FTG 0032 – Raising Banners & Healing Athletes with NCAA Championship Winning Athletic Trainer Katy Poole '11

Overview: Katy Poole ’11 HHD is a Senior Athletic Trainer at the University of Kentucky, where she works with the national championship women’s volleyball team and serves as a leader in their athletic department overseeing training for the gymnastics and golf teams. Katy graduated from State College Area High School, and shares her experiences coming to Penn State with a focus on becoming an athletic trainer by earning her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Honors. She provides an in-depth look at this healthcare field from undergraduate through professional. Katy also offers advice that can be helpful to any Scholar on overcoming early academic struggles, finding the right path, adapting to other universities for graduate school, and the importance of cultivating relationships. You You can read Katy’s full bio and a more detailed breakdown of the episode topics below.

Guest Bio:

Katy Poole ’11 HHD is a Senior Athletic Trainer at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. This fall (2022) marks her 12th season working primarily with the women's volleyball team. As the team's athletic trainer, she oversees all aspects of healthcare for the student athletes that she serves. Over the last 11 years, she has helped the team win 5 SEC Conference Championships, and the 2020 National Championship. In addition to her role with volleyball, she has oversight of the gymnastics and golf teams, and is involved in several committees within the athletic department. Prior to being hired on full time, Katy worked for two years as a graduate assistant at UK while completing her Masters in Athletic Training. Before moving to Lexington, she graduated from Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development with a BS in Kinesiology with Honors. She is originally from State College, PA and can be found on Twitter and Instagram @KatyPoole.

Episode Specifics:

In this episode, Katy shares her insights on:

· Applying to the Honors College both as a State College local and as someone on the fence about it

· Rebounding from a challenging first year and working back into good standing as a Scholar

· Converting playing youth sports into academic and career passions

· Getting tapped for senior honor societies, Homecoming Courts, and making the most of your last year

· Early exposure to athletic training through undergraduate opportunities

· The importance of relationships, especially in collegiate athletics

· Using clinical experiences to inform thesis research interests – and using it in your career!

· Determining criteria for which grad schools for the your personal best fit

· Deciding to pick an NCAA D1 “Power 5” university for a professional home

· Defining athletic training as a distinct healthcare profession

· A day in the life of an athletic trainer during their sport’s season

· The biomechanical differences between sports

· Alternative paths in sports science and athletic training from Katy’s

· The value of team continuity in the workplace, and the unique role of the team’s athletic trainer

· Responding to COVID-19 in athletic training

· Balancing your Penn State pride with your graduate school or employer (if another university)

· Learning what career paths are best for you and advice for prospective athletic trainers

· Professional development and work life balance for athletic trainers

· Reflections on success like winning a national championship and mentorship

· The importance of making connections with the College’s staff