VATEC 2024 Posters

Dr. Mattocks serves as the Chairperson of the Division of Athletic Training at West Virginia University.  Prior to this role she served as a Program Director/Chair at Spalding University and the inaugural Clinical Education Coordinator from 2014-16. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Linfield College, a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from Oregon State University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Professions Education from Bellarmine University. She has worked as a Division III Athletic Trainer at Pacific University in Oregon, as a Field Service Representative for DJO is now ENOVIS, and as the Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Athletic Training Program at Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Mattocks has a research focus on student learning objectives and the use of simulation in athletic training education.

Chris is currently in his 27th year as a Certified Athletic Trainer. Chris is a native of South Carolina growing up in Charleston. He is a graduate of Charleston Southern University with a BS in PE/Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Training. He continued his education by earning a MS in Health Science from Middle Tennessee State University. Most recently, Chris has completed his Ph.D. in Health Science/Athletic Training from Rocky Mountain University in Provo, Utah. His research focus is on appropriate medical care trends in secondary school populations and the factors related to the ongoing care of juvenile athletes. He is a member of the NATA, NSCA, and ACSM, holding certifications as a Certified Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Chris has worked as an Assistant and Head Athletic Trainer at the Division I and Division II Levels collegiately. He has served as a Head Athletic Trainer within the National Indoor Football League. He has worked extensively in clinical high school outreach and was first Director of Athletic Training and Community Outreach for the Moore Orthopedic Clinic. The foundation for his career began in Emergency Medical Services at age 15. He worked actively in EMS for 7 years prior to, and during his early career as a Certified Athletic Trainer. The subject of emergency preparedness and response within athletic settings continues to be an area of ongoing interest.

Chris is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Athletic Training Program for Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. Chris, his wife, Courtney, and his son, Kellen reside in the Woodlands, TX.

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.

Heather Schuyler has been an educator for over 16 years and serves as the coordinator of clinical education at Adrian College. She earned her B.S. degree in Athletic Training at Eastern Michigan University, then attended the University of South Florida where she earned her M.A. degree in Exercise Science, and finally the University of St. Augustine earning her Ed.D in Education. Heather has worked in the high school and collegiate settings and is also a certified and licensed massage therapist. Heather's primary professional interests are athletic training clinical education, concussion, and non-western therapies.

Dr. Jeremy Hawkins is a professor in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. He has served previously as a program director and coordinator of clinical education. In addition to his faculty role, Dr. Hawkins is the Academic Department Head for the Department of Kinesiology, a department that houses 5 undergraduate degrees, and 5 graduate degrees, including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies in addition to Athletic Training. His research interests focus on therapeutic modalities and athletic training education.

Jessica C. Martinez, PhD, ATC is an Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.

Dr. Joan O’Connell is an associate professor and chairperson for the department of health professions in the Dr. Dominic A. and Helen M. Bitonte College of Health and Human Services at Youngstown State University. Dr O’Connell is an American Society of Clinical Pathologists-certified medical laboratory scientist and has an extensive background in education and clinical laboratory science.

Jodi Schumacher is currently an associate professor at Eastern Michigan University in the Athletic Training Program. Previously, Jodi served as the Program Director for 20+ years and has been a certified athletic trainer for 30 years. Her research interests are Interprofessional Education and student development.  

John C. Roberts, Jr., EdD, LAT, ATC is an assistant professor and Interim Program Director for Gannon University’s Master of Athletic Training Program in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was the Clinical Education Coordinator at Gannon from 2021 to 2024 and served as Undergraduate Program Director at Concord University in Athens, WV from 2014 to 2021. John was named the Athletic Training Educator of the Year by the West Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2018 and 2021. Before Concord, John was the athletic trainer at Spotswood High School in Penn Laird, Virginia. He also has clinical experience in collegiate settings and physicals therapy clinics. Dr. Roberts earned his Educational Doctoral in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Health Professions Education in 2019 from the University of Louisiana, Monroe. He completed the post-professional athletic training program and earned his Master of Science in Education at Old Dominion University in 2001 and he graduated from James Madison University’s undergraduate athletic training program with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology on 1998.He has served on many state, university, and organizational/hospital planning committees and advisory councils. Currently he is a member of the Continuing Education Committee for the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society, the chair of the District 2 Honors and Awards Committee, and member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Executive Council for Education.John resides in Erie, PA with his wife, Katie, who is also an athletic trainer, and their three children. He is passionate about spending time with his family, serving as a Scoutmaster, coaching and playing soccer, camping, and kayaking.

Dr. Kelly Pagnotta currently serves as the Program Director/ Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University. She has worked clinically as an athletic trainer at various high schools and mass medical events.

Her research areas of interests are preventing sudden death and injuries in athletics using educational techniques and policy development through qualitative research methods. She is specifically interested in how we can get the current research, recommended guidelines and ""best practices"" into clinical practice.

Dr. Pagnotta serves as a reviewer for various athletic training journals and as a CAATE site visitor. She also serves as a Board of Director for the Association of Athletic Training Education. She a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association and Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey.

Dr. Wamsley serves as an assistant professor and program director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at Concord University in Athens WV. Prior to that responsibility she worked as the Clinical Education Coordinator for 7 years. As an educator, Dr. Wamsley works to develop methods to teach students difficult content in ways they can more easily process and master.

Dr. Leslie Rippon is an associate professor in the Seton Hall University Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) in the School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS), where she has taught since 2016. She obtained her master’s degree in athletic training and a PhD in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Her excellence in the classroom is evidenced by receiving the Interprofessional Educator of the Year Award in Health Sciences Education in 2022 and the Excellence in Innovation and Teaching Award in Health Sciences Education in 2024. Dr. Rippon also received the School of Medical Sciences Researcher of The Year award in 2024. Her research interests include programmatic outcomes, interprofessional education, and virtual world learning environments. In addition to her teaching and research agenda, Dr. Rippon is actively serving the profession. She is a NATA Foundation Educational Resource Committee member and a reviewer for the Athletic Training Education Journal.

Mary Williams EdD, LAT, ATC is Associate Professor and Athletic Training Program Director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). Previously she was Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Director at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. She has worked clinically in the NCAA Division I collegiate setting, within physician practices and rehabilitation clinics. 

Dr. Williams serves as a peer-reviewer with the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE) since 2015. She has previously been an item writer for the Board of Certification and Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (SWATA) Chair of the Student Leadership Development Committee and Advisor of the SWATA Student Senate. Her research interests include lower extremity performance and outcome measures. She also has pedagogical research interests related to interprofessional education, project-based learning, and innovative teaching and learning strategies.

Dr. Matt Mills is an Assistant Professor of Athletic Training at Springfield College and their simulation coordinator. He teaches primarily in the orthopedic evaluation and treatment of the upper extremity, head, neck, and spine. He serves on the NATA PRAT committee, CAATE Peer Review Committee, and is the chair of the EATA Moyer Award Committee. His research interests include head and spine injury, as well as the development of student performance and soft skills using technological solutions, specifically simulation.

Dr. Hernandez earned her doctorate in Kinesiology with an emphasis in biomechanics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in May 2022. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Texas–Arlington in 2016. In 2018, she graduated from Kansas State University with her master’s in public health. Dr. Hernandez worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the cross country and track and field men’s and women’s team during her time at Kansas State. During her time at UW-Madison she was a research assistant in the Wisconsin Injury in Sport Laboratory, teaching assistant for various courses, and a University Health Services/UW RecWell athletic trainer for their walk-in clinic. 

Dr. Hernandez is the director of the Healthy Activity toward Promoting Injury Reduction (HAPIR) lab. Dr. Hernandez's research focuses on mixed-methods studies that examine how low socioeconomic status and/or minority race/ethnicity youth athlete families are impacted by the negative consequences of sport specialization. Additionally, she is interested in how athletic trainers’ clinical decisions may be impacted by a youth athletes’ socioeconomic status.

Morgan Cooper Bagley PhD, AT, ATC is the Coordinator of Clinical Education/Associate Professor for the Youngstown State University Master of Athletic Training Program. Morgan has her PhD in Exercise Physiology and her MA in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University, and her BS in Athletic Training from Mount Union College. 

Morgan is an instructor for American Red Cross First Aid and CPR and Stop the Bleed. She also is an editor for the Athletic Training Education Journal. Her research interests include clinical application of diagnostic ultrasound in sports medicine, fatigability of surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligaments, and interdisciplinary student learning. Her previous clinical and teaching experience includes University of Mount Union, East Carolina University and Kent State University.