With March being National Athletic Training Awareness Month, Emory Athletics would like to highlight several members of the Sports Medicine staff. The spotlight series continues with John Dunham, who has led the Emory Sports Medicine team since April 2016.
**What inspired you to become an athletic trainer?
My dad. He was a long time basketball and football referee and I would go with a lot to games as a kid. This really started my love of being around athletics, not so much watching but the day to day, pregame, post game etc. From there, I met Lee Cummings who was an athletic trainer. I thought it was so cool what he did and from there it was history.
** What is the one thing you enjoy the most about your role?
Without a doubt, it has been the relationships that I have made.
** What would you say has been some of your most memorable moments from working at Emory or over the course of your career?
Hosting NCAA events. The one that really comes to mind is hosting NCAA golf in 2007. Next would be Emory at UW-Stevens Point the first time. Working the u20 World Cup in 09 and the Super Bowl in Atlanta have also been some career highlights.
** COVID has forced you to go above and beyond more than usual, can you describe some of your expanded job responsibilities that you have had during the pandemic?
In addition to what we have done at SHS and with contact tracing, I've spent many hours on planning committees maping out a plan for a safe return.
** What is one of the most surprising part of being an athletic trainer?
How every year I like what I do more.
** What do you know now about athletic training that you would go back and tell your younger self?
Don’t be so quick to figure out your next career step... sit back and enjoy the journey.