Letter from President Hoffman

Dear MoATA Membership,

It is an absolute honor and privilege to write to you today as your new President. Having officially transitioned into this role on Friday, June 12th, I am incredibly humbled by the opportunity to serve and lead the Missouri Athletic Trainers' Association (MoATA). As I take on this responsibility, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible leaders who paved the way. I am immensely appreciative of our outgoing Past-President, Rob Carmichael, now Past-President, Dr. David Carr. We owe both of these individuals a major debt of gratitude for their dedication to protecting and advancing our profession.

A Vision Built on "Engagement"

My primary vision for the association is that of "engagement." I want our members to feel empowered to fully engage the association. To achieve this, we will focus heavily on core operational pillars such as:

·        Active Committee Initiatives: Empowering committees to drive meaningful projects and facilitate action.

·        Quality Continuing Education: Providing you with relevant and accessible educational opportunities.

·        Enhanced Communication: Keeping you informed, connected, and providing current updates.

Listening to the Needs of Our Members

Most importantly, I must highlight that these are preliminary thoughts and ideas. I do not have all the answers. Instead, I want us to listen to the needs of our members. While we have a long and cherished culture, it is critically important for us to evaluate and ensure that that culture and our annual operations are meeting our members' needs. Equally important is better engaging those who have chosen not to be members, and understanding if or how MoATA can meet their specific needs. This requires myself and the Executive Committee to ask intentional questions and gather direct feedback from both members and non-members. This will include upcoming collaborative opportunities such as targeted surveys and open listening sessions. Please be on the lookout for upcoming communications related to these inquiries.

I have already taken the initial opportunity to speak with multiple Past-Presidents, asking them to reflect on what they learned during their presidencies, and I deeply value that insight. I am also currently speaking to our committee chairs and asking how we can best support their needs to fully facilitate action moving forward.

Thank you for your dedication to our profession, the patients we serve, and our association. I am excited to team up with all of you to elevate athletic training in Missouri.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jay Hoffman

MoATA President