NATM 2011 Letter (3/22/11)

This post is from March 22, 2011 and is great to bring back for all to read.  I am unaware of any changes in Paul’s professional life, but this remains relevant!

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During the month of March we will continually highlight the work of an athletic trainer.  This series will incorporate open letters about the men and women of the profession from other professionals, the aim is to have at least one a week.  If there are others out there; parents, coaches, teachers, doctors, lawyers, athletes or anyone that would like to form a letter please do so and send it to theconcussionblog@comcast.net.

I have saved this letter for publishing toward the end of the month, because we should be thinking about what an athletic trainer does every month, and every day if you are lucky enough to have one around.  Paul LaDuke Jr. is a full-time athletic trainer for a public high school in Pennsylvania and has “uber” years devoted to athletic training.  Not only does he provide daily coverage, he has recently created a blog entitled “Promote The Profession” devoted to Athletic Training.  Paul has been a wonderful resource and “reality check” for me during my process.  It is an honor that he took time to write this letter;

What is it like to be an Athletic Trainer? Continue reading

Promote the Profession x 2

Paul LaDuke runs the promotetheprofession.com website dedicated to the athletic training profession; giving snippets of our daily work and even frustrations.  In a recent post Paul published a Facebook status that eloquently highlights frustrations with some coaches.  I must say that I have had few instances of “problems” but when they arise they are the bane of our existence.  I will share the fb status with you and then go to this LINK for Paul’s breakdown;

I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep over wins and losses and you curse the ATC. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That victories, while glorious; and losses while tragic, are not nearly as important to me as the health and safety of my athletes. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, keeps kids safe.  You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about with other coaches, you want me on that sideline, you need me on that sideline. We use words like professionalism and loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a career spent protecting something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the safety that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way.

The theme is obviously from “A Few Good Men”, but it does pretty much sum it up.

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In Paul’s most recent entry Continue reading

Athletic Trainers Need to Exude This…

Promote The Profession is a blog that highlights the athletic trainer and our career.  Paul LaDuke Jr., authors the blog and does great work there and on the BOC Blog.

Exude by definition is to exhibit an abundance of.  There is a lot of information that an athletic trainer must know and does know, heck we spend a lot of time and resources on doing just that, learning.  However, Paul LaDuke has pointed out something that our profession needs to exude; interpersonal relationships.

Relationships are the most important public service that an AT offers to the populations that we treat.

My man LaDuke is right, and his post exposes something we all need to be aware of.  I can tell you from personal experience Continue reading