Rob Marshall Named National Athletic Trainers' Association Vice President

From game time to injury assessment, athletic trainers work with athletes and their families to ensure the highest level of safety and performance in the most efficient manner possible. They specialize in preventing, diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating injuries and sport-related illnesses. They also help prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity and provide immediate care for acute injuries.

The continuum of care offered by athletic trainers is unparalleled in health care.

The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) represents and supports 40,000 members across eleven districts nationwide. Earlier this month, the NATA board of directors elected Rob Marshall, athletic trainer and director of the Columbus Fieldhouse, the vice president of the NATA.

"On behalf of the membership, I congratulate Rob on being elected as NATA vice president," said NATA president, Kathy Dieringer. "As an out-of-the-box thinker, Rob brings a unique perspective to the position, and his visionary ideas will benefit us all. I look forward to working with him as we, and the rest of the NATA Board of Directors, continue to serve the membership and advance the athletic training profession."

Marshall has been a certified athletic trainer in the Columbus area since 1995. Throughout his career, Marshall served as the NATA state president, Nebraska representative for the district board of directors, district secretary and the district president.

"We are very proud of Rob and his recent appointment as the National Athletic Trainers' Association vice president," said Scott Messersmith, vice president of human resources and operations for the hospital. "He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and many years of experience as an athletic trainer, which will greatly benefit athletic safety on the national and local level."

This new position opens many doors for the hospital as Marshall will attend meetings regarding new technology and techniques he can bring back and introduce to the community. He will also represent the NATA and the hospital at events that previously may not have been possible to attend.

"For me, giving high school athletic trainers a voice was important," Marshall said. "Generally, you need a large support group or university behind you in order to have your voice heard. Often, it's tough for private employers to see the value in the program, so the fact that Columbus Community Hospital sees the value in athletic training services is a blessing."

For more information about the hospital's athletic training services, visit columbushosp.org<http://www.columbushosp.org>.