National Athletic Trainers’ Association President James L. Thornton will visit the West Virginia University campus to discuss the students’ role within the national organization.

Thornton will speak to WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences athletic training undergraduate students, graduate assistants and staff Friday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m. in room 172 of the WVU Coliseum.

Thornton was elected this past June at the annual NATA convention held in St. Louis and will hold office for the next three years. He is recognized for his focus in establishing athletic trainers as “premier” health care providers for patients, students, clients and others who seek out the profession. As president, he plans to combine hands on experience and strategic marketing to advance the field within the health care arena.

With 28 years of sports medicine experience, Thornton serves as the head athletic trainer and director of sports medicine and athletic training services at Clarion University in Clarion, Pa. His wife Bridget is a graduate of the undergraduate athletic training program at WVU.

Thornton received his Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University and his master’s from the University of the Pacific, where he also served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer.

The presentation is open to the public and will include a question and answer session. For more information, contact Brittany.Arnold@mail.wvu.edu.

For more information about NATA see: www.nata.org

—WVU—

09/18/12

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CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, CPASS
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu