Katie Cameron (BPhEd \u201923) arrived at Brock University determined to become a teacher.<\/p>\n
But her time with Brock Sports Medicine (BSM), an on-campus clinic specializing in rehabilitation and injuries sustained during athletic activities, has inspired her to set a new course.<\/p>\n
Cameron graduated Wednesday, June 14 with a Bachelor of Physical Education and a passion for injury rehabilitation and care sparked by her experience with BSM.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to realize in a lot of ways how athletic therapy and teaching overlap. For me, the ideal career lies somewhere in between,\u201d she said. \u201cMy time at Brock was a massive growth period for me. I became a completely new, better version of myself, and I owe a lot of that to my involvement in sports medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally from New Dundee, Ont., Cameron attended the University of Ottawa before transferring to Brock to enrol in a Concurrent Teacher Education program with a focus on Physical Education.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program at Brock stood out to me because of all the experiential education options integrated into the program,\u201d she said. \u201cI also was drawn to how focused Brock was on student experience, wellness and success.\u201d<\/p>\n
With her mind set on becoming a teacher, athletic therapy wasn\u2019t on Cameron\u2019s radar until she stumbled on the role while attending a Brock volleyball game during first year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the student therapists working the sidelines and I was immediately intrigued by that job, so I asked how could apply and put my name forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The following year, Cameron worked with the men\u2019s rugby team in the fall and men\u2019s volleyball team in the winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cPursuing this profession means that I can play a role in an athlete\u2019s success and help them stay healthy and in the best shape to excel in their respective sport,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cameron studied everything she could about the field. One aspect of Sports Medicine she prioritized was building strong connections with student-athletes.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of the many lessons she learned from her mentor, Lead Athletic Therapist Kelsey Marshall, during the rugby and volleyball seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cI attribute my development in Sports Medicine to Kelsey Marshall. She took the time out of her busy schedule to teach me as much as possible about sideline and clinical treatment,\u201d Cameron said. \u201cShe provided me opportunities to grow and push myself out of my comfort zone.\u201d<\/p>\n
BSM staff typically work with Kinesiology students, but the team was impressed with Cameron\u2019s interview and high level of emergency care.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been rewarding to see Katie grow in other areas like problem solving through injury management and leadership skills within our staff training sessions,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cShe has been an invaluable member of our BSM team. She brings an infectious positive attitude and palpable energy to every interaction.\u201d<\/p>\n
In April, Cameron was honoured during the 2022-23 Brock Sports Awards Gala with the Joseph P. Kenny Student Therapist Award of Excellence for her student therapist work with the Brock men’s rugby and men\u2019s volleyball teams.<\/p>\n
During her time at Brock, Cameron has served as a member of the Brock University Students\u2019 Union First Aid Responder team and on Brock Recreation\u2019s aquatics staff. She has also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of North and West Niagara and the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region.<\/p>\n
Cameron\u2019s goal after graduation is to work towards a bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degree in athletic therapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a perfect world, I would work at a high school which specializes in athletic performance and development so I could continue to work in education while also getting to work on the sidelines to support athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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