Mission
The mission of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN) is to improve the quality of athletic health care through resource sharing, education, and practice-based research.
The AT-PBRN aims to:
- Engage clinicians with a shared vision to enhance patient care through a community of practice and peer learning.
- Provide life-long learning opportunities for professionals engaged in athletic healthcare.
- Generate, disseminate, and implement practice-based evidence to inform patient care decisions and improve healthcare outcomes.
Meet the AT-PBRN Team
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Kenny Lam, ScD, ATC, FNATA
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Dr. Lam is a professor of clinical research within the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at A.T. Still University (ATSU) and the Director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN). His current line of research seeks to understand the overall impact of sport-related lower extremity injuries on patient-oriented outcomes such as health-related quality of life. In addition, Dr. Lam has an interest in understanding the use of patient care data (eg, electronic health records) to describe clinical practice patterns, determine treatment effectiveness, and identify opportunities for quality improvement efforts. Dr. Lam received a bachelor of science in athletic training and a doctor of science degree from Boston University. Prior to becoming a faculty member at ATSU, Dr. Lam completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship within the Center of Clinical Outcomes Studies at ATSU with a focus on patient-oriented outcomes research. In 2022, Dr. Lam was named a Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Prior to earning his doctorate, Dr. Lam practiced as a certified athletic trainer at Boston University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Cailee E. Welch Bacon, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FNAP
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Dr. Bacon is a professor in the Department of Athletic Training, a research professor in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona at A.T. Still University (ATSU), and the Associate Director of the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN). Dr. Bacon has dedicated her research career to understanding the evolving landscape of athletic training and the role of education in advancing the profession. The long-term goal of her research is to identify ways educators can enhance educational outcomes in a manner that influences practice patterns and optimizes patient care outcomes. Dr. Bacon has earned degrees from Boston University (BS), and Old Dominion University (MSEd, PhD), and completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in clinical outcomes at ATSU prior to joining as a faculty member. Dr. Bacon was named a Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2023 and named a Distinguished Research Fellow of the National Academies of Practice in 2024.
Barton E. Anderson, DHSc, ATC
Professor, Department of Athletic Training
Arizona School of Health Sciences
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barton-anderson-dhsc-at-atc-a82627a7/
ORCID:
Dr. Barton Anderson is a Professor in the Department of Athletic Training at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences, where he contributes to research and academic leadership in athletic training education. He serves as a faculty collaborator in the AT-PBRN, supporting initiatives related to clinical education and advanced practice. His research focuses on core stability, movement assessment, and the development of clinical competence in athletic training students. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications and is actively engaged in advancing evidence-based education models. Dr. Anderson holds a Doctor of Health Science and has over two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, teaching, and curriculum design.
Tamara C. Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, FNATA, FNAK, FNAP
John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine
Chair, Department of Athletic Training
Professor and Director, Athletic Training Programs
Research Professor, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-valovich-mcleod-2291b1101/
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9082-8722
Dr. McLeod’s research has focused on the pediatric athlete with respect to sport-related concussion. Her current work is investigating the short- and long-term effects of pediatric sports concussion as well as recovery following concussion on traditional concussion assessments and health-related quality of life. Dr. McLeod completed her doctor of philosophy degree in education with an emphasis in sports medicine from the University of Virginia, her master of science degree in kinesiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her bachelor of science degree in sports medicine from Mercyhurst University.
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Alison R. Snyder Valier, PhD, ATC, FNATA
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Dr. Alison Snyder Valier’s research focuses on clinical outcomes assessment, health-related quality of life, quality improvement, and sport-injury epidemiology as it relates to athletic healthcare. She is especially interested in leveraging patient-reported outcomes and quality improvement strategies to improve the healthcare experience and outcomes for patients. Dr. Snyder Valier holds a Ph.D. in Exercise Science and is a certified athletic trainer with extensive experience in sports medicine research and education. In addition to her faculty role, she supports university-wide research efforts as Assistant Director of the Department of Research Support. Outside of work, her favorite activities revolve around spending time with friends and family.
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Kellie C. Huxel Bliven, PhD, ATC, FNAP
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Dr. Bliven's line of research on understanding and improving shoulder function and health addresses four areas: mechanisms of shoulder stability, muscle activation during rehabilitation, adaptations in the throwing shoulder, and health-related quality of life in throwing athletes. She also conducts collaborative research in the areas of diagnostic ultrasound of musculoskeletal conditions and use of biometrics in educational research. Dr. Bliven earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and physical education from Denison University in Granville, Ohio; master’s degree in kinesiology from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.; and doctoral degree in kinesiology with an athletic training emphasis from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa.
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Rachel Geoghegan, DAT, ATC
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Dr. Rachel Geoghegan’s research focus and expertise center on pelvic health and female athlete health conditions, areas which were cultivated over nearly two decades of clinical practice and advanced through specialized training, interprofessional collaboration, and applied research. Her work aims to close gaps in clinical care by enhancing recognition, referral, and management strategies for pelvic and reproductive health concerns in active and athletic populations. Dr. Geoghegan holds a Doctor of Athletic Training degree from A.T. Still University and brings nearly 20 years of clinical experience in collegiate athletic training across four different regions of the US.
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Nicolette Harris, EdS, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS
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Dr. Nicolette “Nikki” Harris, EdS, DAT, LAT, ATC, CSCS serves as an Associate Professor and the Director of Student Recruitment for the Department of Athletic Training at A.T. Still University. Also, she is a member of the Continuing Education Platform workgroup for the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network (AT-PBRN). Harris values the effects of research on practice and education and has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of the athletic training profession through her scholarly work. Her research explores racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities, with a focus on advancing whole-person models in both clinical and academic settings. She also examines career job and satisfaction, career advancement, and professional retention in athletic training. Her additional research interests and teaching expertise lie in primary care and orthopedic conditions and their rehabilitation. Dr. Harris brings a wealth of experience to her research with clinical experience secondary school and college/university practice settings as well as professional and post-professional athletic training programs.
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Ashley Marshall, PhD, ATC
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Andrea Sylvia, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at A.T. Still University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Arizona State University, a Master of Science in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and a PhD in Fisheries Biology with a minor in Statistics from Iowa State University. Prior to joining ATSU, Dr. Sylvia served as a biostatistician with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where she provided statistical support for a diverse portfolio of applied research projects. She has also taught statistics and research methods at both the university and secondary education levels. Dr. Sylvia's expertise includes biostatistics, study design, generalized linear and mixed-effects models, spatial analysis, data visualization, and the application of quantitative methods to complex scientific and applied research questions. Her scholarly work includes numerous peer-reviewed publications across a broad range of scientific disciplines.
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Ashley Marshall, PhD, ATC
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Dr. Marshall’s research focuses on leveraging electronic medical record (EMR) systems and data analytics to characterize athletic training clinical practice, including injury patterns, treatments, costs, and quality of care. She is particularly interested in exploring the impact of lower extremity injuries on function and quality of life, and in advancing practice-based research across the translational research spectrum. Dr. Marshall received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Lynchburg College, Master of Education in Athletic Training and Doctor of Philosophy in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia, served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Practice-Based Research at A.T. Still University, and is completing a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics (Healthcare Concentration) at Appalachian State University.
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Dr. Sauers is a tenured Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at A.T Still University. Dr. Sauers serves as the Associate Director of the AT-PBRN and was responsible for envisioning the development of the AT-PBRN. As a research scientist within the AT-PBRN, he offers his expertise in shoulder injuries and overhead athletes. He was the lead investigator in the design and development of a region-specific patient self-report scale for throwing athletes, the Functional Arm Scale for Throwers (FAST). Dr. Sauers is also interested in studying the practice characteristics of athletic trainers, including the types of diagnoses treated, rehabilitation services provided, and economic analyses of care. He has served as the first active member and then president of the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists (ASSET) that was not dual-credentialed and as a commissioner and the vice president of the Commission on the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. Dr. Sauers is the associate editor for Clinical Outcomes for the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation and an editorial board member for the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal. He has previously served as the chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Post-Professional Education Committee and as a member of the NATA Education Council Executive Committee. Dr. Sauers has received the President’s Award from the Arizona Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Distinguished Educator Award from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association, and has been recognized for his dedication to the athletic training profession with the distinction as a Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.
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Kaylynn Schmitt
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Kaylynn Schmitt is the program manager for A.T. Still University's Department of Athletic Training and the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. She has been with both departments for 9+ years and brings many years of administrative experience to her role within the department. Her role supports students, faculty and researchers in reaching their professional goals. Within the AT-PBRN Kaylynn has taken on the role of helping users authorize CORE-AT EMR accounts, archiving and distributing CEU course completions, and managing CORE-AT EMR user questions and concerns.
