PATRICIA TRIP - 2020

Patricia “Pattie” Tripp, PhD, LAT, ATC, CSCS is a Long Island, New York native. Mentored by Laurie Wright Doody, Mike Wasik, Chris Patrick, MaryBeth Horodyski, Christine Stopka and Tom Kaminski, Pattie successfully challenged the Board of Certification Examination and graduated from the University of Florida in December 1998. Pattie accepted a Graduate Assistantship at Auburn University and learned from Mike Roberts, Cindy Wall and Dr. Michael Goodlett. She earned her Master of Science in Biomechanics from Auburn in 2001. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Biomechanics) in 2004, at the University of Kentucky, under the direction of Carl Mattacola and Robert Shapiro. After finishing her PhD, she worked at the University of South Carolina with Women’s Basketball under Rod Walters. From 2005 – 2008, she was the Clinical Education Coordinator at Nova Southeastern University.

 

Dr. Tripp has been proudly working at her alma mater, the University of Florida, since 2008. She is a Clinical Associate Professor, who serves as the Associate Director of the Doctor of Athletic Training Program and Director of the CAATE Professional Athletic Training Program. Along with her husband, Dr. Brady Tripp, Pattie helped create the University of Florida’s Doctor of Athletic Training program. In collaboration with Dr. Guy Nicolette and Joan Frosch, Dr. Tripp initiated the inter-professional collaboration with Athletic Training and the School of Theatre and Dance to launch the Dance Wellness Clinic at the University of Florida, which she oversees.

 

Pattie served as a Board of Certification (BOC) Examiner for seven years at multiple test sites in Alabama, Kentucky and Florida. She represented District 9 (Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association) as a member of the NATA’s International Committee under the leadership of Mark Gibson. Mentored by Mike Wilkinson, Ray Castle and R.T. Floyd, Pattie served SEATA on the NATA Research & Education Foundation Board of Directors. She serves as a faculty member for the SEATA Athletic Training Student Symposium, previously as lab coordinator and currently as co-chair for the Foundations Session. She is an active member of The Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida (ATAF), having served as a member and co-chair of the Education Committee, followed by two terms of service as Vice President of ATAF alongside President Erik Nason.

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Dr. Tripp has been a member of the NATA since 1995. She’s been recognized for her service with the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (MDAT) Award from the NATA, the SEATA R.T. Floyd District Service Award, the MDAT from the ATAF, MDAT from SEATA, the NATA Service Award and the College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year Award from ATAF.

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GERARD WHITE - 2020

Gerard White, MEd, LAT, ATC is a native of Texarkana, TX and a current resident of Thibodaux, LA. He is the seventh of eight sons of the late Joseph and Margaret White. He is an active member to the athletic training profession with a long history of service in both professional organizations and athletic training education. Gerard has been an active member of the NATA since 1983 (37 years), with 36 of those years with SEATA practicing in Mississippi and Louisiana.

 

His passion for athletic training was instilled in him during his high school years where he volunteered as a student-aid for four years. His high school mentor, the late Charlie Reed, ensured Gerard’s journey by introducing him to the late Charlie Martin, LAT, ATC (NATA, SEATA, and LATA Hall of Famer), the head athletic trainer at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). During his undergraduate years at ULM (1982-1987), Gerard first experienced SEATA at a conference hosted by the Atlanta Falcons in Suwanee, GA. He continued his graduate studies serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and then as an assistant athletic trainer for ULM.

 

In 1989, Gerard was employed as the head athletic trainer for Waxahachie (TX) High School. One year later, he moved back into SEATA serving as the head athletic trainer at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. Gerard was hired by Nicholls State University in 1992 as the head athletic trainer. During his 28 years tenure at Nicholls, he initiated the athletic training education program serving as the Program Director and then the Clinical Education Coordinator. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Health Sciences in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

 

Gerard’s professional service in both state and district leadership roles began with his election as LATA Treasurer (1999-2007), with three of those years serving as the Louisiana Representative on the SEATA Executive Board (2004-2007). He was appointed as the SEATA Parliamentarian (2008-2010) and elected as President of LATA (2010-2016). In the summer of 2016, he began his first term as SEATA President. Additionally, he continues to serve to the Commission on Athletic Training Education (CAATE, 2008-present) as a Site Visitor.

 

He has been recognized for his contributions to athletic training and the community. Gerard was inducted into the LATA Hall of Fame (2016), the recipient of the SEATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2015), the SEATA Chuck Kimmel Award of Merit (2015), the SEATA President’s Award for Service (2011 & 2007), Nicholls State University Service Award (2011), the SEATA Educator’s Award (2008), Nicholls State University Academic Council Salute (2008), University of Louisiana at Monroe Athletics Hall of Fame (2007), NATA Service Award (2006), the SEATA Memorial Graduate Scholarship (1987), and the SEATA Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship (1985).

 

Gerard and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Thibodaux, LA where they are the proud parents of their daughter, Megan, age 16, who attends ED White Catholic High School. Gerard is a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus member of the St. Genevieve of Paris Council #13397.