Athletic Training & Sports Medicine

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is a member of the 10 school Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC), participating in 21 Division III athletic programs. Located in Northwest Pennsylvania, the Erie metropolitan area has a population of approximately 280,000. The city of Erie is conveniently located within two hours of Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the sports medicine program is the same as that of the National Athletic Trainer's Association, to enhance the quality of health care for our student-athletes, and to advance the profession of athletic training through education and research in the prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation of injuries.  The sports medicine program is responsible for the health and welfare of the student-athlete on campus. Athlete has been defined as any person participating in a university sponsored intercollegiate athletic activity. The sports medicine program shall be responsible for managing the complete health needs of the intercollegiate student athlete.

The professional staff of Penn State Behrend Sports Medicine has the responsibility over all items affecting the health and safety of student athletes. This includes, but is not limited to, participation, conditioning, protective equipment/devices, nutritional concerns, safety of playing fields and facilities, and any other matter that would affect the health or safety of the student-athlete.

PHILOSOPHY
The sports medicine program embodies the commitment of patient/player care, and education of the student-athlete as well as the community.  

GOALS & OBJECTIVES
To act upon the mission of Penn State Behrend Sports Medicine, several goals were established, and the pursuit of these goals enacted. Below is a brief listing of the goal and outcome.

• Higher Standard of Care:

Increased player awareness about what they should expect from the medical staff, what the medical staff will expect from them, and how to best communicate about personal and team health care issues.

• Higher Education of Student Athletes:

Programs, such as the CHAMPS Program, were begun with emphasis placed on player awareness of disordered eating, self-esteem, motivational techniques, and stress management, to name a few.

• Overall Improvement of Student Athletes:

The expectation that our student-athletes are better overall people when they leave compared to when they arrived.  This overall improvement should include, but is not limited to, physical, emotional and social well being.

STAFF
Penn State Behrend Sports Medicine is comprised of four full time Staff-Certified Athletic Trainers and one on-campus Team Physician. These medical professionals work with approximately 350 athletes and 22 teams throughout each school year.  All three Certified Athletic Trainers possess master's degrees, are nationally board certified, and are state licensed and regulated allied health care workers who practice the arts of Athletic Training at the highest professional standards.