Students in Brock’s inaugural Master of Athletic Therapy (MAT) cohort are putting their learning into practice as they head out for the programs first-ever placements.

Athletic therapists provide emergency care and active rehabilitation assistance using a range of modalities, such as manual therapies or exercise, to help people recover from musculoskeletal injuries.

As Canada’s first English-based athletic therapy master’s program, the MAT allows students to earn a master’s degree in the field while becoming eligible to take the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association National Certification Examination.

Clinical experience is central to the program, with students completing five placements over the course of 24 months.

Nicole Chimera, Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Director of the Master of Athletic Therapy program, says she has been most excited to see students’ skills and confidence grow since the first cohort began classes in May 2026.

“MAT students have brought energy and excitement to our newly designed classroom space, where they have continued to demonstrate their true passion for learning athletic therapy-related skills in the classroom,” she says. “Our immersive clinical placements will give students opportunities to experience more of the day-to-day work and build their readiness for full-time employment.”

After completing six courses during the Spring and Summer Terms, all students in the MAT program are now completing placements alongside their classes during the Fall Term. Students won’t have in-person classes during their final placements, allowing them to pursue opportunities across Canada and around the world.

Placements through the program currently span clinics, high schools, universities, junior hockey and professional sports across the Golden Horseshoe area in Canada as well as the nearby Buffalo and Niagara regions in the United States.

Chimera says the program is developing further student learning opportunities in Canada, the U.S. and Ireland, as well as with Canadian national athlete programs, professional rodeo bodies and the mining industry.

MAT student Zach Perna (BSc ’25) chose to continue his studies at Brock after completing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and is currently applying his skills with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“I am  truly privileged to be a part of this new program. Having the opportunity to stay at the school where my passion began is really what drew me to apply,” he says. “The program is very hands-on in the classroom and provides us with real-world field experience to expand our knowledge in anatomy, rehabilitative techniques, assessments, emergency care and current research.”

Chimera says the program’s immersive training, diverse placements and Major Research Project equip students to become competent, evidence-informed clinicians in a field that is expanding beyond traditional sport settings.

“We are continuing to develop clinical placements to meet the trends towards working in industrial workplaces, performing arts, tactical athletics and combat sports,” she says.

The curriculum also incorporates emerging technologies such as Kactis.AI to position students for success in a rapidly changing health-care landscape.

Currently completing a placement at Fort Erie International Academy, MAT student Chloe Nielsen says her range of experiences in the program is already shaping her approach to patient care.

“One lesson from the MAT program that I expect to bring with me into my future career is the importance of collaboration in providing the best possible care,” she says. “The program has helped me realize that being a good athletic therapist is not about having all the answers, but about knowing when to seek input from others and valuing different areas of expertise.”

By responding to growing demand for skilled professionals in applied health sciences, the MAT aligns with the Ontario government’s recent $60-million investment in Brock programs that prepare students for in-demand careers and regional labour market needs.

As well as supports from the program, which is housed in Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, MAT students also benefit from services and resources offered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Applications for the program’s second cohort are open until Nov. 15, with classes starting in May 2027. An information session will take place on Friday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m.

To learn more about the program, visit the MAT website.