How do we prepare the next generation of athletic trainers to think critically and care for patients when so few educators and preceptors have ever been taught how to teach, and academia doesn't value clinical experience?
In this episode, recorded live from the 2026 NATA Convention, Dr. Marsha Grant-Ford, one of the pioneers of athletic training and the first African American woman certified as an athletic trainer in the United States, joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to reflect on her remarkable career and the evolution of the profession.
Dr. Grant-Ford traces the shift from internship routes to accredited programs, the split of the BOC from NATA, and the progress still needed for women and minorities in leadership. The conversation explores the evolution of athletic training education, the importance of clinical experience and effective preceptors, and why being a good clinician does not automatically make someone a good teacher. Dr. Grant-Ford also discusses the barriers she encountered as a Black woman, the responsibility athletic trainers have when caring for young athletes, and the importance of honesty, integrity, and giving more than you plan to give.
MEET THE GUEST
Dr. Marsha Grant-Ford
– Athletic Training Pioneer, Educator and Clinician
TOPICS DISCUSSED
- The evolution of athletic training education and clinical supervision
- Breaking barriers as a Black woman in athletic training
- Why clinical experience matters for educators and preceptors
- Mentorship and creating opportunities for the next generation
- The qualities that define an exceptional athletic trainer
- Legacy, awards, and giving back to the profession
HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Introduction
01:04 – Evolutions in Athletic Training That Make Dr. Grant-Ford Proud
02:42 – Sponsor: Beck Bode
03:09 – The Injury That Led to Dr. Grant-Ford's Athletic Training Career
08:05 – The Evolution of Athletic Training Education
11:16 – Why Good Clinicians Aren't Always Good Preceptors
12:46 – Teaching Students How to Teach
15:10 – Breaking Barriers as a Black Woman in Athletic Training
20:00 – Turning Barriers into Motivation and Mentorship
23:09 – The Responsibility of Caring for Someone Else's Child
26:55 – What NATA and Dr. Grant-Ford's Namesake Award Mean to Her
32:13 – Lightning Round: Integrity, Best Advice & Life Lessons
QUOTES:
14:19 - “So when you're evaluated as an academician, it's all on your service to the community, your publications, and your teaching, not anything clinical that's a part of your background or that you actively do. And I felt that in order to stay relevant, I needed to practice. So despite the hardships that it caused, I have been a practicing athletic trainer the entire time.”
23:18 - “But when I had minority students, … I often told them that your patients need you, they need to see you, and they're going to need you to be sharp. The scrutiny will be much more strict for you. That adage that you have to work twice as hard to be half as good, it’s true, and this is just not going to fly. Most of them took it pretty well. And since then, there have been some emails that came back later that said, ‘I appreciate what you did. I see now what you were talking about.’"
LINKS
- Dr. Marsha Grant-Ford - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-grant-ford-34248927/
- NATA - https://www.nata.org/
SPONSORS
- Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com
DISCLAIMER
The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed.
#NATA2026 #AthleticTrainer #Mentorship #DiversityInSportsMedicine #Mentorship
