Athletic trainers aren’t just for the pros. They also support student-athletes in schools and communities with care, mentorship, and guidance. This helps them perform, recover, and thrive.
UPMC Sports Medicine may remind you of our partnerships with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, or the Pittsburgh Penguins. UPMC has long been the provider of choice for many high-level athletes. We bring world-class care to world-class players.
But UPMC’s 200+ expert athletic trainers don’t just help pro athletes. They also work with schools and sports organizations across the state of Pennsylvania.
“Our athletic trainers are on-site daily, delivering comprehensive injury evaluation and treatment for varsity and junior varsity student-athletes at the high school level, as well as a significant number of collegiate, club sport, and youth sport athletes and organizations such as the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the Youngstown Phantoms,” says Kathleen Nachazel, athletic training director, UPMC.
“This commitment ensures that student-athletes receive the same world-class care as the pros, underscoring UPMC’s dedication to all levels of competition.”
Athletic Training in Southwest Pa.
Mt. Lebanon High School lies a few miles south of Pittsburgh. Jessica Falvo begins her workday there when the final bell of the school day rings. Students arrive with sprains, strains, or, sometimes, a need for reassurance.
Jessica started out wanting to work with college athletics programs. She later discovered her true passion was with high school athletes.
“High school students need more than just medical care,” says Jessica, athletic trainer and southeast region supervisor, UPMC Sports Medicine Athletic Training and Development. “They need encouragement, perspective, and someone who will listen.
“When the freshmen first come in, they’re here with all the things that feel huge to them, even if it’s really something small. But as the years go by, you can see the growth as their maturity goes up, their confidence goes up, and they start to trust the process more. Understanding rehab doesn’t take as long as they think, and they’re able to bounce back.”
Jessica sees her role as a variety of elements. These include guidance, direct health care, and mentorship.
She aids six different sports. These include lacrosse and volleyball. She’s also part of a larger team of athletic trainers at the school.
Each of these trainers brings their own strengths. These include rehabilitation expertise and first-response readiness. They also include communication with families.
UPMC’s support gives Jessica and her colleagues access to physicians and schedulers. This allows them to connect athletes to the right care.
“That builds trust — not just with the students, but with their parents too,” she says.
Athletic Training in Northwest Pa.
At North East High School in Erie County, Pa., Erin Terry has served athletes for nearly 25 years.
Erin has built a reputation as a steady and trusted presence in the community. This has earned her the nickname, “The Mayor of North East.” Her path to athletic training began with personal experience — an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in high school that required a long rehabilitation process.
Erin’s interests in science and athletics and her desire to help others led her to a passion for athletic training. This passion has carried through to thousands of student-athletes over the years.
“Parents don’t always realize what we do until their child gets injured,” says Erin, athletic trainer and supervisor. “But we’re there from that first moment of care through rehab and the return to play. We’re also focused on prevention and education, which is just as important.”
Sprains, strains, and bruises are common injuries she sees. But one moment that stood out for her was a football player who broke his collarbone right in front of her during a game.
“I knew what happened the instant he landed in front of me,” she recalls. “I could read his facial expression and could tell it wasn’t good. I coordinated care from immediate on-field triage all through getting him back on the basketball court in the winter.”
Erin works closely with coaches to design preseason and in-season conditioning programs to reduce injury risk. Many athletic trainers pursue additional certifications in performance enhancement specialization and injury prevention. This ensures student-athletes get top-level care at their school.
For Brian Dewey, North East athletic director, UPMC’s involvement has made all the difference.
“Our program now operates with peace of mind,” he says. “Parents know their kids will receive quality care, and that confidence has directly increased the number of students participating in sports.”
Brian also highlighted the daily collaboration between coaches and Erin. They work together to keep athletes healthy and performing at their best.
“If a student is coming back from an injury, they can get therapy every day at practice,” he says. “That kind of access changes everything.”
The Importance of Athletic Trainers
For both Jessica and Erin, athletic training is about far more than treating injuries. It’s about mentorship, building trust, and helping student-athletes understand that health care is accessible and supportive.
Jessica hopes to see athletic training introduced to younger athletes. This can teach them early on that athletic trainers are there to help them. This is true not just during moments of injury but throughout their growth.
Erin views UPMC as a crucial and internationally recognized leader in sports medicine. She knows that we show up on community sidelines locally and globally. This empowers kids and families where it matters most.
UPMC athletic trainers are shaping the future of sports medicine at the community level. Jessica and Erin know how to listen to a worried student after school. They also know how to coordinate a return-to-play plan with coaches and parents.
They bring world-class expertise into schools. This ensures that young athletes are safe and supported. It also enables them to thrive both in competition and in life.
Support for Athletes Close to Home
UPMC Sports Medicine employs 203 athletic trainers. We support 78 high schools and 14 colleges across southwest Pennsylvania, northwest Pennsylvania, and north central Pennsylvania.
UPMC Orthopaedic Care in Central Pa. also has a sports medicine program that supports many high schools in that region. This includes physician and sports physical services and a team of athletic trainers who work with local high schools.