Today I’m talking to athletic trainer Carla Gilson.
Carla is the director of sports medicine at Georgia Tech where she has spent her entire professional career. While it seems like her journey through athletic training was straightforward, Carla started college unsure of exactly what she wanted to do.
Carla earned her BS in management from Tulane University. While a student, Carla began working as a student athletic trainer and was hooked. After graduating with her business degree and taking a few more classes to fulfill requirements, Carla attended East Tennessee State Univerisity and earned her masters in physical education.
Carla then began working as an athletic trainer at Georgia Tech and fell in love with the process of serving student-athletes. She loved that she could help athletes in their worst possible condition progress through treatment and return to play.
In 2018, Carla became the first black woman to be named the director of sports medicine at a Power Five institution. She is the co-founder of the Life Now, Life Later program, part of the Total Person Program at Georgia Tech, providing a space for female student-athletes of color to share experiences and flourish.
We talk about:
- Seeking opportunities to grow
- Comparing yourself to yourself
- Helping others overcome obstacles
- Investing in your professional development
- Following gut feelings
- Serving student-athletes
- Trusting you have the skills to be prepared
For more information on Carla Gilson, you can find her on social:
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