now offered as part of the Athletic Training Education track) gave me practical things to integrate into my role as a supervisor. These skills and content were further developed during my Applied Research Project courses and the Winter Institute. I would highly recommend this program to any athletic trainer looking to become an advanced leader in the field!