Successful Leadership Strategies in Advocating for Pay, Benefits and Resources
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:
Advanced
Domain(s):
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
Orthopedic Domain(s):
N/A
Keywords:
Administration, Value, Negotiation
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
In order to earn your CEUs, you must watch the session video in its entirety, complete the assessment, and receive a certificate of completion. Your statement of credit, reflecting the total CEUs earned for on-demand sessions, will be uploaded to your NATA EducATe transcript in early November. The maximum CEUs to be awarded are: up to 20 CEUs for On-Demand Only Registrants; and up to 5 CEUs for In-Person Attendees (A statement of credit for 15 in-person CEUs will be issued separately.) CEUs will only be awarded for sessions that have a certificate of completion.
Course Expiration:
All sessions of the NATA 76th Symposia On-Demand must be completed by October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
For full details, refer to the expiration 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.