Bethune-Cookman University Leads as the Only Historically Black College and University in the Nation to Offer a Nationally Accredited Master of Athletic Training Program

DAYTONA BEACH, FL- Most recently, B-CU's Master of Athletic Training Program in the Petrock College of Health Sciences officially received their inaugural accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. Given that only 3-4% of Licensed Athletic Trainers are African-American, it is significant that B-CU is the only HBCU producing graduates with this degree.

The Master of Athletic Training (MAT) program is a clinical program which produces clinicians who are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam and are able to provide care within sports medicine (concussion, extremity, spinal, or other injuries) and physical rehabilitation (limb, neurological trauma, and more).

"I am very proud of the faculty of the department, Dept. Chair and Program Director Dr. Torrance Williams, the Clinical Education Coordinator Dr. Jyl O'Brien-Williams [no relation], and Dr. Dewayne Dubose for their consistent and determined effort to create and accredit an MAT program at this historic institution," said Dr. Wathington, Dean of the Petrock College of Health Sciences. "We'd also like to thank our wonderful students, the University community, and our county-wide partners for their support, hard work and faith," she added.

Students from this cohort have already received internships with entities such as the L.A. Chargers. The program will graduate its inaugural class of students in December 2019.

The faculty of this department are notable, with the Chair and Program Director, Dr. Torrance Williams, serving as medical staff for the Invictus Games, the MLS Combine and the MLS. The Clinical Rotation Coordinator, Dr. Jyl O'Brien- Williams serving as Lead AthleticTrainer/Consultant and Medical Staff for 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, Special Olympics State Games Medical Staff, and Special Olympics Medical Coordinator Healthy Athletes and Dr. Dewayne Dubose, a rehabilitation scientist who is published in Spine (the medical journal about spinal injuries) and is co- author of two chapters of the recently published Acute and Emergency Care in Athletic Training textbook.