
Episode #78
Episode 78: AJ Duffy III - How NATA Is Fighting for Athletic Trainers
How do you unite, advance, and advocate for an athletic training workforce facing burnout, salary discrepancies, and evolving institutional demands? For National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) President AJ Duffy III, the answer lies in proactive leadership, active listening, and building strategic partnerships across sports, military, and clinical settings. In this episode, recorded live from the 2026 NATA convention, Duffy joins hosts Andrew Rizza and Dr. Cameron Roth to reflect on a transformative year of leadership under new Executive Director Mollie Pillman and discuss NATA's newly unveiled strategic plan. He details major advocacy wins, including the massive expansion of athletic trainers in the U.S. Armyβs Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program and the rapid legislative progress toward interstate licensure compacts. Duffy addresses pressing workforce issues like collegiate schedule shifts and gender pay equity. He also shares actionable advice for young professionals on mentorship, risk-taking, and why sometimes the best career move is simply talking to someone who has been there before. MEET THE GUEST AJ Duffy III President, National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) TOPICS DISCUSSED Executing NATA's strategic plan under new leadership Closing pay gaps through the salary survey and gender equity task force Expanding athletic training roles in the Army's H2F program Advancing interstate licensure compacts for workforce mobility Why athletic trainers need to strengthen their visibility Mentorship, risk-taking, and advice for the next generation HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 β Introduction to AJ Duffy III 00:53 β Looking Back on the Last 12 Months of NATA 02:42 β Listening to Athletic Trainers and Addressing Workforce Issues 04:20 β Sponsor: Beck Bode 04:47 β Fast-Tracking Change on Workforce and Salary Issues 07:43 β The Impact of Athletic Trainers in the Army's H2F Initiative 09:45 β Opportunities for Athletic Trainers in the Coming Years 11:18 β A Major Advocacy Win: Interstate Licensure Compacts 14:50 β NATA's Focus for the Next 12 - 36 Months 17:37 β Career Advice for Students: Mentorship, Networking & Taking Risks 26:26 β Lightning Round: Active Listening, Future Outlook & Favorite Cities QUOTES: 09:18 - βI was at the H2F meeting in Hampton, Virginia in May and I met the two generals that are overseeing H2F, and they said, βKeep those Athletic trainers coming.β So we went from potentially losing 180 positions; they want 700 more. Thatβs just one example of what we can do with a unified voice.β 19:26 - βI consistently tell students, I say, βPlease reach out to us.β I may have used this phrase last year, but I love using it. I say, βWe outlawed the horseshoe tackle in football, but it's okay to horseshoe tackle the president of the NATA at meetings like this to have time.β LINKS AJ Duffy III - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-duffy-iii-8aa01b6/ NATA - https://www.nata.org/ RELATED EPISODES Leadership, Legacy, and Whatβs Next For Athletic Training - https://youtu.be/GqvFm25aYGw SPONSORS Beck Bode is a fee-only fiduciary firm that builds personalized roadmaps to keep your money aligned with your life goals. See what real planning looks like at https://beckbode.com DISCLAIMER The opinions presented on Behind the Sports Medicine are those of the host and guests. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any affiliated institutions or partners. The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed medical professional before making any health or treatment decisions. Behind the Sports Medicine and its affiliates assume no liability for the accuracy or application of the information discussed. #AthleticTraining #NATA2026 #AthleticTrainers #H2FProgram #LicensurePortability

