PSATS
Public Safety Athletic Trainers' Society
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Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of Us
Chat With The Pros
We've sat down with healthcare professionals from various disciplines and several Fire and Police Departments from around the U.S. to discuss the effectiveness of athletic trainers in public safety settings, covering topics like nutrition, mental health, stress reduction and more. See what they had to say!
2022
December 2022
We caught up again with US Forest Service Assistant Director of Fire Aviation and Management, Julian Affuso, where he answered questions from you! Missed it? Tune into the recording here
Novemeber 2022
PSATS Social Media Coordinator Miranda Zamora-Williams sits down with US Forest Service Assistant Director of Fire Aviation and Management, Julian Affuso. Julian's area of expertise is in doctrine, learning and risk management. They discuss wildland firefighter safety and health, risks to this population, and the need for more resources like Athletic Trainers and other healthcare providers. Safety culture, physical and mental preparation, and how we instill safety values at both a large nationwide agency as well as within a smaller public safety or tactical population are discussed.
October 2022
We got to follow up again with Traci and Sheldon Miles with the October Chalk Talk held on 10/25. Thank you Sheldon for your insight into being a department Chaplain and the mental and spiritual health of fire fighters.
September 2022
This month our treasurer Traci got to have a discussion with Sheldon Miles, Fire Department Chaplain. He tells us how he got involved with his department, and then talks on the following important topics: Comparison fatigue, PTSD, and Suicide.
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Want a chance to ask Sheldon questions on his experiences yourself? Check your favorite PSATS social media account or your emails for the Zoom link for the live Chalk Talk on October 11 at 12:30 CT (1:30 ET).
August 2022
For August's Chalk Talk, digital media coordinator Samantha Ray sat down again with her departments Social Worker, Melissa Stone to discuss her role at the department and their collaboration efforts to provide resources for the police officers and help promote officer wellness.
The Chalk talk also gave other PSATS members opportunities to ask some of their questions to Melissa! We thank her for joining us, as welll as are excited about opportunities for interprofessional collaboration in providing the best care to the public safety emmbers we care for.
July 2022
For July's Q&A, digital media coordinator Samantha Ray sat down with her departments Social Worker, Melissa Stone to discuss her role at the department and their collaboration efforts to provide resources for the police officers and help promote officer wellness.
Melissa will join us again for Chalk Talk on August 15 at 8:00 ET (7:00CT, 5:00PT), so come prepared to have some awesome discussions!
May 2022
​​We got a chance to chat with Dr. Cathy Goldstein again in this month's Chalk Talk that was live on May 25th. For those unable to listen in live, or those who just needed to listen again, please check out this great talk. We are so excited to see our crowds and participation continue to grow for these!
April 2022
Join Vice President Ed Strapp and Dr. Cathy Goldstein, Neurologist and Physician at Michigan Sleep Disturbance Center, as they work through common sleep related problems in first responders. How does it affect their bodies? Should they be napping? Etc. Then join us live on May 25, 2022 from 4-5pm EST to talk to Dr. Goldstein and get your questions answered!
January 2022
Hello and happy new year PSATS family! For our first Q&A of the year we wanted to touch on the special group, our dispatchers. Special guest Rebecca Densmore talks about her experience as a dispatcher and her time with the non-profit F.I.R.S.T. Not sure what that is? You'll have to check out the video to find out. Also stay tuned for February where we will have Rebecca back for a Chalk Talk where you can each ask her live questions.
2021
December 2021
Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
November 2021
Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
October 2021
Tim Druge and Anna Sedory took time to meet with Executive Director Nancy Burke to talk about their experiences working with Work Comp and they provided some tips/tricks including both mentioned something about honey. Intrigued? Give this video a watch, and stay tuned later this month for another live chalk talk continuing the conversation about workman's compensation.
September 2021
This month we did something a little different than our typical Q&A. Introducing the first Chalk Talk, where members were able to openly have a meeting of the minds and discuss a particular topic together. This month, we invited back Trever O'Brien and Sean Higgs to discuss funding a tactical athlete position within a department.
August 2021
This month we got to chat with members from different public safety officers about how to read departmental organizational charts and understand the hierarchy of individuals on staff. There were some very informative points made from each organization and would be very beneficial to tune into! Below is the list of organizations we spoke with, as well as the break up of the times for each organization.
May 2021
Hear all about Traci Tauferner's journey into tactical athletic training. Nancy Burke and Traci begin by going through Traci's previous jobs, from undergrad graduation through her present position, to demonstrate that jobs outside of tactical AT can bring you closer to your dream job goals! They continue with job-specific testing & injuries, return to work testing, an AT's role in public safety personnel mental health, the set up of Traci's unique position, and much more. To contact Traci, email tracithetrainer@hotmail.com or find her in our Members Chat or The Forum!
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April 2021
​Series Installment Part 3 of 3: We check back in with ATs Anna Sedory of Fairfax County Police Department & Cody Tesch of Milwaukee Fire Department to learn about what their positions are like now compared to what they were when their tenure started. Hear how their programs have evolved and how their responsibilities change as a result.
March 2021
Cormorant Garamond is a classic font with a modern twist. It's easy to read on screens of every shape and size, and perfect for long blocks of text.
2020
November 2020
Valerie Moody, Program Director and Athletic Trainer at University of Montana, joins PSATS Social Media Coordinator Miranda Zamora-Williams for a discussion about wildland firefighting. Learn how an athletic trainer fits into wildland firefighting, where the profession is heading in this niche, and Valerie's vision for the future!
September 2020
Nationally Board Certified & Licensed Professional Counselor, Kathy Sietz, joined us for our September Q&A. After our annual meeting we recognized the growing need for a discussion focused on mental health in public safety. Kathy explored topics such as the importance of proactive vs. reactive approaches, getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, how to enhance our mental health emergency skills, and what we can bring to the table as athletic trainers that can build unique relationships with our patients
August 2020
For our August 2020 Q & A session we were joined by Corey Mcgaha, the Safety and Training Chief of the White River Township Fire Department. In this Q & A Corey talks about the changes the department made to combat COVID-19, how an athletic trainer fits into the fire service at this time in health care, and more!
April 2020
Q & A featuring Deena Kilpatrick, athletic trainer of the San Antonio Fire Department.