164. Building a Community with Athletic Trainer Sarah Turner

Building a Community with Athletic Trainer Sarah Turner

Introducing Sarah Turner

Today I’m talking to secondary school athletic trainer Sarah Turner about building a community.

Her Career Journey

With the encouragement of her high school guidance counselor to explore athletic training, Sarah earned her BS in Athletic Training at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. She began working as an AT at Wabast General Hospital Sports Medicine, where she currently serves as the Director of Athletic Training Services. Sarah covers Fairfield Community High School and Fairfield Community College in Southern Illinois. She serves on the board of the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association and is the founder of StrongHER, a female-specific injury prevention program.

Building A Community

Her team covers numerous high schools and community colleges and provides big-city care over a large rural area. We talk about how Sarah has helped to elevate the standing of athletic trainers in her health system and negotiate their pay and benefits. Sarah is not just building a professional community of athletic trainers and sports medicine professionals, but she’s reaching local student-athletes where it matters most and helping them form lifelong ties with health care.

Inside this episode:

  • Sarah initially thought she wanted to eventually become a head AT at a power five school, but came to realize that the work-life balance she wanted would be best found by working at the high school and community college level.
  • She takes her role in the community seriously, helping these student-athletes grow off the field as they form their first bonds with the healthcare system. 
  • As the Director of Athletic Training within her hospital system, Sarah has revamped many of the aspects of how ATs are viewed. She’s flights for salary and benefits packages of ATCs that include student loan reimbursement and athletic trainers on billboards.
  • Sarah takes advantage of her role on the board of the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association to network and recruit as well as speak with those outside of her region. 
  • She’s implemented a check-in system with her athletes that includes a perceived stress level. Anything above a three on a scale of 1-5 prompts a follow-up from her as well as the opportunity to involve other professionals who can help with the athlete’s mental health.
  • Sarah’s advice to everyone is to remind them that they belong in the room and they should work to build the tribe that supports them for who they are.

Resources

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