The 74th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, taking place June 21-24 in Indianapolis, is just days away, and with it, the annual Athletic Training Student Seminar and a host of opportunities for student attendees to network and celebrate the profession.
To help students prepare for the convention experience, the NATA Student Leadership Committee and NATA Early Professionals’ Committee are hosting the “All Things NATA 2023” webinar at 7 p.m. CDT June 13. Learn more and register for the webinar today.
In addition, continue reading to learn more about ATSS and other student-focused events. We also included some tips to help students navigate NATA 2023.
(Note: All times listed below are EDT.)
Athletic Training Student Seminar
Sponsors: Florida International University; Jones & Barlett Learning; Konin Consulting, LLC; MK Leadership; SLACK, Inc.
Coordinated by the NATA Student Leadership Committee, ATSS provides attendees exclusive insight into the athletic training profession and access to a network of athletic trainers from around the country.
The theme of this year’s ATSS is “Beyond Your Credential: What Comes Next?” and will help attendees as they transition from students to clinicians to become well-rounded professionals with a complete understanding of the domains of athletic training.
ATSS will kick off with the Otho Davis Keynote at 8:30 a.m. June 23 in Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Marriott Ballroom 5. Director of the Doctor of Athletic Training Program at Florida International University and NATA Hall of Fame member Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, FNATA, will give this year’s keynote presentation, “Planning Your Athletic Training Vacation.”
Following the keynote, two sets of breakout sessions will take place at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Ballrooms 1-4:
- “Ethics Within Athletic Training” by Gretchen Schlabach, PhD, ATC
- “Moving Forward in Our Profession” by Tom Abdenour, DHSc, ATC, NASM-CES
- “Interprofessional Relationships” by Pradeep Vanguri, PhD, LAT, ATC
- “How to Get to the Top” by Tim Weston, MEd, ATC
Later that day, Carl Eaton DPT, ATC, CSCS, will lead the NBATA Ron Culp Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Workshop from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Marriott Ballroom 5.
Finishing the ATSS experience is the ATSS Roundtables, held from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. June 24 in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, Marriott Ballroom 5. This is your opportunity to meet professionals in a variety of settings and gain insight into your dream AT career.
Learn more about this year’s ATSS on the convention website.
NATA Student Social
Student convention-goers will have the opportunity to network, connect and relax during the NATA Student Social. Held from 3 to 4 p.m. June 23 in the Indiana Convention Center, 500 Reception Room, the social is a great place to meet students from around the country as well as NATA leadership.
NATA Quiz Bowl
Each year, teams of students representing their districts test their athletic training knowledge during the NATA Quiz Bowl, sponsored by Henry Schein. This Jeopardy-style competition offers more than just bragging rights – Henry Schein will provide the top-three teams with prizes. Cheer on your district quiz bowl team at 4:30 p.m. June 23 in ICC, Room 105.
Volunteering at Convention
One way students can save on the cost of attending the in-person convention is through volunteering. Volunteers who work 10 or more hours are reimbursed for a portion of their registration fee. Visit the NATA convention website to learn more.
Along with saving money, volunteering is also a great way to meet new people and create lasting friendships. Longtime NATA convention volunteers recently shared the benefits they’ve experienced firsthand from volunteering in a video posted on NATA’s Vimeo channel.
Some Tips To Consider
- Take it all in. “My biggest recommendation is fill up your schedule, do as much as you can, talk to whoever you can and enjoy every minute of it because it goes by really fast,” said Leah McNutt, the SLC’s District Four representative and chair of the planning subcommittee. Read more from McNutt in the March NATA News.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The convention is expansive, and comfort is key during these four days.
- Don’t forget: NATA 2023 is a cashless event. We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.
- Dress to make a good first impression. NATA recommends attendees wear business casual attire during the convention.
- Read the NATA Convention Daily News, which will be delivered to your email inbox each day of convention. Every edition includes programming highlights as well as previews and recaps of can’t-miss events.
- Stay connected with NATA and your fellow attendees by sharing your experience and photos on social media using the hashtag #NATA2023.
- Say “hello” to NATA Hall of Fame members, who have a wealth of knowledge about the profession. They’ll be easy to spot in their green jackets.
- Visit the Career Fair, where you can have your résumé critiqued by someone in the AT profession and a headshot taken – both for free. Free professional headshots will be taken from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 23 in the Headshot Lounge, located in the Career Center, ICC, Room 244.
- Have a question for NATA? Visit the NATA Info Counter in the registration area located in the ICC Crossroads Corridor.
