USF Health’s Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, has been selected one of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association’s 2011 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (MDAT) award recipients. Dr. Konin, associate professor of orthopaedics and sports medicine and executive director of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma Institue at USF, is one of 21 certified athletic trainers nationwide chosen to receive the award this year.

Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC

This National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) award recognizes outstanding dedication and service to the athletic training profession. Candidates for the award must have held the certified athletic trainer (ATC) credential, conferred by the Board of Certification, for at least 20 years; been recognized for service to the profession of athletic training at the local, state, national and/or international level; exhibited distinguished service as a certified athletic trainer; and been recognized for unique contributions to the profession of athletic training not acknowledged elsewhere.

“Dedication, innovation, loyalty and leadership are common traits among Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer recipients,” said NATA Executive Director Eve Becker-Doyle, CAE. “Those who receive the honor serve as an inspiration to their peers and as role models to the next generation of certified athletic trainers.”

“Dr. Konin is richly deserving of the award,” said NATA Honors & Awards Committee Chair Rochel Rittgers, ATC. “Dr. Konin has dedicated his career to providing quality health care services and to the betterment of the athletic training profession.”

The MDAT presentation will be made June 21 during NATA’s 62nd Annual Meeting & Clinical Symposia in New Orleans.