The Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center (EOOC) has been an integral part of the University of Tulsa Athletics for thirty years. Side-by-side, EOOC has worked with the TU athletic trainers to provide the highest level of health care for the TU student-athletes. The TU Sports Medicine Staff have accepted graduate assistant athletic trainers into the program for many years. For over a decade, athletic training graduate students have been invited to work at the clinic to further expand their horizons.

The graduate assistant athletic trainers are National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) certified. These young professionals are encouraged to mature their skills in the clinical environment while attending the University of Tulsa Graduate School. EOOC is Tulsa's largest sports medicine clinic and serves the city in many areas. The entire sports medicine staff of physicians, athletic trainers and physical therapists are busy throughout the year with various community and school, amateur and professional athletic events.

In addition to working at the orthopedic center and athletic events, the graduate student athletic trainers are encouraged to expand any interests and take advantage of the many opportunities EOOC has to offer. The TU/EOOC Graduate Assistant

Athletic Trainer's secondary experience may come in many forms ranging from observing orthopedic surgery to speaking on a sports medicine topic to a local athletic association.

The program also allows them to learn through teaching. The TU Undergraduate Curriculum Athletic Training Program is CAAHEP accredited. The classes are taught by a number of professors, as well as, the Athletic Training Staff. The university calls on the graduate student athletic trainers' skills to teach the undergraduate student athletic trainers in the classroom and clinical settings.

Each of the previous University of Tulsa/ EOOC Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers have gone on to establish successful Sports Medicine careers.

For further information on the Athletic Training Graduate Assistant Program please contact:

Robin Ploeger
Curriculum Director, University of Tulsa
600 S. College
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-3170
r-ploeger@utulsa.edu

Dave Polanski, MS, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer, University of Tulsa
600 S. College
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-5227

Larry Egge
Coordinator of Sport Activities
Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center
6585 S. Yale Ave, Suite 500
Tulsa, OK 74136
(918) 494-9317
(800) 283-3662