DAT program transforming student’s clinical research and leadership skills
Posted: March 3, 2025
A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) student Elizabeth Saunders, DAT, ’25, MS, LAT, ATC, isn’t just envisioning the future of athletic training – she’s ready to lead it.
“I dream of giving back to the profession that has provided so much for me,” Saunders said. “My greatest hope is that I can use the knowledge and skills built here to invest into the future of athletic training.”
Through ATSU’s Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) program, Saunders is one step closer to achieving this goal, and is already applying what she’s learning in real time.
“I chose to pursue my DAT at ATSU because I wanted to advance my skills while continuing my clinical practice. Having the ability to learn while navigating real-world professional practice helped me refine my skills quickly and effectively,” she said.
As a working clinician, Saunders sought a program that was flexible, accessible, and effective. The DAT program’s convenience of online learning allows students to tailor their education while gaining the advanced skills necessary to lead in the athletic training profession.
Throughout her time in the program, Saunders said, “I have become a skilled communicator and a scholarly, informed clinician. It has also inspired me to expand my career and research interests in clinical education.”
The comprehensive online curriculum in the DAT program emphasizes critical thinking at the PhD level, while also allowing students to bring their unique needs and challenges into the online coursework.
In addition to the ability to apply lessons immediately to the work setting, the program provides students interaction with a variety of instructors, offering them exposure to a variety of teaching styles, healthcare- and education-related backgrounds, and experiences. Saunders said she is grateful for the expertise and support of program instructors and staff.
“The learning experience cultivated at ATSU is rooted in student-centeredness,” she said.
“The faculty and staff truly care about their students. Moreover, they clearly view their students beyond their scholarly roles. I never once felt that I was ‘just a number’ or that my worth in this program was defined by my grades.
“The faculty and staff in the DAT program perceive their students as people first, and that is evident in the unwavering support they provide. I frequently felt as though my professors saw potential in me that I was not able to see in myself…yet.”