• June 30, 2026 | 1:15 PM - 2:10 PM
• PCC,108A

Living the Dream (and the Reality): Managing Career Growth and Family Care in Athletic Training

Retaining athletic trainers is vital to maintaining quality care and mentorship for future practitioners. Many leave or transition to other careers around age 30, often coinciding with major life changes like parenthood or caregiving. While work-life balance is often discussed, less attention is given to how ATs can grow professionally while managing family responsibilities, including caring for special needs children, aging parents, or new roles like foster or step-parenting. This session will explore the experiences of ATs who have advanced their careers while navigating these challenges. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to improve work-life balance and career sustainability.

Learning Objectives - Analyze the current work environment to identify career advancement opportunities and needs specific to parents and caregivers.
- Evaluate the challenges faced by caregivers in the workplace and apply effective strategies to overcome these barriers.
- Create actionable strategies to enhance work-life integration, mitigate work-family conflict, support career advancement, and promote long-term career sustainability.

Keywords: career advancement; career longevity; work life integration

Presented by: Career Advancement Committee