By. Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC, FASAHP
In my scholarly career, the month of October 2019 will go down as one of the most special. It was marked by opportunity, development and recognition.
The month of October started in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) Annual Conference on October 8-12, 2018. It was whirlwind of activity, not to mention a close call with Hurricane Michael!
I was a participant in ASAHP's Leadership Development Program in 2018 and I began the week in the program activities which culminated in a presentation with my teammates: Dr. Lisa Dutton (University of St. Catherine), Dr. Elizabeth Adams (University of South Alabama), Dr. Patricia Talbert (Howard University) and our mentor Dr. Andrew Butler (Georgia State University). It was an amazing opportunity which helped me grow personally and professionally.
I serve as the National Athletic Trainers' Association liaison to ASAHP and I also serve as the Chair of the ASAHP Interprofessional Subcommittee. We were able to give the inaugural ASAHP Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education And Collaborative Health Care to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the awards banquet. Unexpectedly, I was also honored with ASAHP's "Outstanding Member Award" this year for my work with the association. What a humbling and special experience!
The following day, at the ASAHP Fellows Luncheon, I was also named a ASAHP Fellow with colleagues Dr. Andrew Butler and Dr. Mitch Cordova (Florida Gulf Coast University). An incredibly proud moment, as Mitch Cordova and I joined Dr. Chris Ingersoll (University of Toledo) as the only three athletic trainers who have received this honor.
The week continued to be special as I "uber'ed" across the causeway to Tampa for the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE) Accreditation Conference. Once there, Jordan Utley (University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences) presented to a packed house of colleagues on Interprofessional Education.
This special month was not yet finished...October wrapped up with a presentation "Actionable Interprofessional Scholarship: Myth or Reality?" at the Thomas Jefferson University Interprofessional Education Conference in Philadephia on October 27, 2018. I presented this workshop with my colleague on the American Interprofessional Collaborative (AIHC) Program Committee, Dr. Devin Nickol (University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha).
Overall, the month of October was one that I will long remember...personally and professionally!
