Sideline Medicine

Graduate student David DeKay stretches out the throwing arm of relief pitcher Justin Malone. DeKay is one of 25 grad students in GSU's sports medicine program, the only one of its kind in Georgia.

Justin Walker thought he wanted to be a physical therapist until he watched a college football game from the sidelines.

"I saw a player with a pulled hamstring get help from the athletic trainer and return an opening kickoff for a touchdown in his first play back," Walker said. "It was awesome. I knew from there I wanted to be an athletic trainer."

Walker is one of 25 graduate students currently enrolled in Georgia State's master of science in sports medicine program, the only program of its kind in Georgia that prepares certified athletic trainers.

Sports medicine graduate students must complete 36 hours of coursework and labs focused on the prevention, management, evaluation and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. They also must complete 400 hours of clinical experience, which starts during the first few weeks of the program.

This requirement puts them on the sidelines during games and practices, where they assist staff athletic trainers if an injury happens. They also assist athletic trainers at Georgia Tech, Emory University, Kennesaw State University, Oglethorpe University and metro Atlanta public high schools.

"They're at all the games, and they travel with all the teams they are assigned to," said Cheryl Appleberry, coordinator for GSU's graduate sports medicine program.

They work directly with the institution's athletic department and under the supervision of the head athletic trainer. If an injury does occur during a practice or game, they provide an initial assessment of the injury and communicate with the coach about whether the athlete can return to the game.

"It is great hands-on experience," Appleberry said. "They are applying what we're teaching them in the academic setting to hands-on experience out on the field or the court."

With traveling, GSU's future athletic trainers put in a lot of time, but the hard work pays off - the program has a 100 percent job placement rate. Georgia State's athletic trainer graduates not only land jobs with secondary schools and colleges, but with professional sports teams, hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices, the military, law enforcement and performing arts companies.