Being a part of the Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) program has been an amazing experience and continues to challenge me in ways that I didn't expect when starting the program. I have learned an immeasurable amount about how to become a stronger clinician, leader, critical thinker, and data utilizer.

Having just finished the Winter Institute, I feel revitalized both as a student and as an athletic trainer. The week reminded me of my "why" and forced me to think about how to bring that passion to the stale parts of the profession, both locally and globally.

Earning a DAT is not easy. It's one of the few doctoral degrees that I am aware of where people routinely work full-time while simultaneously working through the curriculum. Yet, those who choose to complete their DAT with ATSU continue to grow their love for the profession of athletic training rather than it feeling overbearing. We're able to choose what we want to focus on professionally so that we can grow as clinicians without feeling put into a box.

One of the most impactful aspects of the DAT program is the family that we are all welcomed into. It can be hard to feel connected over a screen sometimes, but there is still a continuous expression of support for everyone in every class that I have been in from both students and faculty — a feeling that I know with certainty is true. ATSU builds AT leaders that stick together to make sure that everyone is not just surviving but striving. The education has been and will continue to be impactful, but the tribe that we are all a part of is what makes it inspirational.