General 3/22/2023 10:57:00 AM Justin Mordecai, Director of Athletic Communications

Meet the AT Staff, CAU Celebrates National Athletic Trainers Month

Meet Dr. Michael Douglas, Vanessa Hale, and Lance Hibbert-Parrish

ATLANTA, Ga. | In honor of National Athletic Training Month, the Clark Atlanta University athletics department shines a spotlight on our three dedicated athletic trainers on staff. Dr. Michael Douglas, Vanessa Hale, and Lance Hibbert-Parrish each dedicate countless hours to ensure the well-being of 300+ student-athletes competing for Clark Atlanta University. National Athletic Training Month is held every March in order to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers.

MEET THE ATHLETIC TRAINING STAFF

DR. MICHAEL DOUGLAS - Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine

Why are you passionate about your patient population/setting?

"I love helping people get better, I also love helping people get better. Clark Atlanta University has given me a new platform to help student-athletes and also an opportunity to grow professionally. In addition to that, we can educate students, coaches parents, and alumni about Athletic Training and Sports Medicine here at CAU."

Tell us about your most memorable day on the job.

"My first day as an NBA Athletic Trainer was the best day. It was the first of many goals that I could mark as accomplished."

How have you advocated for your position and the athletic training profession throughout your career?

"I have used Athletic Training Education to advocate for the profession. AT clinical skills and scholarship allow ATs to navigate in various spaces as clinicians, Safety specialists, Orthopedic specialists, and Subject Matter Experts in Injury prevention and rehabilitation."

Reflecting this year's theme of "There's an AT for That," if you had to pick one essential skill ATs bring to all settings, what would it be?

"Prevention Specialist."

How are you celebrating National Athletic Training Month this year?

"I am celebrating NATM by being clinical and effective in the space that I'm in."

VANESSA HALE - Associate Athletic Trainer

Why are you passionate about your patient population/setting?

"I'm passionate about my patients in the college setting because during their careers here we have the pleasure of seeing the athletes grow as young men and women, unfiltered. As much time as we spend with them in this setting, through practices, competitions, and injuries, we usually end up knowing them better as individuals than people they've known for years, which also helps us medically treat them better."

Tell us about your most memorable day on the job.

My most memorable day on the job may not have been the most joyous but it's definitely a day I'll never forget. During an early morning football practice, one athlete went down with an injury that required him to be taken to the ER via ambulance, it took an hour for the ambulance to arrive due to staffing issues. As soon as that athlete was on the ambulance and on the way to the ER, a second athlete went down with an injury that also required him to be taken to the ER via ambulance. That ambulance also took an hour to arrive, I then had to ride in that ambulance with him and spent the remainder of my day in the ER with my two athletes and did not leave until after sunset.

How have you advocated for your position and the athletic training profession throughout your career?

I have advocated for my position and the athletic training profession by detailing the importance of having adequate staffing, the significance of our mental health especially when it comes to burnout, and having the most up-to-date equipment for the benefit of our patients.

Reflecting this year's theme of "There's an AT for That," if you had to pick one essential skill ATs bring to all settings, what would it be?

"I believe one of the most essential skills ATs bring to all settings is the ability to "make something out of nothing." Even in the direst situations, or the instances where resources are extremely scarce, we'll always find a way to get the job done."

How are you celebrating National Athletic Training Month this year?

"I have been "celebrating" National Athletic Training Month this year by shining a light on the "behind the scenes", emotions/feelings, and scenarios that ATs experience on the job in a humorous light on social media."

LANCE HIBBERT-PARRISH - Athletic Trainer

Why are you passionate about your patient population/setting?

"The athletes in the collegiate setting have more of a yearning to learn how to get faster or stronger or tend to their nick-nack injuries. Even if they don't listen, they want to learn.

Tell us about your most memorable day on the job.

"The most memorable day would be the first day covering a football game as a certified ATC, being all by myself for the first time. I had 2 ankles, a concussion, and a high ankle sprain. Not to mention the plethora of cramps. I was thrown to the fire that day and came out polished."

How have you advocated for your position and the athletic training profession throughout your career?

"I tell people what we do and are capable of because most do not know"

Reflecting this year's theme of "There's an AT for That," if you had to pick one essential skill ATs bring to all settings, what would it be?

"We do everything and everything again and all of it some more. Each ATC just picks their niche out of all the things we can do."

How are you celebrating National Athletic Training Month this year?

"There's not much time for celebration in this profession."

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