Dr. Neil Curtis Honored By Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society

HARRISBURG, PA - Dr. Neil Curtis, faculty member and athletic trainer at West Chester University, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Fame at the organization's annual banquet June 10 in Harrisburg, Pa.

Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC has been and continues to be a heavily involved member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society (PATS) for over 25 years. He has served as Chair of the PATS Research Committee since 1996, and in 2017 was elected to serve the Board of Certification (BOC) as Director. Dr. Curtis also served as Chair of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association (EATA) Student Scholarship Committee from 1997-2019.  Neil has served on several committees within the Education Council for the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) from 1997-2004. He served as a site visitor for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Trainer Education (CAATE) for 12 years and was appointed to a BOC Continuing Education Task Force in 1996. Dr. Neil Curtis is now being inducted into the PATS Hall of Fame, Class of 2021 in recognition of his tireless dedication to the profession of athletic training and service to PATS.

"It was an incredible night," Dr. Curtis said. "I was so glad to be recognized at our first in- person meeting in more than 2 years in front of family, friends and fellow athletic trainers."

Dr. Curtis is currently a faculty member and athletic trainer in his 29th year at West Chester University (WCU). He serves as the Program Director for WCU's esteemed Athletic Training Program, a position he has held for 23 years. He also served as the Clinical Coordinator for 20 years. One of Neil's most remarkable accomplishments is that he has continued to practice clinically in addition to his teaching and administrative responsibilities. He has served as the primary AT for the WCU's women's soccer team while also mentoring athletic training students as a clinical preceptor. He also now works in the professional setting for the NFL as a Medical (AT) Spotter. 
As a researcher, Dr. Curtis has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in athletic training and AT education.  Neil has presented and moderated at numerous professional associations at the state, region and national levels.

"Dr. Curtis has practiced as an athletic trainer since 1984 - this is 36 years of dedication to the profession, Dr. Katie Morrison, a colleague and fellow faculty member at West Chester University. "I have always been impressed with how well connected, dedicated and knowledgeable of the profession Dr. Curtis is."
 
At West Chester University, he serves on the Interprofessional Education in Health Care Task Force, the Sports Equity Committee, and others. Neil also finds time to volunteer and provide athletic training services to low income individuals through the Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) initiative in Chester County.  In 2020, he joined the Medical Reserve Corp of the Citizen Corps of Delaware County (CCDC) to provide volunteer services related to the COVID 19 pandemic. He is also an instructor for the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) in First Aid, CPR and AED use. 

Neil Curtis embodies service and dedication to the Athletic Training profession. The impact of Dr. Curtis' work has been recognized regionally as well as nationally with the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award (2010), the EATA Presidential Recognition Award (2015); WCU Academic Advising Appreciation Award (2017) and most recently, the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2018).