Athletic Training

Overview

Renee Smith - Tandem

Renee Smith - Tandem
ATC, MS, CSCS - Prevention and assessment of athletic injuries, design of sport specific exercise programs
ATC, MS, CSCS

Specialization - Prevention and assessment of athletic injuries, design of sport specific exercise programs

An interest in helping people and in sports combined to help Renee Smith decide to pursue a career as an Athletic Trainer.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Longwood College and her Master of Science in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University.

She is a certified Athletic Trainer as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, since 2000.

She specializes in prevention and assessment of athletic injuries, and design of sport specific exercise programs. She has a special interest in the assessment and treatment of athletic injuries as well as the progression of sports-specified activities.

When she is not working, Renee enjoys exercising indoors and outdoors, watching UVA athletic events, and spending time with friends and family.

email: reneesm@acacpt.com

Erin Brooks

Erin Brooks
MS, ATC - Sports injuries, Assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in high school athletes
MS, ATC

Specialization: Prevention and management of sports-related injuries. Assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in high school athletes as well as progression of sport-specific activities after injury and return to sport

Erin Brooks says she knew Athletic Training was the career she wanted to pursue when she was a sophomore in high school volunteering as an Athletic Training Aide.

“A career in Athletic Training was a perfect match for me because it combined my love of sports with my interest in health care,” the Rockingham County native explained.

Erin graduated from Longwood University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a concentration in Athletic Training. She earned her Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania in 2011.

She also has a NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification.

Throughout her college career Erin served on the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association Student Senate for the State of Virginia.

She is currently the head Athletic Trainer at The Tandem Friends School.

Erin’s specialization is in prevention and management of sports-related injuries, assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in high school athletes as well as progression of sport-specific activities after injury and return to sport.

Erin’s out of office interests include gardening, spending time at the lake with her family, and the occasional round of golf with her husband.

email: erinbr@acacpt.com

Thomasina Johnson - SOCA

Thomasina Johnson - SOCA
ATC, MAT - Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries
ATC, MAT

Specialization: Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries.

Thomasina went to undergrad at Lincoln Memorial University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training with a minor in Kinesiology. Then she attended The University of West Alabama for graduate school and received my masters in teaching sports medicine and physical education. Throughout the years she has had the pleasure of working with patients and athletes of all ages and prominent doctors, surgeons and coaches throughout the United States.

Thomasina knew athletic training was something special when she discovered it in high school during a two week camp at Michigan State. She became obsessed at making her childhood dream come true and from then on her focus was to learn everything she could about the body and how to make it better through movement, natural healing and exercise.

When Thomasina is not working she loves watching sports, spending time with family, watching movies, dancing, traveling and discovering anything new.

email: thomasinaj@acacpt.com

Amy Alvarez - Western Albemarle HS

Amy Alvarez - Western Albemarle HS
MEd, LAT, ATC - Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury
MEd, LAT, ATC

Specialization: Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury

Amy Virostek became a athletic trainer because of her interest in health and sports coupled with her love of helping others. She received a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from Frostburg State University in 2017, and her Master's Degree in Athletic Training from The University of Virginia in 2018.

At Frostburg, Amy participated in Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field for all four years, which solidified her commitment to Athletic Training and strengthened her connections with her athletes. Amy's specialization is in prevention and management of sports-related injuries, assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in high school athletes as well as progression of sport-specific activities after injury and return to sport.

In her free time, she enjoys being outside, running, weightlifting, and playing with her puppy.

email: amya@acacpt.com

Tyra Drouillard - The Covenant School

Tyra Drouillard - The Covenant School
MSAT, LAT, ATC - Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries

Specialization: Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries

For undergrad, Tyra attended Florida State University, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. She then pursued her master's degree in Athletic Training from the University of Virginia. Throughout these six years, Tyra was able to experience what it is like to be an athletic trainer in the Division 1 collegiate setting, working sports such as football, cheer/dance, lacrosse, and more. 

Tyra says: "I always dreamed of becoming an athletic trainer. When I was six years old, I was becoming a huge fan of football, watching NFL games with my stepfather every week (Go Steelers!). Watching the athletic trainers work hard to help those that got injured on the field inspired me to do the same. Playing several sports at the time, there were not many athletic trainers around in my town and I wanted to learn more. Therefore, I enrolled in the athletic training course in high school, and the passion has continued to grow since. I love helping others feel better and reach their goals and I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

Email: tyrad@acacpt.com

Melanie Collier - AS Front Desk

Melanie Collier - AS Front Desk
MS, ATC - Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury
MS, ATC

Specialization: Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury

Melanie developed an interest in pursuing a career in athletic training after working with her high school athletic trainer.

She acquired her Bachelor's in Athletic Training from James Madison University in 2014 in Harrisonburg, VA. She went on to complete a clinical internship at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned her Master of Science degree from UNCG in 2017.

Melanie enjoys working with the athletic population with particular interest in sports-related orthopedic injuries, shoulder and knee injuries, athletic injury prevention as well as incorporating manual therapies into her practice.

When she is not working, Melanie enjoys traveling, cooking, working with horses, and spending time with friends and family.

email: melanieco@acacpt.com

Renee Smith - Tandem

Renee Smith - Tandem
ATC, MS, CSCS - Prevention and assessment of athletic injuries, design of sport specific exercise programs

Specialization - Prevention and assessment of athletic injuries, design of sport specific exercise programs An interest in helping people and in sports combined to help Renee Smith decide to pursue a career as an Athletic Trainer. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Longwood College and her Master of Science in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University. She is a certified Athletic Trainer as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, since 2000. Sh...
Erin Brooks

Erin Brooks
MS, ATC - Sports injuries, Assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in high school athletes

Specialization: Prevention and management of sports-related injuries. Assessment and treatment of athletic injuries in high school athletes as well as progression of sport-specific activities after injury and return to sport Erin Brooks says she knew Athletic Training was the career she wanted to pursue when she was a sophomore in high school volunteering as an Athletic Training Aide. “A career in Athletic Training was a perfect match for me because it combined my love of sports with my int...
Thomasina Johnson - SOCA

Thomasina Johnson - SOCA
ATC, MAT - Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries

Specialization: Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries. Thomasina went to undergrad at Lincoln Memorial University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training with a minor in Kinesiology. Then she attended The University of West Alabama for graduate school and received my masters in teaching sports medicine and physical education. Throughout the years she has had the pleasure of working with patients and athletes of all ...
Amy Alvarez - Western Albemarle HS

Amy Alvarez - Western Albemarle HS
MEd, LAT, ATC - Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury

Specialization: Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury Amy Virostek became a athletic trainer because of her interest in health and sports coupled with her love of helping others. She received a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training from Frostburg State University in 2017, and her Master's Degree in Athletic Training from The University of Virginia in 2018. At Frostburg, Amy participated in Indoor and Outdoor Tra...
Tyra Drouillard - The Covenant School

Tyra Drouillard - The Covenant School
MSAT, LAT, ATC - Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries

Specialization: Prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation of orthopaedic and sports related injuries For undergrad, Tyra attended Florida State University, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. She then pursued her master's degree in Athletic Training from the University of Virginia. Throughout these six years, Tyra was able to experience what it is like to be an athletic trainer in the Division 1 collegiate setting, working sports such as football, cheer/...
Melanie Collier - AS Front Desk

Melanie Collier - AS Front Desk
MS, ATC - Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury

Specialization: Prevention, assessment, and management of sports-related injuries. Including sport specific return to play post injury Melanie developed an interest in pursuing a career in athletic training after working with her high school athletic trainer. She acquired her Bachelor's in Athletic Training from James Madison University in 2014 in Harrisonburg, VA. She went on to complete a clinical internship at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned her Master of Science ...

What is athletic training?

  • Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.
  • Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health profession.

Who are athletic trainers?

  • Athletic trainers are multi-skilled health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
  • Athletic trainers must graduate from an accredited baccalaureate or master’s program, and 70% of athletic trainers have a master’s degree.

Why use athletic trainers?

  • Athletic trainers provide medical services to all types of patients, not just athletes participating in sports.
  • Athletic trainers can work in a variety of job settings ranging from youth sports to industrial

To apply as a volunteer with our Athletic Training team, download the form HERE.