NATA Research & Education Foundation » Awards » Research Award Criteria & Nomination Information

Research Award Criteria & Nomination Information

The NATA Research & Education Foundation includes among its goals, a commitment to “…encourage research among athletic trainers who can contribute to the athletic training knowledge base…”. Toward that end, the Foundation has established an awards program to recognize and reward those individuals whose work helps fulfill that goal. The Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research, the New Investigator Award and the Doctoral Dissertation Award are presented each year to deserving researchers among the NATA membership. The Student Free Communications Awards Program has also been established to encourage student participation.

To nominate an individual for a 2012 Research Award, simply submit the name, physical address, email address and phone number of the individual to Patsy Brown (patsyb@nata.org or 972.532.8847) by September 15, 2011. Upon receipt of the nomination, NATA Foundation staff will contact the candidate and ask him/her to complete the appropriate award application and submit a personal vitae and three letters of recommendation regarding scholarly contributions.

Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research
Presented in Honor of Joseph S. Torg, MD
 

A. Purpose

The NATA Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research recognizes an established researcher who has sustained a prolific body of work that has contributed to research in the field of athletic training and health care.

B. Requirement to Meet the Foundation’s Mission and Goals

This award helps fulfill the Foundation’s mission of supporting and advancing the athletic training profession through research and education by encouraging development of a research culture. This award directly addresses the following Foundation goal and strategy:
Goal #2 – Encourage research among athletic trainers who can contribute to the athletic
training knowledge base.
Strategy – Provide awards and recognition for outstanding athletic training researchers.

C. Honoree

The award is presented in honor of Joseph S. Torg, MD, who was the founding director of the Temple University Center for Sports Medicine, the first such center affiliated with a university. In 1978, Dr. Torg was appointed Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Director of the University of Pennsylvania Sports Medicine Program where he initiated what is believed to be the first Sports Medicine Fellowship. He has since trained 36 fellows. One of Dr. Torg’s major contributions is his research identifying catastrophic cervical spine and cord injuries to result from the previously unrecognized axial loading mechanism of the spine from spearing and head-down contact. Dr. Torg embodies the qualities that the Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research is intended to recognize. He is a renowned leader in the evolution of sports medicine, a respected physician and an outstanding clinician, researcher and supporter of athletic training.

D. Eligibility for Consideration
(as of September 1 of the nomination year)

  • The nominee must have earned a doctoral degree.
  • At least fifteen (15) years must have passed from the date of degree conferral and the nomination deadline.
  • The nominee must be a current NATA member and BOC certified athletic trainer in good standing.
  • Current members of the NATA Foundation Research Committee and Board of Directors are not eligible for consideration for this award.

E. Selection Criteria

  • The nominee must have demonstrated a prolific and sustained body of research in athletic training.
  • The nominee must have demonstrated a focused and productive research career that has advanced theory and significantly impacted the athletic training profession.
  • The following will also be considered:
    • Quality and consistency of work over time
    • Ability to secure funding to support research
    • Sustained level of excellence in a single focused area
    • Clearly demonstrated research independence

F. Description of Award

The recipient will receive an elegantly framed medallion and a cash award of $5,000.

G. Presentation of the Award

The award will be formally presented during the NATA Annual Conference and Clinical Symposia and the recipient will present a lecture highlighting his/her research at that time. The Foundation has also entered a lecture exchange agreement with ACSM and AOSSM. Therefore, the recipient will also be expected to present a lecture at the ACSM and AOSSM annual meetings.

H. Selection Process

Nominations: Nominations will be solicited from the membership of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. A request for nominations will appear in the NATA News. To nominate an individual, members need only submit the nominee’s name, address and phone number to the NATA Foundation office. All nominations received by September 15 will be considered for the following year’s award. A person may nominate only one candidate per year for this award.
Solicitation of Information: If nomination is accepted then nominees will be required to submit a nominee information form, personal vita and three letters of recommendation regarding their scholarly contributions to the NATA Foundation office.
Evaluation of Materials: The NATA Foundation Research Committee will be responsible for evaluating the candidates and making a recommendation to the Foundation Board of Directors.
Selection: The Foundation Board of Directors may formally select one award recipient annually.
Notification: The Chair of the Research Committee will notify the recipient.

I. Foundation Staff Responsibilities:

  • Marketing of award
  • Secure award
  • Arrange travel and accommodations
  • Coordinate the lectures
  • All relevant correspondence
  • Logistics of award presentation and lecture
  • Process cash award
  • Donor relations

New Investigator Award
Presented in Honor of Freddie H. Fu, MD
 

A. Purpose

The New Investigator Award recognizes a researcher who is likely to continue to make, significant contributions to the body of knowledge in athletic training and health care.

B. Requirement to Meet the Foundation’s Mission and Goals

This award helps fulfill the Foundation’s mission of supporting and advancing the profession of athletic training through research and education by encouraging the development of a research culture. This award directly addresses the following Foundation goals and strategies:
Goal #2 – Encourage research among athletic trainers who can contribute to the athletic training knowledge base.
Strategy – Provide awards and recognition for outstanding athletic training researchers.

C. Honoree

The award is presented in honor of Freddie H. Fu, MD, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Chairman, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Director, UPMC Health System Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Fu embodies the qualities that the award is intended to recognize. He is a pioneering surgeon, and an outstanding clinician, researcher and supporter of athletic training.

D. Eligibility for Consideration

  • The nominee must have earned a doctoral degree.
  • The nominee must hold the academic rank no higher than assistant professor for the semester prior to September nomination.
  • The nominee must be first author on a research publication beyond their dissertation.
  • The nominee must be a current NATA member and BOC certified athletic trainer in good standing.

E. Selection Criteria

  • The nominee demonstrates the beginning of an independent research trajectory beyond mentor’s area of research..
  • The nominee demonstrates activities that enhance competitiveness for securing external funding..
  • The nominee’s research should have potential to impact the athletic training profession.
  • The nominee demonstrates a single focused, quality line of research in an area of importance to athletic training.

F. Description of Award

The recipient will receive an elegantly framed medallion and a cash award of $2,000.

G. Presentation of the Award

The award will be formally presented during the NATA Annual Conference and Clinical Symposia and the recipient will present a lecture at that time highlighting his/her research. The Foundation has also entered a lecture exchange agreement with AMSSM. Therefore, the recipient will also be expected to present a lecture at the AMSSM annual meeting.

H. Selection Process

Nominations: Nominations will be solicited from the membership of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. A request for nominations will appear in the NATA News. To nominate an individual, members need only submit the nominee’s name, address and phone number. All nominations received by September 15 will be considered for the following year’s award. A person may nominate only one candidate per year for this award.
Solicitation of Information: Nominees will be required to submit a nominee information form, a personal vita and three letters of recommendation regarding their scholarly contributions to the NATA Foundation.
Evaluation of Materials: The Foundation’s Research Committee will be responsible for evaluating the candidates and making a recommendation to the Foundation Board of Directors.
Selection: The Foundation Board of Directors may formally select one award recipient annually.
Notification: The Chair of the Research Committee will notify the recipient.

I. Foundation Staff Responsibilities:

  • Marketing of award
  • Secure award
  • Arrange travel and accommodations
  • Coordinate the lectures
  • All relevant correspondence
  • Logistics of award presentation and lecture
  • Process cash award
  • Donor relations

Doctoral Dissertation Award
Presented in Honor of David H. Perrin, PhD, ATC, FNATA
Sponsored by Friends of Dr. Perrin

A. Purpose

The Doctoral Dissertation Award recognizes outstanding doctoral student research in athletic training and health care.

B. Requirement to Meet the Foundation’s Mission and Goals

This award helps fulfill the Foundation’s mission of supporting and advancing the athletic training profession through research and education by encouraging development of a research culture. This award directly addresses the following Foundation goal and strategy:
Goal #2 – Encourage research among athletic trainers who can contribute to the athletic training knowledge base.
Strategy – Provide awards and recognition for outstanding athletic training researchers.

C. Honoree

The award is presented in honor of David H. Perrin, PhD, ATC, FNATA, who has made quite significant contributions to research and education in athletic training. A clear hallmark of Dr. Perrin’s career is his pioneering of terminal degrees in sports medicine. Many graduates have grown because of Dr. Perrin’s leadership, and now serve as faculty members in higher education across the country. They are making significant contributions to athletic training and sports medicine education and research as program directors, clinical supervisors and award winning scholars. This award is a fitting tribute to Dr. Perrin’s passion for mentoring and developing future scholars.

D. Eligibility for Consideration
(as of September 1 of the nomination year)

  • The nominee should be no more than three (3) years post-conferral of the first doctoral degree.
  • The nominee must be the principal author of a published (or accepted for publication) manuscript (the seminal paper) that emanates from his or her dissertation research.
  • The nominee must be a current NATA member and BOC certified athletic trainer in good standing.

E. Selection Criteria

  • The study and dissertation publication should reflect a high level of quality.
  • The dissertation publication should have impact and relevance to athletic training and health care of the physically active.
  • The dissertation publication should indicate future potential for a focused line of research.

F. Description of Award

The recipient will receive an appropriately styled plaque and a cash award of $1,000.

G. Presentation of the Award

The Doctoral Dissertation Award will be formally presented during the NATA Annual Conference and Clinical Symposia.

H. Selection Process

Nominations: A letter of nomination must be submitted by the nominee’s dissertation advisor, or by a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee. The letter of nomination should outline the reasons the nominee is deserving of consideration for this award. The written nomination must be received by the NATA Foundation within one (1) year of the publication (or acceptance for publication) of the manuscript. All nominations received by September 15 of each year, will be considered for the following year’s award. A person may nominate only one candidate per year for this award.
Solicitation of Information: Nominees will be required to submit a paragraph defining their focused line of research, a personal vita and only the seminal published manuscript from the dissertation. A copy of the manuscript submitted for publication, along with a letter confirming its acceptance for future publication will be considered.
Evaluation of Materials: The NATA Foundation Research Committee will be responsible for evaluating the candidates and making a recommendation to the Foundation Board of Directors.
Selection: The Foundation Board of Directors will formally select one award recipient annually.
Notification: The Chair of the Foundation Research Committee will notify the recipient.

I. Foundation Staff Responsibilities:

  • Marketing of award
  • Secure award
  • All relevant Correspondence
  • Logistics of award presentation
  • Process cash award
  • Donor relations

Student Free Communications Awards

A. Purpose

In an effort to “Encourage research among athletic trainers who can contribute to the athletic training knowledge base” (NATA Foundation Goal # 2), the Foundation has established a Student Free Communications Awards program. The purpose of the program is to recognize and encourage the research efforts of athletic training students by awarding outstanding research awards based on NATA Foundation Free Communications program abstracts and presentations.

B. Awards

There will be five (5) student awards presented annually. These awards will be presented to the highest rated entry in each of the following categories:
  • Doctoral Student Free Communications Poster Presentation
  • Doctoral Student Free Communications Oral Presentation
  • Master’s Student Free Communications Poster Presentation
  • Master’s Student Free Communications Oral Presentation
  • Undergraduate Student Free Communications Poster Presentation
The award presented to the winner in each of the above categories will be a $100 cash prize and an appropriate memento commemorating the occasion. Information regarding the recipients and their presentations will be published in the appropriate media.

C. Process

The Free Communications subcommittee of the NATA Foundation Research Committee reviews and evaluates, during the early spring of each year, all research abstract submissions to the Free Communications program. After abstracts are deemed acceptable for presentation at the NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia, the Free Communications subcommittee will select, as finalists, the five (5) most outstanding abstracts in each of the five (5) categories outlined in B. above. The NATA Research Committee Vice Chair for Awards will notify each finalist of their selection through the NATA Foundation office. Only the five (5) finalists in each category, a maximum total of 25 submissions, will be formally judged during the NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia. The Vice Chair for Awards will appoint an appropriately qualified panel of judges for this purpose. All finalists will be informed of the judges’ results as soon as is practical after presentations by all finalists have been completed.

D. Judging of Finalists

Following are the links used in judging Student Award finalist presentations:

Form Used to Judge Free Communications Oral Presentations
Form Used to Judge Free Communications Poster Presentations