University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Sports Medicine Staff
October 2, 2003 | General
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Troy Blackburn<> |
Dr. Mario Ciocca |
Marc Davis |
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Lindsay DiStefano |
Nicole Fava |
Kevin Guskiewiscz |
Doug Halverson |
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Chris Hirth |
Dr. Dan Hooker |
Jen Ketterly |
Kevin King |
C.B. Lehn |
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Sally Mays |
Scott Oliaro |
Darin Padua |
Meredith Petschauer |
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Dr. Bill Prentice |
Terri Jo Rucinski |
Dr. Tim Taft |
Scott Trulock |
Dr. Gregory Tuttle |
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Dr. Kelly Waicus |
Nina Walker |
Troy Blackburn - troyb@email.unc.edu
Troy Blackburn joined the Department of Exercise and Sport Science as an assistant professor in the fall of 2006. He currently serves as the director of the Motor Control Laboratory, and teaches courses in Research in Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS 273) and Neuromuscular Control and Learning (EXSS 380).
Dr. Blackburn received a B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science (Athletic Training Concentration) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1998), a M.S. in Sports Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh (2000), and a Ph.D. in Human Movement Science (Biomechanics Concentration) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2004).
Troy's primary research interests lie in neural and biomechanical contributions to joint stability. His current focus is on the influences of series elastic musculotendinous stiffness on mechanical joint stability and neuromechanical function. These efforts are designed to evaluate the influence that lesser hamstring stiffness in females (compared to their male counterparts) has on the higher incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury noted in females.
Dr. Tom Brickner - tbrickne@email.unc.edu
Dr. Tom Brickner has been a team physician for the University of North Carolina since 1996.
rickner earned a B.S. degree in biochemistry through St. Joseph's College. He then attended medical school at the Medical College of Ohio and completed a residency in Family Practice at the Toledo Hospital in 1990.
After completing his residency, Brickner served five years in the US Navy, including over two years as chief physician and medical department head for the United States Antarctic Program. Following the Navy, he completed a fellowship in primary care sports medicine at the Northwest Ohio Center for Sports Medicine.
rickner is Board certified in Family Practice, with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine and has specialized training in cold weather and diving medicine.
rickner is married to Beth Brickner and has a step-daughter Emily, a daughter Amanda and a son Benjamin.
Dr. Mario Ciocca - ciocca@email.unc.edu
Dr. Mario Ciocca has served as a team physician at the University of North Carolina since 1996. He is currently the head primary care physician for football, baseball, women's basketball and golf, and men's soccer and lacrosse teams.
Dr. Ciocca earned a B.S. in biochemical engineering from Columbia University in 1989. He received his MD in 1993 at New Jersey Medical School and then completed at UNC his residency in internal medicine in 1996 and a sports medicine fellowship in 1998. Dr. Ciocca is board certified in internal medicine and has a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. He is an active member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine.
Dr. Ciocca is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UNC and is involved with the lecturing of students and residents at the undergraduate school as well as the medical and nursing school. He has authored journal articles and book chapters on subjects including cardiac conditions, creatine, medications and supplements, psoriatic arthritis, and pneumothorax. He is currently involved with a study on concussions.
Dr. Ciocca and his wife Cindy have four children, Luke-11, Jack-5, Michael-3 and Gabrielle-1.
Dr. Alexander Creighton - alex_creighton@med.unc.edu
Dr. Creighton is the team's orthopaedic surgeon and is a faculty member of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UNC-CH. Dr. Creighton, a native of Haddonfield, NJ, received his BS in biology from the College of William and Mary. He was a member of the Tribe baseball team and was an all-conference 3rd basemen his junior and senior seasons. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society. After finishing his surgical internship and residency in Orthopaedics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, he completed his fellowship in sports medicine/shoulder at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. While at Rush, he helped take care of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, Chicago Rush arena football team, and the Chicago Steel hockey team.
Dr. Creighton's clinical practice at UNC is focused on sports medicine and complex shoulder injuries. He is a board certified member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic orthopaedic surgeons arthroscopic and open techniques using the latest of Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America. He is an annual faculty member at the Orthopaedic Learning Center in Chicago, IL, which teaches orthopaedic surgeons arthroscopic and open techniques using the latest technology technology. As well at taking care of the Tar Heels, he also takes care of the three high schools of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro school system. He and his wife, Pat, have a daughter Sophia Anne born June 28th, 2006.
Marc Davis - davis5@email.unc.edu
Marc Davis serves as the head athletic trainer for the University of North Carolina men's basketball team, a position he has held since the 1977-78 season.
Davis received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974. After graduating from Carolina, he worked as a physical therapist at Danville Memorial Hospital in Danville, VA., from October of 1974 to May of 1975. He began his current tenure on the sports medicine staff at Carolina in July of 1975.
Davis, a native of Wilmington, NC, and alumnus of New Hanover High School, is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association.
He was the recipient of the award for the outstanding physical therapist of the year for 1998 by the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association.
Davis' duties at Carolina consist of providing physical therapy and athletic training services to Carolina athletic teams. In addition to the men's basketball team, he also serves as the head athletic trainer for the men's and women's swimming and diving teams. He also provides similar services to members of the general student body and faculty/staff who are recommended to him by Campus Health Service physicians. Davis also works with the basketball coaching staff to coordinate team travel.
Davis is married to the former Paula Gee. They have an 18-year-old daughter, Irma Consuelo.
Lindsay DiStefano - ljs7@email.unc.edu
Lindsay DiStefano, MA, ATC, is in her third year of being a staff athletic trainer for the UNC gymnastics team. She is also a doctoral student in the Human Movement Science program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is a research assistant in the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory and teaches various classes in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Her research interests include ACL injury prevention in youth and adolescent athletes.
Lindsay graduated from the undergraduate athletic training program at Boston University with a BS degree in 2003. She earned her NATA Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) credentials in 2003 and earned an advanced master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science (athletic training specialization) in 2005 at UNC-Chapel Hill. During her time as a graduate student at UNC, she was also a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the gymnastics, volleyball, and men's and women's tennis teams.
Lindsay and her husband, Mike, reside in Durham.
Sharon Evans - evanss@email.unc.edu
Sharon Evans joined the UNC Sports Medicine Clinic at the James A. Taylor Campus Health Service in May 2007. Prior to coming to the UNC she was the School Nurse for the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham, North Carolina for four and a half years.
Sharon received her Nursing Degree from Alamance Community College and serves through the American Heart Association as a Basic Life Support Instructor. She has 7+ years of Emergency Medicine through Alamance Regional Medical Center and continues to do emergency medicine on a part time basis. She is Advance Cardiac Life Support Certified, also Pediatric Life Support Certified. She also is a member of the Association of Emergency Room Nurses and is seeking to become certified in College Health.
Nicole Fava - nfava@uncaa.unc.edu
Nicole has been a staff athletic trainer at UNC since 2005 working with the women's soccer team as well as both the men's and women's track and field programs. She assists in the supervision and clinical education of both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as providing care to patients in the James A Taylor Physical Therapy/Athletic Training clinic.
Nicole earned her BS in Exercise Science/Athletic Training from Ithaca College in 2001. She continued her education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving her masters degree in Exercise and Sport Science with a concentration in Athletic Training in 2003.
Prior to returning to UNC, Nicole has served as an assistant athletic trainer at Appalachian State University where she worked with the women's basketball team and cheerleading squads. She directed the drug testing education screening and counseling program, served as the athletic department insurance coordinator, supervisor of the Roger E. Thomas athletic training room and lecturer in the Health Leisure and Exercise Science department.
She has been an NATABOC certified athletic trainer (ATC) and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2001.
Nicole currently resides in Durham.
Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz - gus@email.unc.edu
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, PhD, ATC was hired by the Department Exercise and Sport Science in July 1995, and was appointed Department Chair in July 2005. Kevin heads up the sport concussion program at UNC, while also serving as the Director of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory and Research Director for the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes. Kevin's teaching responsibilities include Cadaver Anatomy, Therapeutic Modalities, Human Anatomy, and Research Methods & Statistics in Sports Medicine.
Kevin's research is focused on the assessment of sport-related concussion and the long-term effects of concussion. He has been the recipient of over 15 funded research grants on this topic, and has published over 45 journal articles and five textbook chapters related to concussion in sport. He serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Athletic Training, and is on the editorial boards of two other journals. Kevin was the recipient of the 1997 Kenneth Knight Outstanding Research Manuscript for the Journal of Athletic Training, the recipient of the 1999 NATA-REF New Investigator Award for Athletic Training Research, and the 2006 Medal for Distinguished Athletic Training Research. He was awarded Fellowship in the American College of Sports Medicine in May 2003, and was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education in September 2006. He and his wife Amy have 4 children Jacob, Nathan, Adam, and Tessa.
Doug Halverson - sdhalverson@uncaa.unc.edu
Doug Halverson is beginning his third year as a staff athletic trainer at Carolina, working with the football and women's lacrosse teams. This is Halverson's first year as assistant athletic trainer for UNC's football team. Previously, he oversaw the field hockey (2005-2007) and men's and women's golf (2006-2007) teams. Halverson returned to UNC after working at Georgia State University, where his primary responsibility was coverage of the women's basketball team and supervising graduate athletic trainers in the coverage of spring sports(2004-2005).
Halverson is a 2002 graduate of UNC, where he earned a B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science with a specialization in Athletic Training. While serving as a student athletic trainer from 1999-2002, he worked with the women's soccer, volleyball, and track and field teams. He also served as the intern athletic trainer for the WUSA's Atlanta Beat in 2001 and 2002.
Following his undergraduate degree, Halverson continued his education at UNC, where he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer, working mainly with the Tar Heel football and men's and women's tennis programs. He received a M.A. in Exercise and Sports Science - Athletic Training in 2004.
He has been a NATABOC Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) since 2002 and NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2005. Halverson is a native of Winston-Salem and currently lives in Chapel Hill.
Dr. Bradley Hack- hack@smootpsych.com
is the Sport Psychologist for the Athletic Department and has been a member of the Sports Medicine Team since 2001. He is originally from Detroit and earned his B.A. in psychology and economics from the University of Michigan and his M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Michigan State University.
In addition to his work with student-athletes at Carolina, Dr. Hack has also counseled professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, WNBA, NASCAR, as well as members of the U.S. Olympic Team, in his private practice. He serves as a treating clinician for the NFL's substance abuse program.
Dr. Hack has been an active leader in professional organizations throughout his career. He was appointed to the Executive Committee for the American Psychological Association's (APA) Division of Exercise and Sport Psychology (2002-2005) and also served as the Chair of the Education Committee for the Division. He was a primary author of the "Proficiency in Sport Psychology," which was adopted by APA in 2003 as the national standard for the education and training of sport psychologists. He was twice elected to the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Psychological Association (1998-2002), and received a presidential appointment as the Federal Advocacy Coordinator for NCPA (2004-2006). Dr. Hack also serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Clinical and Sport Psychology and was a contributing author for The Sport Psych Handbook (Murphy, 2005).
He and his wife, Cassie, have two awesome kids, Rider (4) and Skylar (2).
Chris Hirth - chirth@email.unc.edu
Chris Hirth, a native of Milwaukee Wisconsin, is beginning his 12th year as the head athletic trainer with the Men's Soccer program. He also serves as a physical therapist in the James Taylor Campus Health Service and a lecturer in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science.
Hirth received his B.S. in physical therapy from the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse in 1989 and his M.S. in Human Movement Science from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in 1994. He has been a certified athletic trainer since 1994.
His current responsibilities also include lecturing in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science in the areas of strength and conditioning, performance enhancement and athletic training including rehabilitation of lower extremity injuries. He is also involved lecturing nationally with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Hirth is married to his wife Anna and they have son Blake. He enjoys spending time with his family, exercising and reading.
Dr. Dan Hooker - dhooker@uncaa.unc.edu
Dan Hooker has served the University of North Carolina as an athletic trainer and physical therapist since 1972. He is presently the Associate Director of Sports Medicine. He has provided athletic training coverage for most of the Tar Heel sports teams and was the program director for the Graduate Athletic Training Curriculum from 1975-1979. Hooker earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Medical College of Virginia, 1967, Master of Science in Education from the University of Southern California, 1971, and his PhD in Education from Carolina in 1981. He has been an American Board of Physical Therapy Certified Sports Physical Therapy Specialist since 1987 and has served the Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Medicine Association as President and as Secretary. He has contributed to several textbooks providing chapters on the rehabilitation of the spine, electrical modalities, compression devices, and traction. Hooker is involved in the research activities of the Exercise and Sports Science department providing consultation and data collection on a study of back pain in retired NFL players and consultation on several studies on concussions in football athletes. He received the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award in 2002.
Jen Ketterly, MS, RD - ketterly@email.unc.edu
Jen is in her fourth year as a member of the UNC Sports Medicine staff. In
her role as Director of Sports Nutrition she oversees the sports nutrition
needs for UNC¹s 28 varsity sports including nutrition education,
counseling,
training tables, body composition analysis, and supplement evaluation.
Jen holds a BS in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University, where she was also a varsity-student-athlete. She earned her masters degree in Clinical Nutrition with a sports nutrition emphasis from the University of Kentucky while completing her clinical training at UK¹s Chandler Medical Center and Lexington VA Hospital. Prior to coming to UNC-CH, Jen held a similar position at the University of Connecticut where she coordinated the campus nutrition services, wellness program development, and worked with both male and female teams and individual student-athletes.
Jen is also the Registered Dietitian for the Center for Retired NFL athletes based at UNC and serves as an instructor and preceptor in the Departments of Exercise and Sport Sciences and Nutrition, and the Schools of Medicine and Public Health. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) dietetic practice group.
Kevin King - kking@uncaa.unc.edu
Kevin King joined the athletic training staff in 2007. He serves as a staff athletic trainer at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill for football, fencing, and cheerleading. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in athletic training from East Carolina University in 2000 and his Master's degree in Education from the University of Connecticut in 2003. He will also assist the UNC undergraduate and graduate programs as a clinical supervisor.
Prior to coming to UNC, Kevin spent over three years as a staff assistant athletic trainer working football in the ACC. He also served as a sports medicine intern with the following teams: Cleveland Browns (04', 03'), New York Giants (Summer 99', 98'), Pittsburgh Pirates (99'), San Diego Padres (98'), and the minor league Carolina Mudcats (99', 97').
He is a proud NATABOC certified athletic trainer (ATC) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Kevin and is wife, the former Nicole Dube, reside in Raleigh.
C.B. Lehn - clehn@email.unc.edu
Clairbeth Lehn, better known as C.B., has been on the UNC sports medicine staff since 1977. She serves as staff physical therapist at the James A. Taylor Student Health Service.
Lehn graduated from West Chester with a degree in health and physical education in 1973 and received her certificate in physical therapy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1977. She was a staff athletic trainer at Penn from 1973-75 and arrived in Chapel Hill in 1977.
She traveled to Russia as a trainer with the U.S. Deaf volleyball team in 1992, and in '93 served as a U.S. team trainer at the Deaf Olympics in Bulgaria. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Sally Mays - smays@email.unc.edu
Mays has served as one of the staff athletic trainers for Fetzer Athletic Training Room which provides sports medicine services for twenty four varsity sports since 1997. She is the Head Athletic Trainer for wrestling, volleyball and men's and women's tennis. She also provides care to patients in the Physical Therapy/Athletic Training Clinic at Campus Health Services.
Sally received a bachelor's degree in secondary education and athletic training from Washington State University in 1986. She then received a master's degree in athletic training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989. For five years she was the Head Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She also taught athletic training classes and supervised undergraduate athletic trainers in an internship program.
In 1994 she accepted a position as the Director of Athletic Training and Performance Enhancement for the University of Minnesota overseeing a staff of five athletic trainers, twenty five undergraduate students and three strength and conditioning coaches while coordinating and instructing the undergraduate athletic training internship program. Sally joins her co-workers in presenting and speaking nationally on a variety of topics, primarily rehabilitation and preventative health care programs that are athletic performance based. In 1996 she was named to the United States Olympic Team Medical Staff working with USA Volleyball in Atlanta, Georgia. She has also worked the US Olympic Festival in 1995 with USA Basketball and US World's Figure Skating Championships in 1998.
Sally is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Massage Therapist.
Joe Myers - joemyers@email.unc.edu
Joseph B. Myers, PhD, ATC is an Assistant Professor in Exercise and Sport Science. Dr. Myers received a B.S. and M.A. degrees in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine from West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1996) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1998) respectively. Dr Myers received a Ph.D. in Sports Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2001. He is the author of more than 100 national and international research publications, scientific abstracts, and textbook chapters. Dr. Myers' research over the past 10 years has focused on assessment of shoulder dysfunction using neuromuscular and biomechanical measurement models. He presented his work at such prestigious meetings as the American Shoulder and Elbow Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American College of Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, National Athletic Trainers' Association, and Orthopaedic Research Society. Dr. Myers was 2005 recipient of the Freddie H. Fu, MD Young Investigator Award presented by the National Athletic Trainers Association Research and Education Foundation.
Scott Oliaro - soliaro@uncaa.unc.edu
Scott Oliaro served seven seasons as Assistant Football Athletic Trainer and two as the Head Athletic Trainer for Football before becoming the Head Athletic Trainer for Field Hockey, Men's and Women's golf in 2007. Oliaro has also served as the Head Athletic Trainer for softball since 1998.
Oliaro assists the education program as a lecturer for both the undergraduate and graduate athletic training programs. He has authored several articles in various medical journals, including the Journal of Athletic Training. Oliaro has presented a variety of topics at national, district and local levels. He currently serves as the program director for the College Athletic Trainer's Society.
Oliaro is a 1993 graduate of Cornell University where he earned a B.S. in nutritional sciences. At Cornell he was a three-year football letterwinner, a two-time captain and a two-year Ivy League selection at tailback. A native of Lansing, Mich., Oliaro grew up in Burlington, Vt. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named Oliaro Vermont's 42nd best athlete of all-time. Oliaro earned a Master's degree in athletic training from North Carolina in 1996 where he was also the Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for UNC Field Hockey's National Championship team in 1995. Oliaro is a NATABOC certified athletic trainer and a member of the National Athletic Trainer's Association. In 1996, he worked the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Prior to coming to UNC, Scott spent two years as an assistant athletic trainer for American University and the Washington Capitals. He and his wife, Jeri, reside in Chapel Hill with their daughter - Mia Katherine - born on June 27th, 2005 and son Tyler Michael born May 17th 2007.
Darin Padua - dpadua@email.unc.edu
Dr. Padua is the Associate Director of the SMRL and Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science where he serves as Director of the Undergraduate Athletic Training Education Program. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Departments of Orthopaedics, Biomedical Engineering, and Allied Health Sciences. In addition, Dr. Padua serves as the Director of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Research Institute, whose mission is to provide scientifically valid, evidence-based assessments and interventions for the effective promotion of physical fitness, performance enhancement, injury prevention, injury rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation conditioning.
Dr. Padua received his B.A. degree (Exercise and Nutritional Science, emphasis in Athletic Training) from San Diego State University (1996) and M.A. degree (Exercise and Sports Science emphasis in Athletic Training) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then proceeded to the University of Virginia and obtained his Doctoral Degree (PhD in Sports Medicine, 2001).
His primary research interests focus on neuromuscular control of knee and lumbo-pelvic stability, identification of risk factors associated with knee injury (focus on ACL injury), identification of evidence based prevention strategies for ACL injury, and validation of performance enhancement training techniques. Current research includes investigating predictive factors for ACL injury, biomechanical comparison of ACL injury prevention interventions, examination of modifiable neuromuscular factors that contribute to knee valgus angle and anterior tibial shear force, validation of clinical movement assessment techniques to predict muscle imbalances and injury risk, and validation of corrective exercises commonly used for injury prevention and performance enhancement.
Meredith Petschauer - mbusby@email.unc.edu
Meredith Petschauer is a Lecturer in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and serves as the clinical site coordinator for the undergraduate athletic training education program.
Dr. Petschauer received her PhD from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro in Biomechanics, her Master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Athletic training and her bachelor's degree from The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. Dr. Petschauer teaches Biomechanics, Emergency Care of Injuries and Illness, Fundamentals of Athletic Training, and Therapeutic Exercise.
In addition to her responsibilities with the athletic training program she is the Director of the Undergraduate Honors Program for EXSS and serves part time as a general college advisor. Her research interests include prehospital care of the cervical spine injured athlete specifically considering lacrosse and ice hockey equipment. She and her husband Greg have two children, Madison and Grant.
Dr. Bill Prentice - prentice@email.unc.edu
Prentice is recognized as an author, educator, and clinician. He received both BS and MS degrees from the University of Delaware, a PhD degree in sports medicine and applied physiology from the University of Virginia and BSPT degree in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina. He is a Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, and has served as the Program Director of the NATA Accredited Graduate Athletic Training Education Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 1980. He started his career as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Temple University prior to beginning his PhD at Virginia. He also served for ten years as the Director of Sports Medicine Education for the Healthsouth Corporation.
Prentice is the author of nine textbooks most notably Arnheim's Principles of Athletic Training, Essentials of Athletic Injury Management, Athletic Training: An Introduction to Professional Practice, Therapeutic Modalities in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, , Rehabilitation Techniques in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, Therapeutic Modalities for Physical Therapists, Techniques of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, and two additional fitness books. He has published more than 75 journal articles and abstracts, and has made more than 160 lectures and presentations. Prentice served as the Athletic Trainer for the Women's Soccer Program at the University of North Carolina for 26 years since1980 and during that period the team won 17 NCAA and one AIAW National Championships. Prentice has been the recipient of numerous awards from the NATA including most notably the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 1999; the Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Athletic Training Educator Award in 1997; and, the Educational Multimedia Committee Videotape Production Award in 1997. In June 2004, Dr. Prentice was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association's Hall of Fame. In June 2006, the NATA established the William E. Prentice Doctoral Scholarship that will be presented annually in his name. He also received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletics at the University of Delaware in 1989.
Terri Jo Rucinski - tjrucinski@uncaa.unc.edu
Rucinski is the Staff Athletic Trainer for the men's baseball and women's basketball teams. In addition to her athletic training duties, Terri Jo also serves as the Supervisor of the Fetzer Athletic Training Room, and is a Staff Physical Therapist at the James A. Taylor Campus Health Service.
Terri Jo also assists the education program as a lecturer for both the undergraduate and graduate athletic training programs, with emphasis on the prevention and rehabilitation of shoulder injuries. She has been involved with the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers for the past 17 years and has served on several examination development committees.
Terri Jo received her B.S., in Physical Education Teaching and Athletic Training from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in 1987. She went on to receive her M.A., in Exercise and Sports Science with specialization in Athletic Training from UNC in 1989. Terri Jo worked in Milwaukee Wisconsin at Froedtert Sports Medicine until she returned to the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, in 1994, to pursue her physical therapy degree. She received her B.S. in physical therapy in 1996. She is also a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, receiving her certification in 1998. Prior to Terri Jo's return to UNC, she worked in Madison Wisconsin, at the UW-Health Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Clinic and was also the Head Athletic Trainer at Madison Area Technical College.
Dr. Tim Taft - ttaft@med.unc.edu
Dr. Timothy Taft is the team's orthopaedic surgeon and the Director of Sports Medicine at the University of North Carolina.
Taft, a native of St. Louis, Mo., received his B.A. degree from Princeton University in 1964 and his M.D. from the University of Missouri in 1969. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Carolina in 1974 and has been the orthopaedic surgeon for the Tar Heels since that time.
Taft is the Max Novich Distinguished Professor of Sports Medicine at the UNC Medical School. He has held numerous national leadership positions in sports medicine including serving on the Board of Directors for the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and being an examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is on the sports medicine advisory committee for the NC Medical Society, the NC High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics North Carolina.
Taft was one of the team physicians for the 1979 U.S.A. Pan American Games Team, the 1980 U.S.A. Olympic Team and was head physician for the 1981 U.S.A. World University Games Team. He served as a staff physician for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and was the medical director for the Special Olympic World Games in 1999. He has been the team physician for numerous U.S.A. national teams including the U.S.A. basketball teams which won the 1986 Men's and the 1990 Women's World Championships.
Taft and his wife, Judy, have two children, Todd and Becky. Becky is married to Aaron Fecher, and they have a son, Coby.
Scott Trulock - strulock@uncaa.unc.edu
Scott Trulock, 35, joined the UNC Sports Medicine staff on July 1, 2007 as the Head Athletic Trainer for Football. He returns to UNC after serving with several different teams in the National Football League for the last eleven years, most recently with the Denver Broncos. Prior to his 3 year stint in Denver, Trulock worked in Tampa Bay, where he spent two seasons (2002-03) as the Buccaneers' Director of Rehabilitation. Prior to his time in Tampa, Trulock spent three seasons (1999-2001) as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the San Diego Chargers and three seasons in the same capacity with the Philadelphia Eagles (1996-98).
While working in the NFL, Trulock served as the Director of Research for the Professional Football Athletic Trainers' Society Research and Education Foundation. He also had the fortune of working with the Buccaneers for their 2002 Super Bowl Championship.
Scott's return to UNC is a homecoming of sorts, as the Orlando, Fla., native completed his Masters Degree here in 1996 after serving as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for 2 years. Scott came to UNC after graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Medicine from Valdosta State in 1994.
Scott and his wife, Jamie, have 2 girls Corinne (4) and Riley (1).
Dr. Gregory Tuttle - gtuttle@email.unc.edu
Dr. Greg Tuttle is a clinical physician in Clinic 1. He is Board Certified in Family Practice and Board Eligible in Emergency Medicine and has Certificates of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine and Adolescent Medicine. Originally from Winston-Salem, Dr. Tuttle came to UNC as a Morehead Scholar and received his BA in Chemistry and MD from UNC-CH. Dr. Tuttle completed his residency in Family Practice at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S. C. He served as the ACOG team physician for the 1996 Field Hockey Olympic Teams in Atlanta. Having spent his first 12 years full time in Sports Medicine, he continues to have primary responsibilities for the UNC Wrestling Team and the Men and Women's Fencing Teams.
Dr. Kelly Waicus - waicus@email.unc.edu
Dr. Kelly Waicus has been a team physician at the University of North
Carolina since 2005.
Originally from Moorestown, NJ, she received her undergraduate degree from Duke University followed by her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995. After completing a residency in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, she returned to Chapel Hill for her Sports Medicine fellowship which she completed in 2001. She is board certified in Pediatrics and has a certificate of added qualification in Sports Medicine.
Dr. Waicus is the primary team physician for volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's tennis, women's lacrosse, cheerleading, and JV basketball.
She is married to Tom O'Connell and has two daughters, Kelsey and Caroline.
Nina Walker - nwalker@uncaa.unc.edu
Walker has been a staff athletic trainer at Carolina since 2006. Her primary responsibilities are with the men's lacrosse, women's rowing and men's and women's cross country teams. Walker returns to UNC after working for 5 years at Quinnipiac University in Hamden Connecticut. She was responsible for the care and treatment of the men's lacrosse and field hockey teams, as well as clinical instructor for undergraduate program. She also served as an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Athletic Training and Sports Medicine program, teaching Nutrition and Lower Extremity Lab.
Walker is a 1999 graduate of Boston University, where she earned a B.S in Athletic Training. While serving as a student athletic trainer she worked with Boston University's football, women's field hockey, women's lacrosse and women's ice hockey teams. She also did an internship at University of Massachusetts- Boston, where she was primarily responsible for the football, men's lacrosse and the basketball teams.
Following her undergraduate degree, Walker attained a M.A. in Exercise and Sports Science with a specialization in Athletic Training in 2001 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer, working mainly with the Tar Heel volleyball and rowing programs.
She also volunteers for committees designed to promote the profession of athletic training such as the NATABOC Role Delineation Study and Public Relations Committee.
She has been an NATABOC certified athletic trainer (ATC) since 1999 and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) since 2004.
Walker enjoys spending as much time as possible with her mother, Nino.
Dr. Steve Zinder - szinder@email.unc.edu
Steve Zinder received his BS in 1990 in Physical Education from the University of Arizona, an MS in 1992 in Exercise and Sport Sciences with an emphasis in Athletic Training at the University of Arizona, and a PhD in 2002 in Sports Medicine at the University of Virginia. Following his PhD, Dr. Zinder spent one year as an Assistant Professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia teaching and conducting clinical research in the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Program areas and four years as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Kinesiology and Health Science and Clinical Coordinator of the California State University, Fullerton Athletic Training Education Program. Prior to obtaining his doctorate, he was the Associate Athletic Trainer at Bucknell University from 1992 to 1999. His primary research interests focus on in-vivo ankle system dynamics and their effect on ankle stability. Dr. Zinder is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the International Society of Biomechanics.
