June July 2024 - 27

Athletic Trainer Focus
Q&ATC
with NYSATA president Lauren Stephenson, MA, ATC
By Wesley Sykes, managing editor
T
he New York State Athletic Trainers' Association
named Lauren Stephenson, athletic trainer
at SUNY Oneonta
Athletics, as the president of the
organization in November 2022.
Stephenson decided to go into
athletic training as it combined
her love of medicine, specifically
emergency medicine, with sports
and being a part of a team. She
enjoys making a difference in
her patients' lives and is deeply
invested in how her athletepatients
are doing on and
off the field and court. Her involvement in NYSATA
began because of her interest in public perception
and recognition of athletic trainers. She joined the
organization in 2011 and has been involved in various
public relations projects, lobby days, and letter-writing
campaigns on behalf of the governmental affairs
committee.
She spoke with Training & Conditioning magazine
to discuss the NYSATA under her leadership, and the
overall athletic training industry.
Training & Conditioning: Describe the current state of
athletic training in New York State. What are some key
developments or challenges the field is facing?
Lauren Stephenson: New York was happy
to have passed our Athletic Training
Licensure bill in December of 2022 which
will be enacted in December of 2025.
This bill establishes high standards for
athletic trainers through a licensing
process and ensures that all practitioners
meet a minimum set of qualifications. It also requires
that athletic trainers in NY are certified by the BOC,
and therefore have undergone rigorous training and
continuing education to elevate the standard of care
for the physically active and reduce the risk of injury or
harm. The passing of our licensure bill updated the law
to reflect the evolution of the profession and expanded
to scope of practice as well as added ATs to the list of
mandated reporters of child abuse
or maltreatment.
We are currently working on
other legislative efforts to ensure
public safety with updates on
school concussion management and
requirements for CPR/AED training
in youth league sports. We are also
working towards legislation that
protects ATs who travel into NY so
that they can provide care to their
teams and/or athletes.
Beyond the legislative efforts, we continue to seek fair
and adequate compensation for ATs throughout the state.
T&C: With the ongoing concerns about athlete safety
and injury prevention, what initiatives or programs is
NYSATA spearheading to ensure the highest standards
of care for athletes across
the state?
Stephenson: Beyond obtaining licensure, one of our
largest statewide efforts right now is in our partnership
with the Brain Injury Association of New York State
(BIANYS) to provide Concussion Outreach Prevention
Education (COPE) to the entire state. Providing programs
that educate all stakeholders on the safe recognition
and management of concussions is key to preventing
catastrophic outcomes. Student-athletes specifically need
additional support to return to a learning environment that
requires support from various health care and educational
offices to ensure their health and wellbeing. Additionally,
NYSATA continues to support bills for CPR training & AEDs
at various levels of sport.
T&C: In your opinion, what are some of the most
pressing legislative or regulatory issues facing athletic
trainers in New York State today? How is NYSATA
advocating for its members on these fronts?
Stephenson: While a large hurdle has been overcome
training-conditioning.com | 27
http://www.training-conditioning.com
June July 2024

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