Robert Farrell, Class of 1994

Unlike my peers in the athletic training program during the early 1990s, I was from New York State. I had never heard of Hope College until a high school friend shared his experiences with me from a college visit. Although Hope sounded too good to be true, I decided to apply and visit. At the time, I had no aspirations of becoming an athletic trainer because my high school did not have an athletic trainer and I had no idea that a medical professional could specialize in sports medicine. My college visit went very well and I felt that Hope College was my home away from home.

I casually walked into the Dow Center Athletic Training Room during my freshman year "looking for a job". Dr. Ray explained to me that the "Training Room" did not function that way and that there was actually an athletic training program that I needed to apply for. I had always been interested in medicine and since I was a high school athlete; the marriage seemed natural. I applied immediately. I began the athletic training program my sophomore year and still graduated with my class in four years with the guidance of Dr. Ray.

The program at Hope afforded me all kinds of experiences that most student and professional athletic trainers only dream of. I have had the pleasure to intern with three different NFL teams (Jets, Browns, Packers). My athletic training experience at Hope prepared well to perform in the NFL. The other interns from very large institutions were not more prepared than I was, and in fact they were surprised about how advanced I was being from a college they had never heard of.

Another great experience that resulted from being a Hope College athletic training student was touring Europe with the Hope College Men's Soccer Team. The experience of different cultures and different sports medicine philosophies and techniques was invaluable. I was able to adapt to very different situations while abroad and learned how our European counterparts practice sports medicine.

Lastly, my Hope College Athletic Training education prepared me to attend graduate school at a NATA-approved graduate education program. Hope College and the athletic training education I received from Dr. Ray made my transition very smooth.

Currently, I am the Emergency Medical Services System Administrator for the Kalamazoo County Medical Control Authority. Although this is a non-traditional setting for athletic trainers, my experience at Hope prepared me for a successful career in emergency medicine. Being a paramedic, firefighter and athletic trainer in Kalamazoo allows me to be in the very unique situation to bridge the gap between sports medicine and emergency medicine.