I became an athletic trainer for three main reasons: my love for sports, my early interest in healthcare practices, and my passion for service. Pursuing a Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) was never in my initial goals or plans for my career. Once I discovered the DAT program at ATSU, I realized how this program and its faculty aligns with my initial three reasons for becoming an athletic trainer. That made it clear why pursuing the DAT was a beneficial addition to my career. As a clinician, who doesn't love to learn? That is exactly what I was able to do within this program. I learned a lot more about bridging research to clinical practice. My good friends within the Michigan State University AT research department have also helped me gain a deeper understanding of how to apply research into clinical practice. I also have previous preceptors who have gone through ATSU’s program!

Being able to take the concussion and rehabilitation concentrations have further increased my knowledge in those areas too. Personally, I love taking on new challenges, and practicing as a clinician in my setting, being a father of two kids, and completing the DAT program simultaneously has been a GREAT challenge that I am glad I did not back down from at any time!

With the DAT, not only am I excited to add ‘Doctor’ in front of my name (and will be the first to do so in my family), but I am excited to bring these new ideas and concepts to my work setting as an athletic trainer for the NBA. I have already started applying what I’ve learned in the DAT program to my work.

Presenting parts of my Applied Research Project within a relative presentation at NATA this year in New Orleans is what I am excited about as well! As for my long-term goals, looking much farther ahead into the future, I want to become an adjunct professor for a master’s of athletic training program at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). I am thankful for the leap of faith I took to pursue this DAT degree and the opportunity within this program to meet such amazing people!

Pictured above is a painting that hangs in my office, which I received from a previous athlete patient five years ago. It is a picture of one of my favorite musical artists, Nipsey Hussle, with a checkered race flag. This symbolizes something that he always stated: "The marathon continues." The checkered flag is a symbol to always cross the finish line! #BeGreAT