Drake University is one of 46 founding members of the new Association for Athletic Training Education (AATE), whose purpose is to create a community which serves as a collective voice for matters pertaining to athletic training education. Drake is the only athletic training program in the state of Iowa to be a founding member.
The new association held its inaugural colloquium July 11-12, 2019 at Boston University and was attended by Nate Newman, director of Drake’s Master of Athletic Training Program.
“I am excited that Drake University is a part of the organization and look forward to participating and helping athletic training education drive practice forward into the future,” Newman said.
During the Colloquium, the AATE set organization goals, developed initial priorities, and established the organizational structure. Discussions focused on many topics including student recruitment, preceptor recruitment and development, improving clinical education, better messaging to the profession and public on athletic training and its possible career paths, and faculty development. The organization will develop groups to begin working on initiatives in these areas this fall.
“The inaugural Colloquium was great chance to plan the future of the AATE in addition to networking and connecting with other high quality programs,” Newman said. “Participating in this organization is another step that our program has taken to be on the cutting edge of the athletic training education.”