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Closing the Gap: Rethinking Compensation and Value in Athletic Training

The NATA-Cast

The NATA-Cast
Closing the Gap: Rethinking Compensation and Value in Athletic Training
Apr 17, 2026
The National Athletic Trainers' Association

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In this episode of NATA-Cast, hosts Mollie Pillman, MS, MBA, CAE and Katie Scott, MS, ATC, CAE are joined by Tyler Lesher, DHSc, ATC, CSCS, a private practice performance therapist, Adam Annaccone, EdD, LAT, ATC, CES, PES, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at The University of Texas at Arlington, and Murphy Grant, LAT, ATC, NASM-PES, chair of the NATA AT Compensation Task Force, for a candid conversation on athletic trainer compensation and professional value.

Sparked by concerns around pay, workload and responsibility, the discussion explores why compensation continues to lag and what can be done to address it. The group examines factors such as cost of living, workload demands and the need to better demonstrate the value athletic trainers bring through clearer documentation and communication of ROI.

They also take on broader structural questions, including autonomy, reimbursement, employer education, potential title changes and the role of associations versus unions. Throughout the episode, the conversation stays candid and solutions-focused, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and engagement across the profession.


NATA-Cast is produced by Association Briefings.

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