The NATA Research & Education Foundation Board of Directors recognizes those representative of advancing the athletic training profession through the NATA Foundation’s mission, efforts and initiatives.

The awards currently include: the Lifetime Contribution Award; the Rachael Oats Leadership Award (formerly the President’s Award); the Volunteer Service Award; and the Impact Service Award (formerly the New Initiative Award).

Rachael Oats Leadership Award
The NATA Foundation’s “President’s Award” was renamed in 2020 to honor the legacy of the NATA Foundation’s former Director, Rachael Oats – this award allows the President of the NATA Research & Education Foundation to recognize those representative of Rachael’s exemplary characteristics of leadership, selflessness, commitment, and loyalty to the NATA Foundation, its volunteers and its donors.

2025 Award Recipient: Kathryn LaLonde, MS, ATC

Kathryn LaLonde, MS, ATC, has been a dedicated member of the NATA Research & Education Foundation since 2018, playing an instrumental role in advancing its mission. She began her tenure by managing the NATA Foundation’s programs, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills, leadership, and a deep commitment to supporting athletic training research and education. Her passion and dedication quickly set her apart, leading her to her current role as Director of the NATA Foundation.

In this capacity, Kathryn continues to embody the values of leadership, selflessness, commitment, and loyalty—qualities that defined Rachael Oats’ legacy and the spirit of the award. Through her unwavering support of the NATA Foundation’s volunteers, donors, and initiatives, she has helped shape the organization’s impact on the profession and the broader athletic training community.

Her contributions to the NATA Foundation have been invaluable, and her dedication serves as an inspiration to those around her.

Volunteer Service Award
Awarded to an individual for their exemplary volunteer service advancing the NATA Research & Education Foundation.

2025 Award Recipient: Erik Wikstrom, PhD, LAT, ATC

Erik Wikstrom, PhD, ATC, has been a dedicated leader and advocate for the NATA Foundation, making a lasting impact through his service and commitment to advancing research. Before stepping into his role as Chair of the Free Communications Committee, Erik served as a committee member for six years, gaining valuable experience and insight that helped shape his leadership approach.

Erik’s leadership style fosters collaboration, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered during committee discussions. His efforts have greatly improved the resources available to those submitting abstracts. A review of the website for abstract submissions will provide authors with the opportunity to view short presentations, clear guidelines, and downloadable instructions to help increase the success rate of abstract submissions.

Under Erik’s leadership, the quality of submitted abstracts has continued to improve, ultimately enhancing the research presented at the NATA Symposium. His commitment to advancing research and supporting the next generation of scholars has had a lasting impact on the NATA Foundation and the broader athletic training community.

Impact Service Award
Awarded to an individual for their exemplary grass roots initiatives which provided significant advancement of the NATA Research & Education Foundation.

2025 Award Recipient: Leigh Weiss, PT/DPT, MS, ATC

Leigh Weiss, PT/DPT, MS, ATC, has been a driving force behind securing donations and sponsorships for the NATA Foundation, even before his time on the Board of Directors. His efforts have led to significant contributions from organizations like the PFATS Foundation and the New York Giants, among many others. In the past year alone, he has helped raise over $40,000, with nearly 75% of those funds designated as unrestricted.

Most recently, Leigh’s role with the PFATS played a key part in establishing a partnership between the NATA Foundation and the Professional Football Athletic Trainers’ Society Foundation. This collaboration will lead to increased grant funding focused on football safety, as well as expanded funding and sponsorship opportunities.

Always proactive, Leigh is quick to generate fundraising ideas and embodies a “how can I help?” mindset, making a lasting impact on the NATA Foundation’s success.

Each year, the NATA Foundation recognizes those that excel in the areas of research and those that lead the way in service to the NATA Foundation and the AT profession.

The NATA Foundation Research Awards include: Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research, The Dr. Freddie & Mrs. Hilda Pang Fu New Investigator Award, The David H. Perrin Doctoral Dissertation Award. Research Awards Eligibility Criteria. 

The Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research, The Dr. Freddie & Mrs. Hilda Pang Fu New Investigator Research Award and The David H. Perrin Doctoral Dissertation Research Award are presented annually to deserving researchers among the NATA membership.
Research Awards Eligibility Criteria.

Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research
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.

2025 Award Recipient: Joe Hart, PhD, ATC, FACSM, FNATA, FNAK

Joe Hart, PhD, ATC is the Norfleet-Raney Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedics and Vice Chair for Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Hart is a clinical research scientist with devoted interest in studying outcomes following musculoskeletal injury and orthopaedic surgery with primary focus on patients with knee ligament (anterior cruciate ligament, ACL) reconstruction. His research programs leverage precision measurement instrumentation, techniques and technologies used for making important healthcare decisions. Dr. Hart’s research focus is in the early recovery phases following ACL reconstruction including rehabilitation techniques for muscle strengthening, optimizing movement coordination and functional recovery through and beyond the point of release to unrestricted physical activity. Dr. Hart has developed point-of-care research programs that merge with and inform clinical practice. The ultimate goal is the early identification and treatment of musculoskeletal impairments aimed at reducing risk of re-injury and promoting well-being through safe engagement in physical activity.

The Dr. Freddie & Mrs. Hilda Pang Fu New Investigator Award
The Dr. Freddie & Mrs. Hilda Pang Fu New Investigator Award (formerly named 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.

2025 Award Recipient: Kate Jochimsen, PhD, ATC

Dr. Kate Jochimsen is a Researcher at the Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research (CHIOR) at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She earned her M.S. in Athletic Training from Florida International University, her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Kentucky and completed her postdoctoral training in biomechanics at Ohio State University. Her work “bridges the gap” between sports medicine and psychology. She is an NIH K-awardee who is developing a mind-body intervention to improve rehabilitation outcomes for patients with chronic hip-related pain. The Helping Improve PSychological health (HIPS) intervention teaches patients skills to improve their pain-related cognitions (‘how they think’) and emotions (‘how they feel’) to improve their health behaviors and increase physical activity. Dr. Jochimsen is passionate about advancing psychologically informed practice, and she enjoys educating sports medicine clinicians on how to communicate about mental health and intervene when appropriate. She is a licensed athletic trainer with 12 years of clinical experience working with high school, Division I collegiate, and recreational athletes.

The NATA Foundation is grateful for the endowment established honoring Dr. Freddie & Mrs. Hilda Pang Fu.  Read more about the Fu’s endowment and legacy here.

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

2025 Award Recipient: Luk Devorski, PhD, ATC

Dr. Luk Devorski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Saint Joseph’s University and the co-founder of the Sport, Wellness, Exercise physiology and Athletic Training (SWEAT) Laboratory. In August 2023, he obtained his doctoral degree in Kinesiology from the University of Central Florida under the mentorship of Dr. L. Colby Mangum. Prior to his Ph.D., he earned his Master’s degree at the University of Toledo and his undergraduate Athletic Training degree at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Devorski’s research focuses on musculoskeletal health, including non-specific low back pain, core muscle function, and exercise interventions. His recent work explores gamified rehabilitation methods, the biomechanics of core exercises, and performance during functional movements. Dr. Devorski’s laboratory is currently exploring the impact of at home endurance exercise for cervical spine pain, load carrying and low back pain within law enforcement officers, and exercise interventions within the autism population.

In addition to his scholarly contributions, Dr. Devorski is a dedicated educator, teaching courses in the Exercise Physiology program including motor learning, kinesiology, athletic injuries and exercise for special populations. His teaching and advising are driven by Saint Joseph’s University’s mantra, “cura personalis”. Dedication to improving the student’s potential inside and outside of the classroom. Dr. Devorski implements inclusivity and equitable teaching practices, engaging students in innovative learning experiences and professional development opportunities. Dr. Devorski also holds leadership and mentorship roles within the professional community, fostering collaboration and growth in athletic training and exercise science.

The NATA Foundation is grateful for the endowment established honoring David H. Perrin, PhD, ATC. Read more about the David H. Perrin Doctoral Dissertation Award Endowment here.