Alyssa Woodberry

What inspired or interested you about your field of study?

My desire to serve and help others motivated me to pursue a career in athletic training. I am especially drawn to its holistic and interdisciplinary nature, as it involves more than just treating injuries; it focuses on understanding and caring for the person behind the injury. I chose the MATrn program at OSU because of its strong reputation and the sense of family and community it fosters. 

What did you work on during your internship?

This summer, I had the opportunity to shadow and work with the athletic trainers from Justin Sportsmedicine and Northwest Rodeo Sports Medicine at various rodeos, including St. Paul, the Ellensburg Rodeo and the Washington State Fair.  

During this experience, I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including athletic trainers, physicians and first responders, to provide immediate and emergency care for acute injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and traumatic injuries to the face and chest, as well as sprains and strains.

I also assisted in managing chronic injuries and coordinating rodeo coverage, injury prevention and documentation.

What have you learned the most in your internship?

A key takeaway was recognizing the critical role athletic trainers play in this setting, along with the valuable relationships I formed and the knowledge I gained in managing high-impact trauma, performing orthopedic manual therapy and conducting movement assessments specific to rodeo athletes.

Justin Sportsmedicine serves a limited number of PRCA rodeos, while Northwest Rodeo Sports Medicine covers smaller events in Washington and relies largely on local volunteers.

In this environment, I often worked with athletes for only a few days and rarely saw them at subsequent rodeos. Still, the gratitude expressed by athletes and staff underscored the meaningful impact of our work, even with uncertainty about athletic trainer availability at future events.

What do you think of your experience at OSU?

I could never have imagined pursuing my master’s in athletic training anywhere else. The faculty in the athletic training department has exceeded expectations in creating a community that truly feels like family. They are supportive, motivating and consistently encourage me to reach my full potential, for which I am very grateful.

Have you received a scholarship? If so, how has it affected your life and your studies?

I've received the Bill Robertson scholarship from the Northwest Athletic Trainers Association and scholarships from the Folds of Honor Foundation, a military-focused scholarship organization.

Thanks to these scholarships, they have helped reduce some of the financial pressures of graduate school and have served as a constant motivator to continue pursuing my education.