University of North Carolina Athletics
Meredith Petschauer
March 29, 2001 | General
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
Education: College of Wooster, BA, University Of North Carolina, MA
Years involved with athletic training: 10
TarHeelBlue.com: What led you to become involved with athletic training?
Meredith Petschauer: I played soccer at Wooster and was injured during practice. This is the first encounter that I had with an athletic trainer. I thought the field was interesting--I was initially a pre-med student--and I started to volunteer in the training room. I enjoyed athletic training, so I decided to stop playing soccer and become a student athletic trainer.
THB: With which UNC teams do you work and what are your responsibilities with those teams?
Petschauer: I work with the field hockey team. I am responsible for the health care and well-being of the athletes on that team. I work to prevent, treat and rehabilitate injured athletes.
I attend practice, run treatment sessions and attend games to provide medical coverage. When an athlete is injured I am the first one to evaluate the injury and to make decisions about the care for that athlete.
In addition, I teach two athletic training classes: Therapeutic Exercise and Fundamentals of Athletic Training. I teach biomechanics, emergency care of injury and illness, and personal health for the department.
I also serve as the clinical site coordinator for the undergraduate athletic training program and am responsible for assignment coordination of the athletic training students' clinical experience. Each student has a clinical assignment every semester at various sites on and off campus and I am the one who makes those assignments.
THB: Describe your duties during a typical road trip.
Petschauer: During travel with the teams, my duties include medical coverage for any practice or game, as well as treatment and taping before and after the event (which often times done in the training room at the home school).
THB: What kind of training did you undergo to become an athletic trainer?
Petschauer: I graduated from Wooster with a bachelor's degree in sports medicine/pre-physical therapy, including the prerequisites to attend a master's program in athletic training. I then was eligible to take the National Athletic Trainers' Association board of certification exam. After passing the exam I went on to earn my master's degree in athletic training at UNC.
THB: What is the most interesting part of your job?
Petschauer: My job changes every day. I evaluate and treat many different types of injury. It is very rewarding to work with an athlete from the time that they are injured until they are able to participate again.
I also enjoy the teaching aspect of my job and daily interaction with students.
