Professional Ethics in Athletic Training: Practicing and Leading with Integrity

Gretchen A. Schlabach, PhD, ATC graduated Ithaca College (Ithaca, New York) with a BS and Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana) with an MS. Her initial position was a 1-year appointment at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan). That was followed by an 8-year stint at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss; Oxford, Mississippi) where she served as the first Head Women’s Athletic Trainer. After completing her doctoral work in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition, Dr. Schlabach entered the professoriate and accepted the Program Directorship at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Illinois). After 23 years, she retired and was recognized by Northern Illinois University with the professor emerita status. In 2020, Dr. Schlabach could not refuse an opportunity to join Florida International University’s Doctor of Athletic Training program as an adjunct lecturer and courtesy professor.

Dr. Schlabach’s professional scholarship and service has been in the area of professional ethics, values, and responsibility in athletic training, which has been disseminated at the state, national, and international levels. Currently, she is the founding chair of the inaugural National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Professional Responsibility in Athletic Training Committee, which promotes awareness, analysis, action, and adherence relative to legal, ethical, regulatory, and professional standards issues in athletic training. Dr. Schlabach has been recognized with the NATA Athletic Training Service Award, Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, and the Gail Weldon Award of Excellence. In 2019, she was inducted into the prestigious NATA Hall of Fame.

Kimberly S. Peer, EdD, ATC, FNATA is a full professor at Kent State University where she serves as the Program Coordinator for the BS in athletic training and MSAT. Dr. Peer holds an adjunct graduate faculty appointment at Northeast Ohio College of Medicine (Rootstown, Ohio) and teaches at the College of Podiatric Medicine at Kent State University. She holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration with a cognate in Health Care Management from the University of Akron (Akron, Ohio). Dr. Peer served as the editor-in-chief for the Athletic Training Education Journal and serves on the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Ethics Committee as well as the NATA Committee on Professional Ethics. Her national contributions include service to the Board of Certification, NATA, Journal of Athletic Training, and the NATA Research and Education Foundation in multiple capacities. Her statewide service includes the Governor’s appointment to the Ohio Licensure Board and over 12 years of service to the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association. Dr. Peer has been lauded with national, regional, and state level awards for her contributions to the profession and athletic training education, including, but not limited to, the NATA Fellow and Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer, Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, and Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association Outstanding Educator. Dr. Peer was recently selected to serve on the inaugural cabinet for the NATA Educationalist Community. In addition to her extensive service, Dr. Peer has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and delivered over 135 international, national, and district conference presentations while coauthoring 3 textbooks on athletic training.