Dr. Kirk Brumels, who is an associate professor of kinesiology, athletic trainer and director of the athletic training program at Hope College, is co-author of the fourth edition of "Developing Clinical Proficiency in Athletic Training: A Modular Approach," published this month by Human Kinetics of Champaign, Ill.

Brumels is co-author of the book with Dr. Kenneth L. Knight, who is a professor of athletic training at BrighamYoungUniversity.  Knight was the sole author of the previous three editions of the book, published as "Assessing Clinical Proficiencies in Athletic Training" in 1990, 1998 and 2001 respectively.  Brumels became involved with the project after using the textbooks for several years.

"Developing Clinical Proficiency in Athletic Training: A Modular Approach" guides students and clinical instructors through the maze of educational competencies required of entry-level athletic trainers.  Organized in organized in three general sections, "Introduction to Athletic Training Clinical Education," "Individual Athletic Skills Development," and "Integrating and Polishing Skills," the book features 146 modules that are used for assessing students' clinical skill development over the course of their athletic training program.

As co-author, Brumels worked with Knight in updating the book to address recent changes to the educational competencies and proficiencies required of students in athletic training programs.  Brumels noted that he was excited to have the opportunity to work with Knight.

"Being able to work with Dr. Knight on this project is definitely a highlight in my educational career," Brumels said.  "Dr. Knight is known throughout the profession as one of the top athletic training educators, and to be able to shape this book through conversations and mutual work is something that I am very proud of.  However, a project like this involves a lot of work and support.  I am very appreciative of the support from my family, the HopeCollege administration, my colleagues and my students as I worked through this process."

Brumels is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, and is currently serving a two-year term as president-elect of the Michigan Athletic Trainers' Society.  He has been a member of the Hope faculty since 2001, and had previously spent more than a decade as an athletic trainer with the New England Patriots.

A 1988 graduate of Hope's athletic training program, he worked with the college's basketball, baseball, field hockey and football teams as well as in the athletic training room as a student. His undergraduate experiences also included an internship with the Patriots during the summer before his senior year.

After Hope he did graduate work in athletic training at Western Michigan University, completing his master's in 1990. While in the master's program he was also the staff athletic trainer at St. Mary's Sports Med Center in Grand Rapids. He completed his doctorate at Western Michigan University in 2005.

He worked with the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Mass., from 1990 to 2001. His responsibilities included supervising, educating and coordinating student athletic trainers during summer training camp and various internship positions throughout the football season. He also worked with the team physician and head athletic trainer to coordinate all aspects of medical services for the team and its staff.  As part of the organization, he was a member of the 1997 NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year.

Brumels has been a guest speaker or lecturer in numerous venues. He is involved in the clinical care of the Hope College student-athlete while teaching various sections of Athletic Training Practicum, Safety, First-Aid, and CPR, Human Anatomy, Therapeutic Exercise and Assessment of Athletic Injuries.