Dr. Krystal Tyree, DAT, LAT, ATC
College of Health Sciences Instructor, Logan University-Master’s in Sports Science & Rehabilitation
Why is a degree in sports science and rehabilitation important?
Athletic Trainers (ATs) are passionate about providing care and guidance that empowers athletes to thrive and helps them stay active and healthy, on and off the field. It’s much more than treating injuries — it’s caring for their whole health. This integrated philosophy requires the specialized training of an advanced sports science and rehab degree.
How important is the role of a trained professional in ensuring athlete safety and well-being?
ATs can work in most settings where an injury can occur, and we’re usually first to respond. So, a quality sports science and rehab education is crucial — we must have specialized training that spans multiple healthcare professions, so we are equipped to act on the spot, assessing, treating, and overall maintaining the health and safety of the sport.
What does the day-to-day of this career path look like?
I’m lucky. I get to teach and treat. As an instructor for a graduate sports science and rehab program, I aim to instill that passion and the knowledge needed to graduate skilled, confident healthcare leaders. As the AT for a secondary school, I actively care for the well-being of student athletes — evaluating, treating, and rehabbing. No two days are the same.
What are ideal qualities for your profession?
It takes confidence to take a patient’s well-being into your hands. Confidence is gained through hands-on, rigorous, ongoing training. Those who do well think critically, work hard, and are very skilled. They are leaders who strive to always grow stronger and wiser. They have compassion for others and commitment to evidence-based, natural healthcare.
Carrie Lane, M.S.
Wellness Coordinator, Indiana Health Information Exchange
Why is an M.S. degree in nutrition and human performance important?
I am equipped to provide value beyond the typical food diet patterns and macronutrient basics. I treat the whole health of my patients and provide tailored instruction specific to their health and medical needs. I am able to help patients achieve optimal health or body composition goals, or even halt or reverse current disease states naturally.
How important is the role of a trained professional in ensuring patient safety and well-being?
The role of a properly educated nutrition professional is crucial to keeping patients safe. There are multiple factors to consider when providing care to patients and those factors vary greatly for each individual. I call upon my specialized training with each patient decision I make — providing evidence-based, patient-centered care.
What does the day-to-day of this career path look like?
There are so many career path options with a master’s in nutrition and human performance. At this time, my focus is managing a wellness program that I implemented at my company. Staff benefit from individualized nutrition instruction and group-education sessions. It’s rewarding each day to know I have made a positive impact on someone’s well-being.
What are ideal qualities for your profession?
Great nutrition professionals are highly trained, empathetic problem solvers with a penchant for the details. The ability to view the whole picture involving patient goals, medical history, and current symptoms together is crucial. Patients are not always textbook cases and might require multiple, different approaches to reach their goals.
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