2018 Armando Martinez Professional Grant Winner
Cambria (Cami) McCallum, class of 2017, is our first-ever recipient of the Armando Martinez Professional Grant, which financially supported Cami's attendance at the 2018 North West Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Meeting, held in Portland, Oregon. Keep reading to learn about Cami and see her take on the District 10 Meeting.
Cami McCallum is a CBU ATP alumni and current Lance and Shield Association. Since her commencement from the program in 2017, the Washington native has been working as an athletic trainer with Seattle Children’s Hospital and is contracted out to Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart as their Head Athletic Trainer. Having earned her nursing license prior to going to graduate school, Cami was hired to be the on-site nurse at the school as well. She also works in the hospital setting so that she can stay up-to-date with her nursing skills and license. Cami has been working with the Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps for the past three years as part of their Health Team on the national tour. She also has the pleasure of serving as a per diem athletic trainer for Varsity Spirit Association, the University of Washington, and, her alma mater, Gonzaga University. Cami is currently in the process of pursuing a yoga teaching certification, she says it is because she has been so grateful and humbled by the healing it has done for her (and her broken hips).
IN THE WORDS OF CAMI:
“The NWATA Annual Meeting had a lot of breakout sessions about concussion management, including various tools for testing and an interesting return to play tool called the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Protocol. There was also one session about the importance of mental health considerations and sleep in regard to concussion presentation, management, and prognosis of recovery time.
One presentation that really stuck with me was about perceptions of concussions and head injuries from an Emergency Room doctor’s perspective (who also happened to be an AT), and she discussed a clinical predictive rule protocol they use to determine if someone needs a CT and what their level of risk is. She mentioned that they are incredibly hesitant to utilize a CT scan unless there is a high risk of a bleed because studies have shown as high as 1/2500 risk of malignancy as a result of the scan in pediatric settings.
I also really appreciated the EBP presentation discussing Mulligan mobilization with movement (MWM) in the treatment of knee pain, as it served as a great reminder of the benefits of MWM as a possible and viable replacement to the need for surgical knee intervention. It was encouraging to remember the power that athletic trainers can have in steering our patients toward or away from surgical interventions that may not actually be the best for our patients. There were also a few unique and thought-provoking case studies that offered interesting diagnoses, results and treatment plans. Overall, it was definitely a different environment from CATA and FWATA that I was used to, but it was a good introduction to my new district.”
Congratulations Cami, and thank you for your membership and insight into this year's NWATA!
Any suggestions, questions, or comments can be directed to lance.shield.contact@gmail.com.
Cami is the sole winner for the 2018 Armando Martinez Professional Grant. Applications for next year's grant will be accepted after a date that will be announced at a future time. All professional grants are open to any current Lance and Shield Association member in good standing. Please check the Professional Grants page of this website for more information and application link.
