UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
ATHLETIC TRAINING ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
College of Health Sciences
Dept. of Health, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences
Volume 4 --- Summer 2007
CAATE Self-Study and Site Visit Completed During 2006-07 SY!
Athletic Training Research Laboratory Opens
UD’s undergraduate Athletic Training Education Program
completed the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic
Training Education (CAATE) self-study document
(September 2006) and subsequent site visit (March
2007). Rejoinder items were submitted in early May and
the program awaits a final decision by the commission in
July. Members of the faculty, clinical staff, alumni, and
students worked diligently to prepare the documents and
ready the facilities for the site visit team. A special
THANKS to UD alums Melissa Cruice (1999), Matt Koscs
(2005), Mike McKenzie (1997), and Carrie Steinman
(2006) who graciously attended a luncheon with the site
visit team to discuss their UD athletic training
experience! Needless to say it was a job well done on
everyone’s part. Successful accreditation will result in
the program being able to continue for another 7 years!
UD’s Athletic Training Research Laboratory officially
opened in August 2006 under the guidance of Dr. Buz
Swanik and Dr. Tom Kaminski. The laboratory supports a
number of neuromuscular research projects involving
both undergraduate and graduate students.
Inside this issue:
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From the Desk Of…
6
Alumni Spotlight (Diane
[Turgeon] Regalbuto – Class
of 1995)
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Anaheim Alumni Party
Hen Droppings:
AT Research Lab.
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- Congratulations to Joan Couch who will be honored at
the NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia with a
Service Award (see more in this issue)
Athletic Training
required to complete a 7.5 week
“general medical” rotation involving a
non-musculoskeletal patient population.
This requirement is being driven in part
by new CAATE accreditation
requirements.
News and Notes
from the desk of:
Dr. Tom Kaminski,
Director of
Athletic Training
Education
Hard to believe that I have completed
my fourth year here at UD! Wow time
has flown by. The 2006-07 school year
was another busy one. This one was
especially busy with the CAATE
accreditation process in full swing. I
cannot thank the faculty, staff,
students and alumni who participated in
the process, enough for all their
efforts.
Accolades abound for members of UD’s
ATEP program and alumni. Of special
note was the Fall 2006 Presidential
Citation for Outstanding Achievement
Award to 1995 graduate Diane
(Turgeon) Regalbuto who now works in
the US Senate Building, Joan Couch
being honored with an NATA Service
Award, and Dr. Charles “Buz” Swanik
being granted promotion to associate
professor with tenure.
A few minor changes to the Athletic
Training curriculum will take place
beginning Fall 2007. Most notable is
the addition of a second “rehab” class
taught by John Smith. Additionally,
athletic training students will be
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Congratulations to the 14 newest alums
of the ATEP. I’m especially proud of
this group of graduates being the first
students who arrived with me back in
August of 2003. We are also excited
about the newest members of the ATEP
selected last week and who are set to
begin matriculating in the major Fall
2007.
The annual alumni gathering in Atlanta
did not disappoint! The 13+
undergraduates who accompanied us to
the NATA convention had a wonderful
time interacting with the many alums
who attended. Thanks for your support
and attendance.
Images from the
party can be viewed at ---http://www.udel.edu/HNES/AT/Site/al
umni_news.html I look forward to
seeing you all again this year in Anaheim
at the ESPN Zone Anaheim (Disneyland)
on Friday June 29, 2007. Come join the
fun and meet up with old friends and
colleagues. Any alumni familiar with the
St. Louis, MO area, site of next years
NATA convention, should let me know of
any gathering places worth looking into.
Please keep us updated with your
whereabouts and updates on the Alumni
web page link. Keep spreading the word
about the ATEP to those you meet and
have an interest in athletic training as a
career. Word of mouth is our best
recruiting tool. Best wishes for a safe
and healthy year!
This year I would like to begin by telling
you that we have two new team
physicians. In September, the
University hired Dr. Andrew Reisman,
MD, ATC to be our new team physician.
Dr. Reisman became an ATC via the
internship route after graduating from
Haverford College. After working as an
ATC for a few years, he went to medical
school at the University of Rochester.
After completing his residency, he
completed a sports medicine fellowship
at Christiana Hospital. Before coming to
the University, he worked as a sports
medicine physician at Cassells
Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
located in Wilmington, DE. In addition,
Dr. Reisman serves as the medical
director for the Athletic Training
Education Program. The University also
hired Dr. Geoffrey Gustavsen, MD to
serve as a second team physician. Dr.
Gustavsen completed a sports medicine
fellowship at Thomas Jefferson
Hospital in Philadelphia. He had been
working as a physician at the Student
Health Center at the University of
Delaware before joining the sports
medicine team. Dr. Gustavsen has been
trained in the use of acupuncture and
has treated several athletes with this
technique. Having two team physicians
has provided our athletic teams with
better medical coverage and given our
athletic training students greater
opportunity to interact with the
physicians.
Dr. K.
News and Notes
from the desk of:
Keith Handling,
Head Athletic
Trainer
After several years of requesting an
additional athletic training position, I
have just received permission from
Edgar Johnson, our Athletic Director to
begin a search for a new athletic
trainer. We hope to have the new
person hired by July 1, 2007. Our staff
will then consist of 5 full-time athletic
trainers, 1 internship athletic trainer,
and 5 graduate assistant athletic
trainers.
Athletic Training
One final note, Ms. Joan Couch will
receive an NATA Service Award at the
NATA 58th Annual Meeting and Clinical
Symposia in Anaheim, California, this
summer. If you have an opportunity, you
can e-mail Joan congratulations at
jmcouch@udel.edu. As always, if you
have an opportunity to visit the
University of Delaware, please stop in
and visit us.
Faculty Spotlight
Dan Watson, MEd, ATC
Education:
BS: University of Delaware 1995
MEd: University of Virginia 1996
Teaching Responsibilities:
ATEP Clinical Coordinator
HESC210 – Emergency Management of Injuries and Illnesses
Professional Activities:
Dan Watson shown here in a UD Athletic Directory
Photo ---- access his complete bio at
http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/football/staff/watson.html
Head Athletic Trainer – UD Men’s Basketball Team
Approved Clinical Instructor
One feature of the newsletter is to spotlight a faculty or staff member who is a vital part of the Athletic Training
Education Program. This year we focus on Dan Watson. Dan has just completed his third year at UD and is a strong
advocate of clinical education. Dan has recently gained adjunct instructor status in the Department of Health, Nutrition &
Exercise Sciences and has been active in teaching athletic training students in his HESC210 class – Emergency Management
of Injuries and Illnesses. Dan also serves as UD’s ATEP Clinical Coordinator and plays a vital role in the clinical education
component of all athletic training students. A native of Newark, DE and a UD alum (1995), Dan is extremely loyal and a
very strong advocate of the ATEP --- THANKS Dan for all that you do for the program.
As my third year back at the University of Delaware winds down I’ve been given the opportunity to reflect on my past and
present experiences. Currently I’m an Assistant Athletic Trainer and the Undergraduate Clinical Coordinator.
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Athletic Training
On the Athletics side, my primary sports assignment is Men’s Basketball. It’s been a tough couple of years for that
program, but with first year Head Coach Monte Ross at the helm there is no doubt the program is on the rise. I look
forward to the day when the Fightin’ Blue Hens return to men’s basketball March Madness. I also take pride in helping many
of our student-athletes with their rehabilitation. As most of you can attest, job satisfaction is at it’s highest after helping
one of your patients return safely and effectively back to play.
My involvement with our Athletic Training Education Program is multi-faceted. I serve as an ACI, instructor for HESC 210
(Emergency Management), and the Clinical Coordinator. As Clinical Coordinator I visit students at their off-campus sites
(either local high schools or physical therapy clinics). These visitations keep the athletic training students in the loop for
on-campus clinical happenings, as well as allowing me to continue cultivating the UD ATEP’s solid relationship with the local
allied health community. I have met many ATC’s and PT’s who play an integral role in our students broadening clinical
experiences and education. Our ATEP is strengthened by having these individuals provide such a priceless service.
The UD ATEP puts athletic training students in a position to succeed. After graduating from UD in May 1995, I started
graduate school at the University of Virginia. That summer our first graduate course was cadaver anatomy. I felt I had a
head start on the rest of my UVA classmates because none of them had taken cadaver anatomy yet. The UD ATEP was
ahead of its time then and now I get to see the progressive evolution the program continues to follow. The depth and
breadth of the knowledge, skills, and opportunities our students have access to is truly impressive. It only reinforces my
belief of the high quality of our Athletic Training Education Program and how honored I am to be a part of it.
I have been married for almost six years to my beautiful wife Minda. We met when I was working my first job at Yale
University, she was a graduate student at nearby Quinnipiac University. From there we lived in New Jersey while I worked
at Rutgers University. Now in Delaware, Minda works at Christiana Hospital as a Pathologists’ Assistant and we have a house
with never-ending garden projects in West Newark near campus.
Student Athletic Trainers’ Club (SATC) News
May 2007 ATEP Seniors at the Senior Breakfast
AT Seniors “Ham it Up” in Joan Couch’s Practicum IV Class
Congratulations to our 2007 graduates:
Heather Abbott (Delaware Back Pain and Sports Medicine Clinic), Andrew Balick (undecided), Ashley Brunner (Professional Orthopedic and
Sports Physical; Therapy Clinic), Kaila Burklow (undecided), Kelli Carbonneau (PRO Physical Therapy), Tessa Loffredo (OT School – Columbia
University), Katie Naftzinger (AT Graduate School – University of Kentucky), Kirstin Notorfrancesco (Cortiva Institute for Massage –
Philadelphia, PA), Laura Pepper (OT School – Thomas Jefferson University), Mike Phillips (Athletic Trainer – Tower Hill School), Cyndi
Ristori (AT Graduate School – Florida International University), Taka Sakurai (AT Graduate School – Indiana State University), Lauren
Snyder (AT Graduate School – Old Dominion University), and Laura Zona (AT Graduate School – Florida International University).
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Athletic Training
Highlights from the 2007 SATC Picnic
Julia Brandt - 2009 (center) was the winner of the ankle taping contest.
Pictured here with Laida Olaogun - 2008 and Dr. Kaminski.
SATC Officers present Vince Ranalli with the 2007 SATC
Service Award at the SATC Picnic. Vince, a 1992 graduate of
UD’s Athletic Training program, serves as a Clinical Supervisor to
UD’s athletic training students in his role as head athletic trainer
at William Penn High School. Vince is pictured here with SATC
Officers (L-R): Lauren Snyder (Treasurer), Kaila Burklow (Social
Chair), and Megan Burger (President)
Joan Couch Honored with
NATA Service Award
(Excerpted from UD Athletic Press Release dated 2/20/2007)
University of Delaware associate head athletic trainer Joan
Couch, who has served on the Blue Hen staff for the previous 25
years, has been selected to receive the National Athletic
Trainers Association (NATA) Athletic Trainer Service Award.
Couch (at right), who is one of just 27 athletic trainers across
the nation to earn the award this year, will be honored at the
NATA Annual Meeting June 26-30 in Anaheim, CA. The award
recognizes NATA members for their contributions to the
athletic training profession and the association. Although a
national honor, local, state and district service is the focus of
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The T-band race final pitted ATI students (Morgan Reilly &
Liza McHugh on Left), Juniors & Winners (Jessica Mutchler &
Lindsay Tunney in Center) and Seniors (Katie Naftzinger &
Lauren Snyder on Far Right)
this award. Candidates must have a minimum of 15 years
experience as a certified member of the NATA to be eligible.
Couch, who served as an assistant for six years before being
promoted to her current position in 1988, joined the UD sports
medicine staff in 1982 after serving as a volunteer athletic
trainer and substitute health and physical education teacher at
Cape Henlopen High School.
She graduated from the University of Delaware in 1979 with a
bachelor's degree in physical education with an emphasis in
athletic training. She was certified by the National Athletic
Trainers Association in August, 1979 and went on to receive her
master’s degree in sports medicine from the United States
Sports Academy.
Joan Couch pictured here in a UD
Athletics directory photo. More on
Joan Couch at
http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/footb
all/staff/couch.html
Athletic Training
More Hen Droppings:
- Alumni interested in supporting the Paris Delligatti
(class of 1997) Foundation my do so by contacting Chic
Delligatti @ 516-764-3715.
- UD Athletic Training to welcome new graduate
students Fall 2007. Joining us will be Alan Needle
(Boston University), Devon Fegley (Penn State),
Matt Hinsey (Penn State) and Jamie Lambert
(Springfield College).
- AT Graduate students Steve Thomas (doctoral)
and Al Douex (doctoral) will make presentations at
the NATA Annual Convention as part of the Free
Communications Program. Douex is a finalist for
the NATAREF Doctoral Award.
- AT student Rae Everson (2009) was named the
State of Delaware delegate to the EATA Student
Leadership Delegation. Rae assumes the role
vacated by Andrew Balick (2007), whose term
expired. Rae is pictured below:
Dr. Reisman named Team
Physician and Medical
Director for the ATEP
the Arts on Friday October 13,
2007. Here is the UD Public
Relations press release from that
special occasion:
Alumni
Spotlight
A feature of the newsletter will be
to keep alumni in tune with others
who have graduated from the ATEP
and made a significant contribution
to the community, profession, and
society in general. For the first
time ever one of UD’s ATEP alumni
was honored with Presidential
Citation for Outstanding
Achievement. Diane (Turgeon)
Regalbuto (1995), along with 3
other UD alums were honored in
ceremonies held at the Center for
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Diane (Turgeon) Regalbuto
Diane helps maintain the physical
fitness of the 14 women members
of the U.S. Senate, providing them
with programs in health, nutrition
and exercise, as well as therapeutic
massage. Turgeon is a federal
employee and the first and the only
health and fitness specialist at the
Senate Health and Fitness Center
in the Russell Senate Office.
Besides administering and
maintaining the facility for women
senators, Turgeon also oversees
the contract for a separate Senate
staff exercise facility in the
Dirksen Senate Office Building.
After graduation from UD with a
Bachelor of Science degree in
athletic training, Turgeon
completed a master's degree in
health and physical education from
Illinois State University in 1997.
She has worked as a certified
athletic trainer at Illinois Valley
Community College, St. Margaret's
Hospital in Spring Valley, Ill.,
Morgan State University in
Baltimore, the Catholic University
of America in Washington, D.C., and
the University of Maryland in
College Park.
Athletic Training
In 1996, Turgeon served as a
certified athletic trainer and
medical services volunteer for
gymnastics, team handball,
weightlifting, badminton and
fencing at the Summer Olympic
Games in Atlanta. In 2000 and
2001, she served as director of
athletic training for the NCAA
Women's Lacrosse Championships
at the University of Maryland.
Turgeon also has trained athletes
for ACC Conference-level field
hockey, soccer, baseball and
volleyball tournaments.
Turgeon has worked as a medical
service volunteer at the Delaware
Special Olympics Summer Games in
1993 and the Delaware Special
Olympics track and field, soccer
and basketball competition from
1992 to 1995. She also worked as a
student athletic trainer for the UD
Women's Cheerleading Clinic in
1994 and the UD Women's
Lacrosse Clinic in 1995.
Turgeon said the University's
athletic training program was small
enough to allow her to establish a
network of close friends and
colleagues. “The University of
Delaware has one of the best
athletic training programs in the
United States and I'm very proud
to have come from such a
wonderful program,” Turgeon said.
“Obviously it's taken me a lot
further than I expected but it's
been a wonderful road and I plan on
continuing my journey.”
serious, we don’t need to take
ourselves so seriously. There is
always time to take a step back for
a good laugh – even if it is at
somebody else’s expense!
In speaking about Joan – she
responded by saying she always
made time for her girls. She
showed me that you can be a
successful Athletic Trainer and
still have time to be a successful
mother.
When asked to respond to her
favorite things about Keith and
Joan and her days at UD, Diane
responded with: Keith - was always
a prankster and showed me that
while everything we do is pretty
HOW DO I SUPPORT MY ALMA MATER?
If you would like, you may now target your gift to UD to be sent directly to the “Athletic Training Education Program” internal account
(code#: HNES4121112). Those athletic training alums that wish to do so may send the check to the University of Delaware - Office of
University Development or visit the “Campaign for Delaware” web site at http://www.udel.edu/PR/CampaignUD/Pages/page5a.html and
enter your pledge amount using the “Other Designation” category.
Athletic Training Student News and Notes
Three UD ATEP students will spend the summer working as interns in the National Football League:
Jon Boone (Seattle Seahawks)
Bryce Gaines (SF Forty Niners)
Derrick Rivera (Buffalo Bills)
UD ATEP and Study-Abroad Program
UD’s ATEP is proud to be included among the many UD students who spend the Winter Session in the acclaimed
Study Abroad program. The 2007 program saw involvement from Rachel Groff – Australia, Julia Brandt –
England, Karen Hsu – Brazil, and Steve Feldman – China.
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Athletic Training
UD ATEP 2007 Scholarship Award Winners
Four athletic training students were honored as scholarship recipients at the May 4, 2007 College of Health
Sciences Honors Day Convocation. Pictured below are Taka Sakurai – 2007 (Dr. Roy C. Rylander Award), Sarah
Murtagh - 2009 (Dr. Julie Moyer-Knowles Award), Kelly Stafford - 2008 (Paris Delligatti Memorial Scholarship)
and Jon Boone – 2008 (Lee J. Hyncik Athletic Trainer Achievement Award)
And Still More Hen Droppings:
- Rachel Groff (2008) was awarded a UD Alumni Travel award to attend the NATA meeting in June. Rachel will
present an abstract titled “How Often Must You Perform the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment
Metric (ANAM) Test to Get a Stable Baseline Score?
- UD alumnus Jeff Cooper (1975) recently retired as Head Athletic Trainer for the Philadelphia Phillies Major
League Baseball team spent a day lecturing to the senior students enrolled in Dr. Swanik’s HESC449 Advanced
Topics in Sports Medicine class. Here is a picture of Jeff with the students:
- ATEP seniors were the first to take the new computerized version of the Board of Certification (BOC)
examination in April. The students traveled to testing centers in Wilmington to sit for the exam.
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Athletic Training
ANNUAL FIGHTIN BLUE HEN
ATHLETIC TRAINING ALUMNI
BASH...
IT'S TIME TO PARTY THIS YEAR AT:
ESPN Zone - Anaheim
http://espnzone.com/anaheim/
WHERE:
Located in downtown Disneyland
1545 Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92802
714-300-ESPN
WHEN: Friday June 29, 2007
TIME: 8pm-11pm
Come and celebrate with Joan Couch on receiving the prestigious
NATA Service Award!
Sponsored by: The Delaware Athletic Trainers’ Association (DATA),
Delaware Orthopedic Center, and Isokinetic International.
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Athletic Training
http://www.delata.org/
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Athletic Training
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Athletic Training