The Emory Athletic Training Residency Program is a one-year educational program that begins in June each year. The athletic training residency program provides the athletic training resident (ATR) with opportunities in the clinical and surgical settings. The intent of the program is to prepare the ATR for advanced clinical practice in the specialty area of Orthopedics. It is one of only a few elite athletic training residency programs that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. There is a $52,000 stipend for the year, along with medical benefits, dental benefits, and retirement matching. Although outreach is not required, the ATR also has the opportunity for community outreach for additional income.
The ATR will rotate between three surgeons and a group of non-operative physicians on a monthly basis. Once state licensed and certified as an Orthopaedic Technologist, the residents will complete a course in aseptic technique, learning how to work in a sterile environment.
Through their experience working as a surgical assist in the operating room, they will learn operating room skills, from sterile techniques, including assisting the physician with patient positioning, positioning of the arthroscopic camera, tissue retraction, suturing, and sizing/preparation of previously harvested grafts. Other responsibilities will include conducting and presenting research or quality improvement projects, working closely with clinical staff to understand and interpret imaging studies, and attendance at journal clubs and grand rounds.
Residency Program Goals
Goal 1: To train the AT resident to become a knowledgeable and skilled athletic trainer within an orthopedic physician practice setting.
Goal 2: To incorporate the AT resident into the operating room environment, teach the role of surgical first assist, and pre- and post-operative patient care.
Goal 3: To further develop the AT resident into a leader in the field by increasing their multidisciplinary skills, such as communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, the business of healthcare, and teamwork.
Goal 4: To expose and allow the AT resident to participate in outcomes-based research within an orthopaedic setting.