Happy National Athletic Training Month to Melinda Wilson, Regional Director and Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer for Winfield High School and Brilliant High School!
Thank you for all you do, Melinda!
Melinda shares what is means to her to be an Athletic Trainer.
Why did you choose athletic training as a career? I played sports in high school and college and knew I wanted a career involving athletics/wellness. After college, I was working as a fitness instructor at Northport-DCH when I was introduced to Athletic Training through Rodney Brown, ATC. He said, “You look like you would make a good athletic trainer!” I said, “What’s that?” He said, “Come out to Tuscaloosa County High this afternoon and I will tell you all about it.” The rest is history! I fell in love with this career from the first day I stepped on a field.
What has been the highlight of your career? Starting the Sports Medicine Program in this area from the ground up. I have been blessed to offer these athletes a service that was not afforded to me.
What does it mean to be back home taking care of the people in your community? Winfield did not have an athletic trainer and I was able to return to my hometown and provide a service for the athletes, Winfield, and the surrounding communities. It means so much to give back and know I am making a difference. I am thankful for the parents trusting me to care for their children. I have built life-long friendships over the last 28 years! It’s definitely the most rewarding career!
What would you tell future students that might want to become an Athletic Trainer? If you want a career that doesn’t feel like a job, this is definitely the career for you. I have never felt like I was going to work. It is a lot of long days and nights but the end result is all the lifelong relationships you acquire. It is a special feeling to watch an athlete with an injury work to overcome and return to what they love.
Encore Rehabilitation-Winfield 199 Carraway Drive, Suite A1 Winfield, Alabama 35594 205-487-0540
Happy National Athletic Training Month to DeShena Thomas, ATC!
DeShena is from Leakesville, Mississippi, and is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. She is in her ninth season as the Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer with Citronelle High School. She has one son.
Thank you for all you do, DeShena! We are proud to have you on the Encore Team!
“My name is Lillie Morgan. I am a graduate of Troy University with a Bachelors in Athletic Training. I have been with Encore Rehabilitation since 2018. My favorite part of my job is getting the opportunity to invest in the lives of my athletes and their families. I enjoy watching them succeed in athletics, and helping them overcome and push through whatever obstacles may come their way. I enjoy spending time with my family and going to the beach. I provide coverage for Rehobeth High School.”
Happy National Athletic Training Month, Lillie! Thank you for all you do!
Encore Rehabilitation-Dothan East 1811 East Main Street, Suite 1 Dothan, AL 36301 334-828-7300
We would like to wish Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Katy Chauvin a Happy National Athletic Training Month!
Thank you for all you do for Wallace State Community College Athletics and the greater Hanceville and Cullman communities! We are proud to have you on our Team!
Athletic Trainer Rob Milam is in his eleventh year with Encore Rehabilitation. Originally from New Orleans, he came to Spanish Fort from Atlanta where he worked with the Atlanta Falcons.
Rob earned his M.Ed. from Auburn University, where he worked as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer with the football team. He received his Bachelors Degree in Athletic Training from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA.
Rob is outsourced to Spanish Fort High School by way of Encore Sports Medicine. Rob is responsible for the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries that may occur to the student athletes at Spanish Fort.
We are proud to have you with us, Rob! Thank you for all you do for the Spanish Fort community!
We want to thank Encore Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Danielle Taylor for all she does for the Russellville community and Russsellville High School Athletics! Happy National Athletic Training Month, Danielle!
Danielle shared below a few thoughts about what it means to her to be an Athletic Trainer.
Why did you choose athletic training as a career? Coming from a small school in Mississippi we had one athletic trainer that covered several schools in the area and I always admired his job. Sports have always been a huge part of my life since childhood and I knew I wanted to be in medical field, therefore, athletic training was a perfect fit.
What has been the highlight of your career? The relationships you make helps this job to be fun and worthwhile. The most rewarding thing, however, is getting a front row seat to witnessing the athletes hard work paying off and them being successful after facing injury.
What would you tell future students that might want to become an AT? Always try to be better than the day before. Being an athletic trainer is not always easy. Just like any job it has it’s moments or days, but then there are the good moments where you realize it is all worth it. The late nights are worth it. Being in the heat, cold, rain, etc. is worth it. Going above and beyond for your athletes, parents, coaches, etc. is worth it.
Danielle says, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” -Confucius
Encore Sports Medicine is the Official Sports Medicine Provider for Russellville High School!