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Each year there are one or two sports injuries that dominate media attention.  For the 2009 football season, concussion was one of the hot topics.  Although serious injuries such as concussion are never good, related media attention increases awareness of the need for additional research in these areas.

The Cantu Guskiewicz Research Endowment for Sport Concussion was established as part of the NATA Foundation Capital Campaign to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice for athletic trainers.  The endowment’s first financial goal is to reach $50,000 in pledges to support doctoral level research in this area.  The ultimate goal of the original donors is to reach the $1,000,000 mark.

Currently, the endowment has approximately $46,000 in pledges and $19,000 in actual funds.  These funds were pledged and contributed by Robert Cantu, MD and Kevin Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC along with contributions from other individuals, and an annual pledge by football helmet manufacturer Xenith, Inc.

The Xenith pledge is based on football helmet sales.  For each helmet sold, Xenith will contribute $1 dollar to the endowment.  Xenith’s contribution covering 2009 helmet sales was $11,800.

The NATA Foundation and the Cantu Guskiewicz Work Group would like to thank all of those who have supported this endowment, with a special thanks to our friends at Xenith for their annual contribution.  With the continued support from corporate friends and individual donors, we will reach the goal of providing much needed research on sport concussion.
 

The NATA Foundation will sponsor several activities during the NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia in Philadelphia.  The NATA Foundation Booth will be open from Wednesday, June 23 through Friday, June 25.  The NATA Foundation Night is in the final planning stages and should again be a fun filled night for all.

• Fun Run – Wednesday, June 23, 7:00 am

• Silent Auction – Wednesday, June 23 thru Friday, June 25

• Student Leadership Breakfast – Friday, June 25, Time 8:00

Your participation will help the NATA Research & Education Foundation continue to offer a wide variety of programs and activities to help Athletic Trainers do their jobs more effectively every day!
 

This Grant Information Summary may be downloaded in a 2-page pdf file from www.natafoundation.org/pdfs/McClurePhillip.pdf .
 

The NATA Foundation Board of Directors would like to thank each individual and corporate donor for contributions made to the organization in 2009.  Without this support, the Foundation would not be able to support the many programs and projects detailed in this report, which benefit each and every athletic trainer by advancing the mission of the profession through research and education.

Research Programs

• 10 Master’s and Doctoral Gants were awarded in 2009, totaling more than $12,500

• From the Foundation’s inception in 1991 to December 31, 2009, the organization has awarded 198 grants totaling more than $2.8 million

• Approximately 244 Free Communications Oral and Poster Presentations were presented at the NATA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas

• 13 Foundation grant recipients presented their findings to the NATA membership in San Antonio, Texas

• Abstracts of original research were published in the Supplement to the Journal of Athletic Training

• Published the Supplement to the Journal of Athletic Training, which was made available to NATA members

• Grant Information Summaries, published from funded research projects, were made available to NATA members through the Foundation website and at National and District Meetings

• The New Investigator Award presented to to J. Troy Blackburn, PhD, ATC in honor of Freddie H. Fu, MD

• Doctoral Dissertation Award presented to Patrick O. McKeon, PhD, ATC, CSCS  in honor of David H. Perrin, PhD, ATC

• Outcomes Research Grant continued funding

Education Programs

• $158,700 in graduate and undergraduate scholarships were awarded (69 Scholarships)

• Presentation of annual Lecture Exchange Program with the AMSSM, AOSSM and ACSM

Capital Campaign

• The principal driver of the Foundation’s Capital Campaign was “a new and expanded vision for the future”

• The goal of the Capital Campaign was to generate a significant portion of the annual resources needed to continue advancing the profession from interest generated by the Foundation’s endowments

• Although the Capital Campaign is officially complete, volunteers and staff continue to work to raise funds for the 38 new endowments

• As of December 21, 2009, the Capital Campaign had generated more than $1.6 million in pledges

To download a copy of the single page Investor Report for 2009 click HERE.

Your NATA Research Foundation Board held conference calls on 12/08/09 and 12/22/09 with its February call on 02/23/10.  Below are some highlights of the actions taken:

December 8 Discussions/Actions
The December 8 call was dedicated to reviewing the work of the Research Committee and the Finance Committee.

The Board approved the following grant applications for funding as recommended by the Research Committee:

• Masafumi Terada, ATC, University of Toledo – “An Examination of Proximal Tibia Anterior Translation and Neuromuscular Control in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability”

• Stephanie Carzoo, ATC, EMT-B,  Michigan State University – “Graduate Assistance Athletic Trainers’ Time Commitments and Cognitive Appraisals”

• Julia Dawn Brandt, ATC, CSCS, University of Virginia – “Effects of Talocrural Joint Mobilization in Individuals with Diminished Dorsiflexion Range of Motion  after Ankle Sprain”

The Board approved the following award recipients as recommended by the Research Committee:

• Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Recipient –Thomas Weidner, PhD, ATC, FNATA

• Doctoral Dissertation Award – Erik Wikstrom, PhD, ATC

Finally, the Board approved the 2010 operating budget as presented and requested a review of income and expenditures at the three month point.

December 22 Discussions/Actions
President Mark Hoffman called a special conference call on December 22 to discuss staffing issues.  Velma Meza accepted a position with NATA, effective January 2010, leaving a key position within the organization vacant.  The group discussed the best use of staff resources at this time and how the position could be filled.

The Executive Committee recommended to the Board that staff make this position one dedicated to development.  The Board voted to accept the Executive Committee’s recommendation.

Teresa Foster Welch was directed to develop a job description, post the position, and find a suitable candidate.  It is hopeful this can be accomplished prior to the Annual Meeting.

February 23 Discussions/Actions
The Board of Directors discussed nominations for the Foundation’s Volunteer Service Awards and for the 2010 Board of Directors positions. The electronic vote was taken after the call, returning the following results:

Volunteer Service Award Winners

• Lifetime Contribution Award – Ronnie Barnes, ATC

• Volunteer Service Award – Steve Bair, ATC

2010 Board Election Results

• President – Mark Hoffman, PhD, ATC, FACSM
• Vice President Governance – Charles J. Redmond, ATC, LAT, PT
• Vice President Finance – Clint Thompson, ATC
• Board of Directors Chair District 2 – Robb Rehberg, PhD, ATC, CSCS, NREMT
• Board of Directors Chair District 9 – Ray Castle, PhD, ATC
• Board of Directors Chair District 10 – Valerie J. Rich, PhD, ATC, CSCS, WEMT-B

President Mark Hoffman presented his “President’s Challenge” plan to the group.  This project, which challenges each Board member to “get or give” $3,000 in Foundation contributions, is designed to get Board members more involved in the fundraising process.

Executive Director Teresa Foster Welch updated the Board on the Corporate Champion Program.  Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is holding its Level 1 TPI Certification Course in conjunction with the NATA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.  As “host” of this event, the Foundation will receive a portion of proceeds from the course.

Executive Director Teresa Foster Welch also met with a representative from DonJoy (DJO) to discuss the Corporate Champion Program.  Follow-up with DJO, as well as solicitations with other companies, is ongoing.

Executive Committee reports included an update on the Foundation’s district meeting participation.  Specifically, the group is looking for ways to maximize our time at the district meetings.  The Foundation’s elevator speech, style guide and other marketing tools were also discussed.

The next Foundation Board Conference Call will be Tuesday, April 29 at 10:00 A.M. CST.
 

• Apr. 1, 2010 Spring Master's Research Grant applications due
• Apr. 30, 2010 NATA Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia Early Registration Deadline

NATA Research & Education Foundation
2952 Stemmons
Dallas, TX  75247
214.637.6282
www.natafoundation.org