NATA Elects Marjorie Albohm as its New President

During its 59th Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia at the Americas Center in St. Louis, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) will welcome Marjorie J. Albohm, MS, ATC, as its new president. She is one of the first female athletic trainers ever certified, a Hall of Fame recipient and only the second woman to serve as president in the organizations history. Elected in October, Albohm will officially assume the responsibilities of the office, succeeding Chuck Kimmel, ATC.

The meeting will take place June 17-21.

Albohm is currently manager of Customer Education and Fellowship Programs for Ossur Americas, a principal of Firm Solutions, LLC consulting company and an instructor with Speech Fitness Communications, a marketing and media training company. She is the former director of business development and orthopaedic research for Orthopaedics Indianapolis and the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, and is now based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Indianapolis and Charleston, South Carolina

NATA Executive Director Eve Becker-Doyle, CAE, believes Albohm will offer a new perspective and innovative approach to her role as president: Always one of the associations most forward thinking and energetic leaders, Marje Albohm has been instrumental in the growth and success of our organization for many years, she said. She has dedicated her lifes work to the profession and we look forward to tapping into her boundless enthusiasm, fresh outlook and long-standing experience, as NATA continues to champion the critical work performed every day by athletic trainers nationwide.

Albohm is the former president of the National Athletic Trainers Association Research and Education Foundation, past chair of the NATA Reimbursement Advisory Group, former vice president and secretary/treasurer of the NATA board of directors and past District 4 director to the NATA board of directors. She has received the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, the Tim Kerin Award for Excellence in Athletic Training and is a 1999 inductee in the NATA Hall of Fame.

Im extremely humbled to have been chosen to lead this fine organization, Albohm said. I look forward to helping NATA continue to improve the quality of health care provided by certified athletic trainers and to raise the profile of the amazing work done by members of the athletic training profession.

Albohm also served on the medical staff and has coordinated the medical coverage for numerous national and international events, including the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, the 1987 Pan American Games, the 1988 Track and Field Olympic Trials, the 1991 World Gymnastic Championships and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

She received her bachelors degree from Valparaiso University and her masters degree from Indiana State University. She has authored many articles that have appeared in a variety of journals. Albohm is the author of the book, Health Care and the Female Athlete, and co-author of Your Injury A Common Sense Guide to Sports Injuries, and Reimbursement for Athletic Trainers. Albohm has lectured nationally on a variety of athletic training and sports medicine related topics.

Athletic trainers are unique health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 30,000 members of the athletic training profession. NATA advocates for equal access to athletic trainers for patients and clients of all ages and supports H.R. 1846. Only 42% of high schools have access to athletic trainers. NATA members adhere to a code of ethics. Visit www.nata.org for more information.