Students learn about sports-medicine careers at Guthrie event

DICKINSON, N.Y. — Nearly 40 students from area high schools learned about professions in sports medicine and received hands-on experience during a July 18 event hosted by Guthrie Sports Medicine. The inaugural “Game Plan: Careers in Sports Medicine” provided instruction for 39 students in an interactive career day at SUNY Broome Community College, near Binghamton (town of Dickinson). Zach Spencer, a certified athletic trainer with Guthrie Sports Medicine, came up with the idea for the program and organized it. “The goal for ‘Game Plan’ was to spark interest in health care careers, especially within sports medicine, and show students the diverse paths available,” Spencer said in a Guthrie announcement. “Many schools host career day fairs where students learn about different professions, but these events rarely offer hands-on experiences of daily work activities. Our goal was to provide interactive learning opportunities that actively engage students in the healthcare field.” Guthrie Sports Medicine specializes in care for athletes and active individuals, with services ranging from injury prevention and diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation. The organization’s team of athletic trainers and strength coaches works with numerous high school sports programs throughout the Twin Tiers region, helping student-athletes “recover and return to peak performance,” Guthrie said.

Career day summary

Throughout the daylong event, students rotated among three teams, participating in hands-on sessions led by Guthrie professionals. Morning activities centered on emergency-medical services, CPR, and athletic training. Afternoon sessions focused on orthopedics, strength and conditioning training, and physical-therapy fundamentals with Windsor Physical Therapy, Guthrie Physical Therapy, and Broome Physical Therapy Assistant Program collaborating. During lunch, a Guthrie nutritionist educated students on the topic of sports nutrition. The event also included the American Heart Association Heart Saver course, which Guthrie described as a “key component of the program.” Students completed online coursework before the event and then received in-person certification during the July 18 program in AED (automatic external defibrillator) use, first aid, adult and infant CPR, EpiPen administration, and scene safety. The afternoon also featured three Guthrie orthopedic physicians who demonstrated practical skills including casting, diagnostic ultrasound, and other orthopedic procedures. Nurses and athletic trainers provided additional expertise throughout the day. “The event allowed us to share our passion and provide practical, hands-on experience that can truly shape their future decisions,” Spencer said. “We hope to offer this program again next summer and continue serving local students in the years ahead.”