Athletic Training Celebrates 50th Anniversary

The School of Rehabilitation and Medicine Sciences' athletic training program in The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions is celebrating its 50-year anniversary!

The program was built on a strong foundation and began offering the athletic training minor in 1973. In addition, athletic training was the first program offering a major in sports medicine to receive formal approval by the National Athletic Training Association (NATA) in 1979.

Ken Kopke and Ron Sendre founded the program, paving the way for current faculty and nearly 1,000 alumni who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the athletic training program. To this day, the athletic training program continues to provide health care services for Central Michigan University’s (CMU) NCAA Division I athletics, as well as to local NCAA Division II and III programs. Students and faculty have also continued to provide health care services for university recreation activities, CMU’s club and intramural sports, emergency departments, and outpatient therapeutic rehabilitation clinics locally and across the nation. Students and faculty also volunteer at events such as the Special Olympics Michigan and in area high schools. 

This year also marks an exciting time and transition for CMU’s athletic training program. Beginning this year, the program will be accepting its inaugural class of graduate-level athletic training students. Those seeking their master's degree will discover the same level of dedication and quality healthcare services that have epitomized CMU's athletic training program for five decades. 

To all the current and former faculty, staff, administrators and most importantly, the students of CMU’s athletic training Program, your dedication over the last 50 years has made a profound difference in countless lives.