The Source

What if the skills you’ve built as an athletic trainer could open doors you never considered? In this episode of The Source, we sit down with Meredith Thomas, Senior Director of Sales at Medco Sports Medicine, to talk medical sales, transferable skills, the power of networking, and career opportunities beyond traditional athletic training. A conversation about recognizing your value, building connections, and discovering new ways to make an impact in sports medicine.

What if the seat you’re looking for doesn’t exist yet and you have to build it yourself? In this episode of The Source, we sit down with Jay Ostia of Nexus Sports Medicine to talk entrepreneurship, product development, identifying gaps in athletic training, and having the courage to do something different. A conversation about taking risks, creating opportunities, and being brave enough to make a difference.

In this episode, we sit down with Becky Scales to explore the impact of secondary school ATSA programs—why they matter, how they’re built, and how they help shape future athletic trainers. Tune in to hear how early engagement can spark long-term passion for the profession.

To end National Athletic Training Month, we sit down with Rob Dicks, president of the Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association, for a real conversation on leadership, advocacy, and the future of athletic training. From giving back to the profession to navigating its current challenges, Rob shares insight on what it takes to continuously move the profession forward and how we can mentor each other to be better.

It’s National Athletic Training Month, and we’re celebrating this year’s theme, “The Care You Can Count On,” with a special Then vs. Now conversation. Host Mikayla Talak (6 years in the profession) sits down with Jay Pearson (32 years) and Hailey Hovda (2 years) to explore how athletic training has evolved — from education and certification to work–life balance, media visibility, and the transition to MSAT programs. While the profession continues to change, its commitment to dependable, athlete-centered care remains constant.

We’re back with Part 2 of our Transition to Practice conversation with Doug Wardy, diving deeper into the real questions new athletic trainers are asking as they enter the profession. This episode unpacks how to prepare for outreach/PRN work, navigate tough conversations with parents, and how social media can serve as a valuable tool for athletic trainers.
Doug and Mikayla break down how to make sense of your first benefits package and explore how to determine which athletic training setting fits you best when you’re still finding your path. We also bring in insights from young professionals about what they wish they’d known before starting their first job, highlighting the realities, surprises, and lessons that come with those early career steps.
A practical, relatable follow‑up for anyone stepping into the profession—or guiding those who are.
 

We’re kicking off our Transition to Practice series with Doug Wardy, highlighting what new athletic training graduates face as they enter the profession. In this episode, we talk about what employers are looking for, the value of strong communication skills, the importance of staying curious throughout your career, and why feeling nervous at the start is completely normal. Doug and Mikayla share personal career experiences that highlight how embracing discomfort can fuel growth and shape you as a professional. A practical and encouraging conversation for anyone making the jump from student to clinician.
 

In this episode of The Source, Mikayla Talak speaks with Cassidy Windsor, Program Director of the Orthopedic Residency, and Amanda Hambrick, Program Director of the upcoming Performance Enhancement Residency at Source Sports Medicine, about how athletic training residencies are evolving beyond traditional academic models.Together, they break down what a residency really is, why Source built one in a non‑traditional setting, how they earned leadership buy‑in, and what makes the resident experience so uniquely impactful. They also look ahead at where residency training is headed next.Learn more at sourcesportsmed.com, and follow the show for more real conversations in sports medicine.

In our very first episode, Mikayla Talak welcomes Megan Roach, GATA Vice President and Education Department Supervisor at Source Sports Medicine, to discuss service, leadership, and what it means to show up for others in the athletic training profession.