Advertise on podcast: To The Bone: Sports Medicine Podcast

Athletic trainer Cameron Deckett, MS, ATC, LAT, CES joins Shelby Daly to share how he built C.D. Elite Sports Rehab after a decade working in school athletics. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Cam talks about moving from demanding middle and high school schedules to running a private practice—and how helping a former student-athlete with remote rehab sparked the shift. Cam describes working with a wide range of people, from high school and professional athletes to older adults and active professionals. He shares examples of tailoring rehab and performance support to each person’s needs, including a high school running back who returned to stronger play and an older client who regained confidence on the stairs. The conversation explores Cam’s practical, results-focused approach, the flexibility of one-on-one and remote support, and why he aims to help people make progress as efficiently as possible.

Professional sports athletic training looks glamorous from the outside, but Sawyer Williamson says the reality is much messier, more political, and far less personalized than most people realize. If you're an athletic trainer, student, or sports medicine professional wondering what it actually takes to thrive in pro sports, this conversation pulls back the curtain. Sawyer, owner of Tea House Athletic Training Services, shares the unlikely path that took him from a seventh-grade dream at a Utah Jazz game to the University of Utah, Ohio University, the Cincinnati Reds, FC Cincinnati, the Detroit Pistons G League, and finally building his own independent practice. Along the way, he explains why he stepped away from the “pinnacle” setting and built a model centered on rehab, relationship, and athlete-first care. You'll discover why Sawyer calls Tea House a nod to Avatar: The Last Airbender and Uncle Iroh, and how that philosophy shapes his approach to rehab as a process of guidance, trust, and intentionality—not “fixing” people. He and Shelby break down why so much of pro sports medicine is driven by protocol, urgency, and organizational pressure rather than true individualization. We break down the hidden costs of the industry: rushed return-to-play decisions, blackballing fears, the “yes person” culture, and why athletic trainers are often asked to be industrial risk managers instead of clinical leaders. Sawyer also makes the case that athletic trainers have been underselling their real value—as quarterbacks of the medical team, community connectors, and accessible care providers who can improve outcomes long before an injury becomes a crisis. The conversation goes beyond pro sports and into the larger identity problem facing the profession: the master’s transition, the loss of specialization pathways, the rise of dual credentials, and why strength and conditioning seems to have clearer metrics and better leverage. If you’ve ever wondered why athletic training still feels stuck between potential and recognition, this episode will give you a sharper, more honest answer. Perfect for athletic trainers, AT students, sports medicine professionals, and anyone curious about the truth behind professional sports care. This one is equal parts career story, industry critique, and blueprint for what athletic training could become when it stops trying to blend in and starts leading. #athletictraining #athletictrainer #sportsmedicine #professionalsports

California’s athletic training title protection was supposed to be a win. Instead, it sparked a high-stakes debate over who can practice, who is protected, and what happens when a school district prioritizes compliance over expertise. Shelby Daly speaks with Veronica Heard, a certified athletic trainer working in a California school district, about the effects of AB 796. They discuss reclassification, title changes, the departure of a certified colleague, and concerns about athletic training roles being filled by people who may not be certified healthcare providers. Together, they explore how district decisions can affect athlete safety and professional credibility, and why a change in job title can have consequences beyond recognition. The conversation also examines scope of practice, liability coverage, school district policies, and the difference between title protection and licensure.In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why California’s title protection is not the same as licensureHow district policies can fall short of a law’s intentThe concerns behind reclassification—and why the fight is about respect, not removing people from their jobsThe risks of assigning healthcare responsibilities to staff without athletic training credentialsWhy parents and administrators need to understand what athletic trainers doThis discussion reaches beyond one district to consider the future of athletic training in schools, sports medicine, concussion care, return-to-play decisions, and the need for stronger professional standards and protections. If you’re interested in athletic training, school-based healthcare, sports medicine, or title protection in California, this episode offers an important look at who is working on the sidelines—and what’s at stake.

AI is already part of athletic training—but how can clinicians use it responsibly? On To the Bone, host Shelby Daly talks with Matt Mills, associate professor at Springfield College and member of the NATA Professional Responsibility and Athletic Training Committee, about AI ethics, patient privacy, HIPAA considerations, and professional liability. They explore how athletic trainers are using AI for patient education, clinical documentation, rehabilitation planning, research, and administrative work. Matt explains why free public AI tools carry privacy risks, what to ask about institutional agreements and AI policies, and why clinicians remain responsible for reviewing and signing AI-assisted notes.The conversation also covers patient consent for AI transcription, the risk of over-relying on AI in clinical decision-making, and how athletic training educators can help students build essential hands-on and critical-thinking skills. Matt shares lower-risk ways to start using AI, including reviewing policies and procedures, and discusses how time saved on documentation could support more high-impact patient care. Whether you’re an athletic trainer, healthcare educator, or student, this episode offers practical guidance for using AI thoughtfully—without losing sight of patient trust, privacy, and professional accountability.

Athletic trainers are losing hours to clunky documentation, expensive EMRs, and systems that were never built for the way they actually work. Shelby Daly sits down with Cody Arant, the creator of Fieldside Health, to unpack a different approach—one that’s mobile-friendly, customizable, and designed for secondary school athletic training. Cody shares how a casual conversation, a Sunday afternoon experiment, and a real need in his own athletic training room turned into an all-in-one documentation platform. What started as a treatment log grew into a full EMR with athlete records, injury documentation, receipts tied to CPT billing codes, and tools designed to help athletic trainers demonstrate their value. #athletictraining #athletictrainer #sportsmedicine #documentation #EMR

Shaming bad job posts is easy. Changing a broken hiring market takes strategy. Kyle Peckham returns to discuss why salary transparency, benefits, location, and negotiation matter more than a single number on a job posting—and how athletic trainers can use that information to find better roles, better pay, and a healthier work-life balance. Kyle and Shelby explore the real economics behind athletic training jobs, including why job descriptions don’t always tell the full story and how cost of living, taxes, benefits, relocation, and career opportunities affect a position’s value. They also discuss how employers can attract and retain athletic trainers, especially in hard-to-fill areas.In this episode, you’ll learn: How to give constructive feedback on athletic training job postingsWhat to consider beyond salary when comparing compensation packagesWhy it helps to define your non-negotiables before negotiatingHow to advocate for better pay using experience, credentials, and market informationWhat employers can do to make athletic training roles more appealingHow Athletic Trainer Finder is connecting athletic trainers with potential employersIf you’re an athletic trainer exploring your next career move, an employer looking to hire, or someone interested in compensation and retention in the athletic training profession, this conversation offers practical perspective on finding a better fit.

Heat stroke isn’t just “getting tired.” It can shut down the brain, affect vital organs, and change an athlete’s season in minutes. Save this for your next sideline day—and send it to your athletic trainer crew. Amit Kapoor, founder and CEO of First Line Tech, explains: Why heat illness symptoms may not appear immediately How cold water immersion compares with misting and cooling towels Why forearm cooling may help cool the body efficiently How athletic trainers can build heat prevention into everyday routines The biggest shift? Stop waiting for collapse. Make heat illness prevention part of the plan before an emergency begins.

In this episode of To the Bone, Shelby Daly sits down with athletic trainer and ROI calculator creator Mikey Stant to unpack the real economics of athletic training. They dive into why documentation matters, how athletic trainers can demonstrate measurable value, and what return on investment looks like across high school, college, industrial, and military settings. Mikey shares the origin of his free ROI calculator and explains how it helps athletic trainers track patient encounters, field coverage, avoided medical costs, and time savings for families. The conversation also explores the bigger questions facing the profession: how to negotiate pay, how to advocate for better compensation, and why athletic training may be one of the clearest examples of accessible, high-quality, preventative healthcare. If you’re interested in athletic training, sports medicine, healthcare economics, or learning how to better communicate the impact of your work, this episode is for you.

Kevin Vining shares insights on the evolution of the national athletic training conferences, challenges faced, and ideas for increasing engagement and public awareness after attending 30 NATA Conferences. In this episode, Kevin Vining and Shelby Daly explore the future of athletic training professional conferences, including education, networking, and industry challenges. They share insights on how to engage students, improve conferences, and expand the profession.

In this episode, Mike Weild shares his extensive journey in athletic training, from early days to developing academic programs and advocating for the profession. We explore the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of athletic training, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience, advocacy, and professional growth.

In this crossover episode of To the Bone and Becoming Undone, Shelby Daly and Toby Brooks dive into a candid conversation about leadership, burnout, authenticity, and the future of athletic training. What starts as a personal riff quickly opens into a broader discussion about the pressures clinicians face to constantly give, the lack of recognition for advanced skills, and the tension between coverage-based work and true performance-minded care. Together, they explore how the profession can do a better job of valuing expertise, supporting students financially, and creating clearer pathways for growth. They also touch on the importance of networking, mentorship, and building systems that help clinicians and athletes become more self-sufficient. If you work in sports medicine, leadership, or any high-pressure helping profession, this conversation will feel deeply familiar and refreshingly honest.

Most athletic trainers are flying blind when it comes to pay, job market trends, and what makes a role truly attractive — but not anymore. Kyle Peckham reveals how his innovative platform is empowering trainers and transforming how athletic jobs are filled, bringing data-driven clarity to a profession often in the dark. In this in-depth update, Peckham shares surprising insights from six months of gathering thousands of job postings and salary data, uncovering the hidden truths behind salary disparities across settings and regions. You'll discover how his new platform creates a "matchmaking" experience—similar to Tinder—for athletic trainers, enabling anonymous profiles that empower candidates to explore opportunities safely while giving employers real-time feedback to improve their listings and attract talent more effectively. We break down the key features shaping the future of athletic training recruitment: anonymous profiles for trainers, objective market data for employers, and a smarter, more efficient way to connect. Plus, see how this approach is challenging the old-school power imbalance, giving athletic trainers negotiating leverage like never before. If you’re an athletic trainer tired of feeling undervalued or an employer struggling to fill crucial roles, this episode is your game-changer. It’s time to rethink recruitment, advocate for better conditions, and harness data for a stronger, more transparent profession. Kyle Peckham is the founder of ATC Finder, dedicated to revolutionizing how athletic trainers and employers connect through smarter, fairer technology. His platform aims to put power back into the hands of the professionals it serves, creating more equitable, efficient, and fulfilling career paths.Perfect for athletic trainers seeking new opportunities, recruiters who want a more transparent hiring process, and industry leaders aiming to elevate the profession—this episode offers a blueprint for creating a healthier, more responsive athletic training marketplace. Hit play and see how data and innovation are reshaping your career and your industry.

Most new athletic trainers feel overwhelmed when stepping into independence—but what if you could get expert guidance from someone who's been there? Gavin Marco, a recent grad turned budding professional, shares his journey through the maze of mentorship, networking, and building meaningful relationships in a demanding field. His story highlights the crucial role mentorship plays, especially when stepping outside familiar support systems like college or institutional settings.From navigating clinical rotations to establishing connections in the wild west of PRN work and rural environments, Gavin reveals how he actively seeks mentorship—often informal, but immensely impactful. He discusses the value of finding mentors outside your immediate circle, the importance of networking at conferences, and how to leverage every relationship for growth. You’ll learn why mentorship isn’t just about formal programs but about fostering genuine relationships that accelerate your development, expand your exposure to diverse environments, and open doors you never knew existed.

Most athletic trainers are invisible outside sports and clinics — but what if they could become your go-to health resource, anytime and anywhere? Alicia Yamamoto, founder of Concierge Athletic Training Network (CATN), shares her daring vision to bridge the gap between athletic trainers and the general public through a simple, accessible platform. After experiencing firsthand how difficult it is to find prompt, personalized care while touring and traveling, Alicia created a free-to-use directory that connects clients with licensed athletic trainers in seconds — no referrals, no middlemen, just direct access. In this episode, you'll discover how a mid-back injury on tour revealed a broken healthcare system that leaves many people stranded when they need help most. Alicia shares the surprising response to her platform—30 professionals signed up in just a week—and how it’s already building a new community of experienced trainers eager to serve. She breaks down the core features: a searchable directory focused on client needs, transparency through licensure verification, and simple SEO strategies that attract people searching for pain relief. You’ll learn how this innovative approach not only boosts athletic trainers’ visibility but also powers a wider movement toward accessible, personalized healthcare. We explore the limitations of traditional healthcare models—overloaded ERs, limited urgent care, and professionals confined to niche sports teams—and how concierge athletic training can fill a vital gap. Alicia points out that athletic trainers already possess the skills to serve a broad, underserved audience, and her platform makes it easy to connect, promote, and grow. We discuss critical considerations like setting fair prices, managing legal liabilities, and maintaining professionalism when working in clients’ homes—all vital knowledge for trainers eager to take control of their careers. This episode is a must-listen for athletic trainers, sports medicine pros, and health entrepreneurs ready to redefine what’s possible. If you believe healthcare should be more accessible, proactive, and tailored to real human needs—regardless of location—Alicia’s insights show how technology and passion can turn that vision into reality. Don’t miss her unique perspective on how direct-to-consumer athletic training can transform careers, boost retention, and expand the reach of our profession. Tune in now and get inspired to carve your own path in a rapidly evolving health landscape.

Most athletic trainers have a general practice foundation, but few realize the immense potential of specialized certifications to elevate their careers—and how these credentials could redefine the future of athletic training. Imagine standing out in a crowded job market, validated by an external, industry-recognized accreditation that proves your expertise in a niche area like orthopedics or mental health. This episode reveals the groundbreaking shift toward formalized specialty certifications in athletic training, akin to medical residencies, and explains why they’re crucial for career advancement, compensation, and patient care.Join us as Dr. Eva Frank and Dr. Mike Hudson, two leading experts in athletic training education and credentialing, unpack the evolving landscape of specialization. They share insights from a nearly decade-long research journey, diving deep into how certifications are developed, validated through practice analysis, and ultimately recognized across borders. You'll discover how specialty credentials can expand your scope of practice legally within your state, enhance your value to employers, and even influence healthcare reimbursement. This isn't just about advanced skills—it's about positioning yourself as a trusted expert in your field.In this episode, we break down the core concepts of specialty versus general practice, with frameworks used in medicine and other healthcare disciplines that athletic training now emulates. You’ll explore how the current infrastructure—residencies, graduate programs, CEUs, and board certifications—intersects and how a formal specialty certification can bridge gaps to legitimize expertise. We discuss the impact of state practice acts on scope, the importance of grassroots efforts in developing new specialties, and how valid, externally evaluated credentials could finally unlock competitive compensation and recognition in healthcare.Why should you care? Because the lack of standardization in specialty recognition has limited growth, leaving many athletic trainers undervalued and undercompensated. The potential for these credentials to influence practice acts, reimbursement, and professional identity is enormous. If you're passionate about advancing your career, improving patient outcomes, or shaping the future of athletic training, understanding this credentialing revolution is essential. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, this episode provides the roadmap to harnessing specialization to your advantage—and positioning athletic training as a truly professional, specialized healthcare discipline.This conversation is perfect for athletic trainers, educators, students, and healthcare administrators eager to stay ahead of the curve. Get ready to rethink what it means to be an expert in athletic training and discover how formal specialties could change the game for your practice, your career, and the profession as a whole.