March 9, 2006

Moraga,CA - During the month of March, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and Saint Mary's College is proud to honor Certified Athletic Trainers and the allied health care profession of Athletic Training. Certified Athletic Trainers are health care providers who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses. Athletic Trainers' across the country are being recognized for their commitment to helping people prevent injuries and stay healthy and active.

Currently, the Department of Athletics at Saint Mary's College of California employs five full-time Certified Athletic Trainers that provide daily comprehensive health care to 14 intercollegiate athletic programs.

National Athletic Training Month was established to advise active people on how to prevent injuries at work and at play. This year's theme is Be Active--Stay Healthy.

The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports the 30,000 members of the athletic training profession through education and research. For more information the athletic training profession, please visit the Saint Mary's College Sports Medicine website at

http://smcgaels.collegesports.com/sports-med/sports-medicine-home.html

or the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) website at www.nata.org.