The importance of diversity within the field of athletic training

Dr. Rebecca Lopez: Advancing DEIA within The National Athletic Trainers’ Association — 

Diversity continues to be an important issue in all professions.  Listen to the conversation today as Ramona talks to Dr. Rebecca Lopez about the National Athletic Trainers' Association's (NATA) efforts to improve Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) via their DEIA Task Force.  Through her leadership as a Co-Chair of this task force, NATA has been working to ensure the profession of athletic training continues to grow as health care providers by embracing diversity, cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment, and reducing the health and health care disparities of underrepresented groups. Dr. Rebecca M. Lopez is a Professor in the Athletic Training Program at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine and a Fellow of NATA. Dr. Lopez is currently serving as an Assistant School Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences at USF. She also serves as Co-Chair of NATA’s DEIA Task Force.

Highlights from our conversation:

• Women in sports
• Precautions to take to prevent athletic injuries and heat illnesses
• Entry points into the field of athletic training
• The importance of having athletic trainers on location at all athletic events
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
• DEIA in NATA
• Why everyone benefits from diversity
• Transgender health care
• The value of cultural competency and empathy in all health professions
• Strategies for college success

Resources:
Rebecca Lopez
NATA

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Ramona Houston