Page 12 Students First The WF Sports Medicine program, directed by Dave Heim, is designed to provide students with a learning experience that will guide them on an educational journey toward a career in healthcare. It is part of Career and Technology Education (CATE) and consists of 3 levels. Students begin with an introduction to the healthcare careers associated with Sports Medicine as well as basic anatomy, injury identification, injury prevention, and can become CPR and First Aid certified. As students move through the program, they learn and demonstrate important skills used by many Sports Medicine professionals. These skills include injury assessment, assessing vital signs, documentation, emergency care, therapeutic modalities, therapeutic exercise, taping, wrapping, and splinting skills. Along with learning in the classroom and lab, students are provided an opportunity to observe sports medicine professionals during assigned clinical rotations. They are also able to observe surgeries. The F1S CATE sports medicine program has a long history, beginning at West Florence. Charlie Nelson, the first athletic trainer for the school district starting back in the 1970’s, was also the first sports medicine instructor at West Florence. His vision was to be able to have athletic training services for all three high schools, as well as provide all high school students in the district with the opportunity to learn about the field of Sports Medicine. Today each high school has its own athletic trainer through McLeod Sports Medicine, as well as a Sports Medicine program. West Florence Principal Matt Dowdell said that he looks forward to the continued success of the program and the opportunities it provides for students. “It is my honor as principal of WFHS to have this program continue to thrive at West Florence,” Dowdell said. “We look forward to continued success preparing our students for careers in Sports Medicine.”
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