Sports Medicine – ATI Physical Therapy Careers Blog

I’m Lovin’ It: Our ATs and PT Sports Residents…

June 5, 2026

When the nation’s best athletes perform, ATI is there to help keep them moving. Once again, ATI served as the official physical therapy provider for the McDonald’s All-American Games. Four of ATI’s Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers traveled to Phoenix for the big game and split their time between the all-star teams with help from three of ATI’s PT Sports Residents.

“I am most excited and very honored to be given the opportunity to represent ATI at the McDonalds All-American Games!” Samuel Almendarez, an ATC from ATI’s Illinois market, said when asked about the event prior to the big game. “Traveling for this game and being around the media and high-profile athletes resembles the experiences I had while working with the Chicago Sky. This will be a lot of fun!”

Catch the McDonald’s All-American Games

March 26, 2026

When the nation’s best athletes perform, ATI is there to help keep them moving. Once again, ATI will serve as the official physical therapy provider for the McDonald’s All-American Games. Four of ATI’s Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers will travel to Phoenix for the big game and split their time between the all-star teams with help from three of ATI’s PT Sports Residents.

“I am most excited and very honored to be given the opportunity to represent ATI at the McDonalds All-American Games!” Samuel Almendarez, an ATC from ATI’s Illinois market, said when asked about the event. “Traveling for this game and being around the media and high-profile athletes resembles the experiences I had while working with the Chicago Sky. This will be a lot of fun!”

Advancing MSK Care for All

March 26, 2026

The Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA) continues to make a name for itself in the MSK space by going beyond the clinic and sports field setting to promote better outcomes for all patients. See below for some of the most recent publications available with help from ATI and iMSKA’s very own Athletic Trainers, get a sneak peek of new research already underway, and learn how you can get involved to make your own impact in the industry.

New Research & Recent Publications

New Research

A collaborative research project between iMSKA, ATI, AdventHealth Sports Med and Rehab, and Anderson University is generating exciting new insights into the medial elbow in collegiate softball players. Using musculoskeletal ultrasound, our team collected data across multiple universities in South Carolina to investigate whether the throwing arm in softball athletes undergoes anatomical adaptations similar to those documented in baseball players. As softball remains an underrepresented population in this area of research, we are especially eager to share this work with a series of publications currently in development.

Taking Care in Chicago Public Schools to a New…

March 26, 2026

For four years now, ATI Sports Medicine has partnered with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Our 19 Athletic Trainers span the entire school district, providing athletic training services to 86 high schools and Chicago Public League athletics teams. These ATs bring to life a shared mission with CPS to provide community and equity-based healthcare for all students and families while achieving ATI’s own purpose in making every life an active life.

Their impact is tremendous: the majority of these schools have never had access to Athletic Trainers or their services before.

“Our ATs are providing care, building Sports Medicine programs, and educating our school communities on the type of care they can receive while working with us,” Sports Medicine Manager Eric Bucktold the RoundUp Team. “What this team continues to deliver is beyond expectations, and the results have been incredibly rewarding.”

ATI Thought Leadership

March 5, 2026

At ATI, our team members are continually pushing the boundaries in the health, wellness, and rehabilitation space. From weighing in on current trends to offering tried-and-true wellness solutions, our team members are sharing their expertise outside the organization to help others achieve better health. Here are some of the articles and media from our employees:

Practice Growth Podcast

Care doesn’t stop when a patient leaves the clinic! In a recent episode of the Practice Growth Podcast, Vice President, Process and Product Development, MacKenzie Winkler shared how building hybrid care into everyday practice has strengthened collaboration, supported clinicians, and improved continuity for patients.

Do Vibration Plates Really Work? Experts Weigh In

Featuring: VP, Clinical Development Tom Denninger

The latest viral fitness trend is literally buzzy. Vibration plates are all over TikTok, with devotees saying they help tone and strengthen muscles…

Unlike sneakers, stationary bikes or ankle weights, vibration plates seem a bit more complicated to use. And do they even work? To get the answers to these questions and more, I spoke with physical therapists to get the answers. Here’s what they had to say.

Read the full article here.

Meet iMSKA’s New Director of Research Natalie Myers

October 1, 2025

Recently, the ATI Communications team sat down with the new Director of Research Natalie Myers. From serving a dual position as assistant athletic trainer and lecturer at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke to collaborating with the Women’s Tennis Association and United States Tennis Association while at the University of Kentucky, these experiences are mere highlights in Natalie’s research career and a small part of the breadth of knowledge she brings to ATI and iMSKA.

“These early experiences sparked a lasting passion for research and clinical education, which has shaped my academic and professional path ever since,” Natalie said. “Since completing my PhD, I’ve continued to expand my research portfolio within academic and hospital systems. My work has emphasized functional and patient-reported outcomes in shoulder and elbow sports medicine, with a strong focus on longitudinal data collection in real-world clinical environments.”

Learn more about Natalie, her experience as an AT, researcher, and what she brings to the organization.

ATI Sports Medicine Offers Individual and Group Support to…

July 8, 2025

Connection within any profession matters, which is why ATI Sports Medicine dedicates itself to providing the support and resources Athletic Trainers need to offer their school and community members their very best.

Ongoing Individual Support

Each one of our Athletic Trainers works directly with a Sports Medicine Manager, these leaders oversee and assist our ATs with managing their day-to-day responsibilities. This partnership provides individual support continuously throughout the year. However, within ATI we realize how important it is to connect with other professionals to learn from each other’s personal experiences, discuss important topics within the industry, and encourage and challenge each other to develop as a professional.

Leading the Way in Athletic Training

July 8, 2025

Every year, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) hosts its annual conference, highlighting industry progress, hosting educational sessions, and offering opportunities for ATs to connect as professionals. ATI Physical Therapy is proud to be a part of the event, showing support for the specialized care Athletic Trainers provide in the communities and worksites they serve.

Creating Mobility within the AT Profession

July 8, 2025

Athletic Trainers (ATs) do important work in the communities they serve. With this growing recognition and need for ATs, the Council of State Governments (CSG), Department of Defense (DoD), and Board of Certification (BOC) have partnered to develop a new interstate compact to allow licensed Athletic Trainers to practice across state lines physically and remotely.

Advocacy for Alabama Athletic Trainers Pays Off

July 8, 2025

Education is the foundation of any career, but rising costs within our society present a challenge for many healthcare professionals, including Athletic Trainers (AT). Within many school and worksite settings, Athletic Trainers are the first point of contact in many health-related situations and often the bridge to athletes, workers, and community members seeking further care. Their role within the communities they serve is essential, and as a result of advocacy efforts, legislators in the state of Alabama are recently passed HB288 to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk for signing to provide loan assistance for Alabama Athletic Trainers.