President-Elect Candidate Page | Len Angelli | Derek Lautieri
Secretary Candidate Page |Alison O’Connor Sutherland
Derek’s Candidate Statement
My name is Derek Lautieri. I currently work at the Derryfield School in Manchester. I am also an Adjunct Professor in the MSATC program at Merrimack College. I have been a Certified Athletic Trainer for over 25 years. In this time, I have watched our profession grow. I feel that we can continue to grow, as we educate the need for appropriate medical coverage during athletic activities. We need to highlight all the services we provide from prevention, assessment, to the treatment of injuries for the local youth to adult level athletic leagues.
I have seen the efforts put forward at the national level to demand equality for Athletic Trainers as Medical Providers. I support the NATA’s efforts as they hope require active Athletic Trainer’s to have NPI numbers. Master level education for Athletic Trainers can only equate our abilities. These are great initiatives and steps to continue to build on. I continue to see the lack of acknowledgement from our medical peers. We must continue to increase the exposure of our qualified abilities, especially during this pandemic.
Derek’s Answers to Questions
What does serving as an NHATA Officer mean to you?
Serving on the NHATA Office means leading and being the image of our professional growth. As a group, we need to continue to push equity and recognition, instead of using other credentials to justify our ability, talents, and education for the services we provide.
Why is it important?
This is important to create a profession that is attractive to the new generation. We need to encourage them to stay and be a part of something more, instead of using the profession as a stepping stone to a different medical pathway. We need to establish a platform to educate School Districts and Colleges of the need for the Athletic Trainers. We can better the community, not just the athletic programs.
Describe the qualities, attributes and experiences that have prepared you to the NHATA President-Elect
I was once that athlete we care for. Being struck by a car during a triathlon race, I went through all the emotions we see our athletes struggle through. I worked alongside fellow Athletic Trainers who knew what it meant to work with someone motivated to fight back. This could have been a roadblock, but with the assistance of those around me, this experience was more of bump in the road. I returned to triathlons motivated to be better. This has helped prepare me to fight and stand for the membership community.
What do you plan to accomplish as an NHATA Officer?
As a member of the Office, I plan to continue the success of the current administration as we educate the population. We are entering scary times for our profession. We are seeing many athletic cancellations occurring. We must look for safety measures and alternative ways to keep our profession and ourselves safe. During this pandemic, broadening the appearance of our profession as Qualified Medical Providers is more important than ever. Covid-19 has changed athletics, we must be able to adjust to these changes. Athletic Trainers have the skill set and education to help flatten the curve. We should be focusing on our abilities to provide numerous services to the community. I’ll use the fellow members of the Office to help address the concerns and problems our members might face in this ever changing atmosphere.
