Our community is passionate about sports, and while athletes receive the most attention, many could not stay in the game without help from sports medicine professionals. March is National Athletic Training Month and a great time to recognize the highly trained individuals who work in the Southeast Georgia Health System Sports Medicine Program.

On the forefront (and the sidelines) of that fact are certified athletic trainers, the health providers who help prevent and manage sports injuries, including concussions. They are as dedicated to their work as athletes are to their sport. As team leader for Southeast Georgia Health System’s Sports Medicine Program, Rebecca Joyner, MS, ATC, PES, ITAT, understands that passion. She grew up playing sports, and her active career keeps her close to the action. Today, she leads a team of eight certified athletic trainers (ATC) working with other sports medicine health providers, including Beau Sasser, MD, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and medical director of the program, and Paul Trumball, PT, MBA, director of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. The team’s combined expertise gives athletes a competitive edge, whether they need help recovering from an injury or fine-tuning their form. They provides athletic training services to Glynn County schools as well as to Brantley County High School, McIntosh County Academy, Frederica Academy and the College of Coastal Georgia.

The athletic trainers are so enthusiastic about their profession, they offer a three-day Student Athletic Trainer Camp every summer. “Our athletic trainers have a passion to share what we do. The camp provides students with opportunities to learn important fundamentals, and to see what other professions fall under the sports medicine umbrella,” Joyner says. “They learn injury treatment and prevention, first aid, CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator. They leave camp prepared to possibly work alongside a certified athletic trainer as a student athletic trainer aide.”

Beyond the hands-on experience, the students get exposure to related careers such as orthopaedic surgeon, physical therapist, nutritionist, and physician assistant. “You can work in many different settings as an ATC besides sports, including the performing arts, and emergency services,” says Joyner.

The camp takes place June 11-13, 2024, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Glynn County Stadium, 5 Community Action Drive, Brunswick. Space is limited; registration and payment are due by May 28, 2024. The cost for the three-day camp is $120 and includes materials, supplies, a T-shirt, lunch and snacks.
The Student Athletic Trainer Aide program is a natural extension of the camp. In this program, high school students assist athletic trainers as they work with sports teams. Student aides enrolled in the Golden Isles Career Challenge Academy (GICCA) earn work-based class credits. “It’s a great opportunity to help young students figure out what they want to do,” explains Joyner. Students can serve as aides for a few years while enrolled in GICCA or for a short summer session to decide which direction they want to pursue.
To learn more about becoming an aide, visit www.sghs.org/services/sports-medicine/. To learn more about the summer camp or for a registration form, contact Rebecca Joyner, at 912-466-5745 or [email protected]. Registration is also available at https://2024-camp.eventbrite.com. Space is limited to 25 students.