Do you enjoy sports and physical activity, the human body, solving problems, caring for patients, and working with people?
If so, have you considered pursuing a career in athletic training?
The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program at UW–Madison is a 24-month program that prepares students seeking a health care career in athletic training.
To give you some insight into this program, following is a Q&A with Jacky Holloway — a former student-athlete at Saint Xavier University who now is a student with the MSAT program.
Where are you from and what drew you to UW–Madison? I am from Waukesha, Wisconsin, and I was drawn to UW–Madison so that I could be close to family and get a Big Ten education and clinical experience.
Where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and what sport did you play in college? I earned my undergraduate degree in exercise science from Saint Xavier University, where I had the wonderful opportunity to play collegiate softball.
How did you decide to study athletic training, and how long have you been in the program? After being involved in sports my entire life, I realized I had a love for health care and wanted to continue being around sports. I also wanted to be someone that athletes could rely on and trust for their care having been in their shoes before. I’ve loved the program so far in my first year!
Where are you doing your fieldwork this fall? This semester I am working with women’s softball, men’s and women’s tennis, rowing, and spirit squad.
What has it been like moving from the athlete side of the equation to the health care side? Are there any advantages to being a former student-athlete who is now working toward becoming an AT? Moving from being an athlete to the health care side has been very eye opening. It’s been such a great help being a former athlete that has dealt with some of the injuries that we talk about. Additionally, I would say being an athlete has really clued me in on how to make a meaningful and impactful relationship with those who are still athletes.
What has been your most meaningful experience with the AT program? One of the most meaningful experiences that I have been able to be a part of in the AT program is helping athletes overcome some of their biggest challenges that they’ve faced. Whether it comes in the form of an injury, mental or physical exhaustion, or even just everyday problems, it’s extremely rewarding to help them in any way.
What class or faculty member had the greatest impact on you? I would say that Andrew Winterstein and Pat Hills-Myeer both have had the biggest impact on me by instilling confidence and knowledge in me. These two have always been my cohort’s biggest supporters and fans!
How did the UW–Madison Athletic Training program influence you? I think UW–Madison’s Athletic Training program has made me more confident in my ability to learn and practice as a future athletic trainer.
What do you enjoy most about the program? I love working with my cohort and preceptors as a team and I love building relationships with my colleagues and athletes!
What has been the most difficult part? The most difficult part has been seeing athletes go through difficult injuries where they’re stuck in their progression to get better.
What’s next for you? What are your future plans? I would love to continue to work with a bunch of different sports to continue learning more about the job! Once I pass the BOC (Board of Certification), I would love to work in a collegiate setting and continue to better athletes’ experiences with their sport!
Athletic trainers (ATs) are multi-skilled professionals who collaborate with physicians as part of the health care team to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. For those who seek dynamic, exciting, and challenging work within the health care field, athletic training is an incredibly rewarding career with a positive employment outlook. For more information visit the MSAT program’s website.