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.

2022 Award Recipient: Steven Broglio, PhD, ATC

Steven Broglio is a Professor of Kinesiology, Neurology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr Broglio completed his training at the University of Georgia, followed by his first faculty position at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has been at the University of Michigan since 2011.

Dr. Broglio is currently the Associate Dean of Graduate Affairs for the School of Kinesiology and serves as the Director of the Michigan Concussion Center and the NeuroTrauma Research Laboratory. In those roles he oversees clinical care, educational outreach, and multi-disciplinary research aimed at fundamental questions on concussion prevention, identification, diagnosis, management, and outcomes. His research has been supported by numerous foundations and federal funding agencies, generating nearly 200 peer reviewed works.

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.

2022 Award Recipient: Lindsey K. Lepley, PhD, ATC

Dr. Lindsey Lepley is an Assistant Professor, and the director of the Comparative Orthopaedic Research Lab in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. She also co-directs the Orthopedic Rehabilitation Biomechanics Lab. Dr. Lepley received her Bachelor in Sciences from Grand Valley State University, and then a Master in Education degree in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia. In 2014, Lindsey completed her doctoral studies at the University of Michigan and then subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kentucky. From 2015-2019, Dr. Lepley held an Assistant Professor Position at the University of Connecticut. In 2019 Dr Lepley transitioned back to the University of Michigan to establish a research environment with strong backing to investigate evidence-based treatment options for those that suffer from ACL injury.

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.

2022 Award Recipient: Samantha E. Scarneo-Miller, PhD, LAT, ATC

Dr. Samantha Scarneo-Miller serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Master of Science in Athletic Training in the Division of Athletic Training, School of Medicine at West Virginia University. She works to improve overall safety for all athletes, and has most recently focused on the high school setting. Dr. Scarneo-Miller is a licensed athletic trainer and has experience at the high school level, youth sporting events and mass medical tents. Her research interests include policy implementation to improve sport safety, dissemination and implementation science, and public health frameworks with regards to sports medicine interventions. Dr. Scarneo-Miller is the principal or co-investigator of several grants and has spoken at various national meetings and state meetings such as the Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Athletic Trainers’ Association and American College Health Association. 

Dr. Scarneo-Miller received her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training at the University of New Hampshire, and her graduate degrees from the University of Connecticut. She previously worked for the Korey Stringer Institute. She and her partner, Jelan, live in Morgantown with their new baby, Jrue and dog, Milo. 

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.

The NATA Research & Education Foundation Board of Directors recognizes those representative of advancing the athletic training profession through the 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
Renamed in 2020 to honor the legacy of the 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.

2022 Award Recipient: Brian Conway, LAT, ATC
Brian served on the Foundation Board of Directors for 10 years as District 6 Chair, Vice President of Finance, and President. Through his leadership, the Foundation developed and implemented responsible fiscal policies and established a reserve fund to ensure that the organization could weather difficult financial times. These actions were extremely timely and positioned the Foundation to endure the fiscal challenges of the COVID pandemic. Brian’s years of service and his impact on the Foundation have been transformative and demonstrate outstanding leadership, selflessness, commitment, and loyalty to the NATA Foundation, its volunteers and its donors.

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

2022 Award Recipient: Mark Knoblauch, PhD, LAT, ATC, CSCS
Mark is recognized for his exemplary volunteer service advancing the NATA Research & Education Foundation.  He has served the Foundation many years in capacities including District 6 Ambassador, and Chair of the Student Writing Contest Committee.  Mark is also serving as the Co-Lead of the Foundation’s Development Task Force, engaging with students and young professionals throughout the NATA membership, educating them of the Foundation’s mission, programs, and impact.

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

2022 Award Recipient: Kathryn LaLonde, MS, ATC
Kathryn is recognized for her efforts contributing to the increased impact of the Foundation’s mission, programs, and initiatives.   Her efforts have included:  coordinating and collaborating with all Foundation programmatic committees;  developing and managing creative social media campaigns, resulting in increased public awareness and support; and successfully transitioning the Foundation’s annual silent auction to a virtual-only format, resulting in raising significant funds.