Leadership - Influence & Impact in Athletic Training Package
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- Non-member - $50
- Member - $25
- Student - $25
- Certified Student - $25
- Retired - $25
Recorded as part of the Leadership Track from NATA 2025 in Orlando, FL.
Effective leadership is essential for navigating the complexities of modern healthcare. This specialized course package empowers Athletic Trainers to cultivate critical skills, advance their careers, and drive organizational change. By combining emotional intelligence with strategic advocacy and professional development, these courses bridge the gap between clinical expertise and impactful leadership.
Why Take This Package?
Enhance Organizational Efficacy: Cultivate the EI necessary to lead with empathy, resolve conflicts, and foster collaborative teams.
Advocate for Your Profession: Acquire the negotiation skills to confidently discuss salary, benefits, and resource allocation.
Unlock Your Potential: Design a strategic roadmap for your personal and professional growth, paving the way for advanced roles and meaningful contributions to the field.
Courses Included:
| Title | CEU Value |
| Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: Driving Excellence in Athletic Training | 1.0 |
| Successful Leadership Strategies in Advocating for Pay, Benefits and Resources | 1.0 |
| Investing In Athletic Trainers for Leadership, Personal and Professional Growth | 1.0 |
Course Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.
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Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a key factor in effective leadership within athletic training. While empirical research is limited, qualitative evidence highlights the importance of EI in healthcare leadership, linking higher EI levels to enhanced leadership responsibilities and improved organizational outcomes. This presentation explores the role of EI in patient care and organizational efficacy, offering insights into how developing EI can enhance the effectiveness of athletic trainers and leaders.
Abstract:
Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a key factor in effective leadership within athletic training. While empirical research is limited, qualitative evidence highlights the importance of EI in healthcare leadership, linking higher EI levels to enhanced leadership responsibilities and improved organizational outcomes. This presentation explores the role of EI in patient care and organizational efficacy, offering insights into how developing EI can enhance the effectiveness of athletic trainers and leaders.Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate the efficacy of emotional intelligence (EI) as a determinant of effective leadership within athletic training contexts, synthesizing qualitative data and theoretical frameworks to analyze the impact of EI on leadership responsibilities and organizational dynamics.
- Design a comprehensive action plan for cultivating emotional intelligence within the athletic training setting, utilizing creative problem-solving and evidence-based reasoning to address barriers and implement sustainable strategies for fostering a culture of EI excellence among team members.
- Evaluate the efficacy of emotional intelligence (EI) as a determinant of effective leadership within athletic training contexts, synthesizing qualitative data and theoretical frameworks to analyze the impact of EI on leadership responsibilities and organizational dynamics.
- Apply advanced strategies for developing emotional intelligence skills tailored to the specific challenges faced by athletic trainers and leaders, integrating insights from contemporary research and best practices in healthcare leadership to enhance self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Level:
AdvancedDomain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityOrthopedic Domain(s):
Domain 3: Professional PracticeCEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords:
Emotional Intelligence; Team dynamics; professional growthCourse Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Craig Voll, PhD, LAT, ATC
Dr. Craig Voll serves as coordinator for the Sports Medicine Concentration at Purdue University. Dr. Voll teaches both undergraduate courses as well as graduate courses within the athletic training graduate education program. Dr. Voll previously served as an assistant athletic trainer, physical therapist, and continuing lecture at Purdue from 1999-2014. Prior to returning to Purdue Dr. Voll served as Manager of Sports Medicine for Franciscan Health in Lafayette where he led a team of 42 athletic trainers and 3 physicians providing comprehensive athletic health care services to 14,000+ athletes at 29 area high schools.
Dr. Voll’s research interests include professional socialization and factors related to early professional success, leadership development, emotionally intelligent leadership and inter-professional education and practice.
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Athletic trainers are historically underpaid relative to peer allied health professionals. Recent literature on the negotiating practices of athletic trainers suggests that many ATs are unsuccessful or don’t negotiate at all. At the same time, ATs are finding themselves in administrative roles, charged with hiring and retaining ATs in a competitive employment market. For recruitment and retention, ATs need advocacy education for both themselves and for their employees in evaluating terms of employment and negotiating for fair salaries and benefits. Case studies of successful advocacy may provide additional insight to ATs of all experience levels.
Abstract:
Athletic trainers are historically underpaid relative to peer allied health professionals. Recent literature on the negotiating practices of athletic trainers suggests that many ATs are unsuccessful or don’t negotiate at all. At the same time, ATs are finding themselves in administrative roles, charged with hiring and retaining ATs in a competitive employment market. For recruitment and retention, ATs need advocacy education for both themselves and for their employees in evaluating terms of employment and negotiating for fair salaries and benefits. Case studies of successful advocacy may provide additional insight to ATs of all experience levels.Learning Objectives:
- Summarize traits and characteristics of leaders who are successful in negotiation and advocacy for themselves and their employees.
- Identify key stakeholders within an organization and determine what key performance metrics are valued in an organization with athletic trainers.
- Implement strategies to advocate for pay increases, additional benefits and enhanced resources for employees, colleagues or self.
Level:
AdvancedDomain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityOrthopedic Domain(s):
N/AKeywords:
Administration, Value, NegotiationCEUs:
1.0 Category ACourse Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Andy Carter, MS, LAT, ATC
Andy Carter received his BS in Kinesiology from William & Mary and his MS in Health, PE, and Recreation from Illinois State University. He has been a certified athletic trainer since 1998 and has been employed as an educator, program director and adjunct instructor, as well as, a clinician in both the college and secondary school settings. He has enjoyed the opportunities to serve on committees and give presentations on the state, regional, and national levels.
Throughout his career, he has been very involved in the clinical education of athletic training students, physicians, and other allied health professionals. While at William & Mary, he coordinated the educational aspects of the Sports Medicine Rotation of the Riverside Family Medicine Residency. He has served as a preceptor for numerous athletic training programs and as an Adjunct Professor for the Post-Professional Athletic Training Program at Old Dominion University. Andy has been an instructor of the SMART (Sideline Management Assessment Response Techniques) workshop for athletic trainers and primary care physicians to enhance their Sports Medicine skills and increase their confidence and competency to serve as physicians on the sidelines at sporting events. He is a partner in the ACES Preparatory Workshops to help athletic training students prepare for the Board of Certification Exam.
Currently, Andy is employed by Riverside Health System as a clinical outreach athletic trainer assigned to Queens Lake Middle School and Bruton High School . He lives in Williamsburg, VA with his wife, Kristina, and two sons, Spencer and Drew.
Nicole Fillingame, MS, LAT, ATC
Nicole Fillingame, MS, LAT, ATC is a dedicated athletic trainer and sports medicine leader with over 15 years of experience in injury prevention, intervention, and outreach. As the Sports Medicine Outreach & Athletic Training Manager at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Nicole oversees community-focused programs that support student-athletes and their families through comprehensive sports medicine services. She serves as a liaison between the hospital and area athletic trainers to enhance access to care and strengthen partnerships with orthopedic and sports medicine providers.
Nicole holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology and Athletic Training from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Fitness from the University of Missouri. She is certified as a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) through NASM. Passionate about service, Nicole has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and community-based youth programs through her church.
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Creating accessible leadership opportunities within healthcare is crucial for fostering engagement, professional development, diversity, and innovation. This abstract explores several strategies to help guide athletic trainers through a professional growth plan. These strategies include identifying areas of strength and areas for growth, building mentoring relationships, and connecting opportunities for service to the profession. These strategies will provide avenues to increase an intentional networking plan to connect and facilitate professional relationships. Investing in these initiatives will significantly contribute to personal and professional growth and will build a strong community that will ensure sustained engagement with the next generation of professionals.
Abstract:
Creating accessible leadership opportunities within healthcare is crucial for fostering engagement, professional development, diversity, and innovation. This abstract explores several strategies to help guide athletic trainers through a professional growth plan. These strategies include identifying areas of strength and areas for growth, building mentoring relationships, and connecting opportunities for service to the profession. These strategies will provide avenues to increase an intentional networking plan to connect and facilitate professional relationships. Investing in these initiatives will significantly contribute to personal and professional growth and will build a strong community that will ensure sustained engagement with the next generation of professionals.Learning Objectives:
- Develop clear and detailed educational programs to enhance professional development.
- Foster an inclusive and welcoming environment during networking events to ensure healthcare leaders and early professionals feel valued and encouraged to participate.
- Promote open and transparent communication and mentorship for early professionals to explore leadership opportunities.
- Explore partnering with other external healthcare organizations to provide future leaders with avenues for professional development.
Level:
EssentialDomain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional ResponsibilityOrthopedic Domain(s):
N/ACEUs:
1.0 Category AKeywords:
Leadership; Professional Development; Early ProfessionalCourse Expiration:
This premium course offering must be completed within 12 months from the purchase date.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.Jennifer Johnson, ATC
Jennifer Johnson, ATC is the Clinical Coordinator, School of Kinesiology at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Jenni Johnson joined the Marshall Athletic Training staff as an Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator in August 2019. She completed her undergraduate studies at West Virginia University with a degree in Physical Education/Athletic Training. In her time at WVU she worked with the football, swimming & diving, men’s tennis, and gymnastics teams. Following her time at WVU, she earned her MS in Health & Wellness – Health Sciences from the University of Kentucky. While at UK, she provided coverage for the football, women’s basketball and gymnastics teams. She also completed a post graduate certification in sports counseling from the University of California of Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining the faculty at Marshall she was employed as an Associate Head Athletic Trainer and a faculty member in the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Charleston. Her primary roles outside of the classroom involved working with the baseball and women’s soccer programs while providing secondary coverage of men’s & women’s tennis and men’s & women’s golf. She also served as mentor in the first year program to transition new students to college and campus life.
Jenni was also previously employed as the Director of Rehabilitation at WorldWide Chiropractic & Sports Medicine for 14 years as well as the Head Athletic Trainer for Ripley High School. Other recent positions have included being the Athletic Trainer for Revolution Gymnastics and Flip Fest Gymnastics Summer Camps. She also served as the Athletic Trainer for the Level 9 National Gymnastics Championships in Charleston and as the Athletic Trainer for the WV Lightning and Rockets Semi-Professional Football teams.
Jenni is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), Mid-Athletic Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA), and West Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association (WVATA), where she is currently the acting President. Under her tenure as President she led the efforts to obtain state legislation to provide licensure for athletic trainers in the state of West Virginia, which will become state law in January 2020. She has also been the Chairperson of the Governmental Affairs Committee and is a current member of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission (WVSSAC) Sports Medicine Committee. Jenni has received many national recognitions for her efforts throughout her career. She was awarded with the 2019 Board of Certification (BOC) Public Advocacy award and in 2013 she was awarded the Athletic Trainer Service Award from the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA).
Emily Mulkey-Swisher, MS, LAT, ATC, CPT
Emily (Mulkey) Swisher joined the UCF sports medicine department in July 2025. She is primarily responsible for the women’s basketball and women's golf teams.
Prior to her arrival in Orlando, Swisher was a staff athletic trainer for Youngstown State from October 2021 to June 2025. She served as the primary care provider for the men's basketball and bowling programs. During her time at YSU, Swisher additionally spent time working with the women's soccer and tennis teams and the swim and dive programs.
While in Ohio, Mulkey Swisher served as the inaugural chair of the National Athletic Trainers Association's Early Professionals Committee from 2020-2024 and the Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association from 2023-2025.
Before joining the Penguins, Swisher worked at Virginia Commonwealth University, providing care for the track and field and cross-country programs. Additionally, Swisher worked at the University of Pittsburgh as the inaugural graduate assistant athletic trainer with the cheer, dance, and spirit programs while assisting the men's and women's basketball, football, and soccer teams.
Mulkey Swisher received her Bachelor of Science in athletic training from Ohio State University in 2019. She went on to earn her Master of Science in sports medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 and her Master of Business Administration in healthcare management from Youngstown State in 2024. Swisher's professional interests include healthcare business administration, transition to practice enhancement, and clinician cultural competence.
Outside of work, Swisher enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her husband, Matt, and their cat, Link.
