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Graduate Athletic Training
212 McKenzie Arena
(423) 425-4209
(423) 425-5395 fax

Mailing Address
Graduate Athletic Training Program
Dept 6606
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403

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GATP Faculty & Staff

Gary B. Wilkerson, Ed.D., ATC Professor Director of Research Telephone: (423) 425-5394 Office Address: 208 Arena	B.S. - Eastern Kentucky University M.S. - University of Arizona Ed.D. - University of Kentucky Dr. Wilkerson started full time at UTC in the spring of 2000. He has had a diverse athletic training career and offers much insight into the non-traditional setting of employment. Dr. Wilkerson believes that it is our mission as educators to prepare athletic training students for both the non-traditional and traditional settings, which is the philosophy he has brought to UTC. His main area of interest in research is ankle biomechanics.
Marisa M. Colston, Ed.D., ATC Program Director UC Foundation Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance Telephone: (423) 425-4743 Office Address: 212A Arena	B.S. - Eastern Michigan University M.S. - Eastern Michigan University Ph.D. - University of Tennessee at Knoxville Dr. Colston joined the UTC faculty in 1999, as an assistant professor in the Graduate Athletic Training Program at the onset of the programs second year. Dr. Colston has an intense focus on the didactic preparation of the students, both academically and for research. She is currently chairing a number of Master thesis studies, in addition to graduate research projects. Dr. Colston's primary research interest center on lumbar spine injury prevention and mechanics, which was the focus of her dissertation research. She also has an interest in the ethical considerations of athletic training.
Scott L. Bruce, MS, ATC Lecturer Director of Recruitment Telephone: (423) 425-1733 Office Address: 212C Arena	B.S. - East Stroudsburgh University M.S. - Eastern Illinois University Scott joined the UTC faculty in 2006 as a lecturer/instructor for the Graduate Athletic Training Education Program. Scott has been certified for 25 years and brings a wealth knowledge and experience to the classroom. He has worked with athletes at all levels of competition from youth sports to the elite Olympic level athletes. The highlight of Scott's career came in 2001 as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for football at the University of Miami when they won the Rose Bowl and the BCS National Championship. Scott is presently pursuing his PhD from UTC. His research interests involve therapeutic exercise and clinical prediction rules. He is married to Jana and has two beautiful children, Patrick (15) and Allison (13).
Brendon McDermott, Ph.D., ATC Assistant Professor Clinical Coordinator Telephone: 423-425-2259 Office Address: 212B Arena	B.S. - Northeastern University M.S. - Indiana University Ph.D. - University of Connecticut Brendon McDermott is an assistant professor and clinical coordinator in the Entry-Level Graduate Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Northeastern University and his Master’s degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University. McDermott then worked for four years at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA as an assistant clinical professor and assistant Athletic Trainer. He received his PhD from the University of Connecticut studying exercise science with a research focus on thermal physiology, hydration, and exertional heat stroke. His dissertation was titled “Effect of the Mode of Rehydration on Recovery from Exercise Dehydration: Cardiovascular, Hormonal, and Medical Considerations.” McDermott is currently a test item writer for the Board of Certification and a reviewer for multiple professional journals, including the Journal of Athletic Training. He volunteers yearly at the Marine Corps and Boston Marathon’s. In his free time, he enjoys distance running and spending time with his wife Jamie and their son Aidan.
David Jenkison, D.O. co-Medical Director
Jason Robertson, M.D. Medical Director	B.S. Lipscomb University M.D. East Tennessee State University Board-certified in both sports medicine and family medicine, and fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine, Dr. Robertson has served as team physician for a number of athletic teams, including Howard High School, the Chattanooga Lookouts, and most recently, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has also been on the medical staffs of the PGA Champions Tour and The SEC Basketball Tournament. A commitment to sharing his knowledge and skills has led Dr. Robertson to teach at institutions of higher learning such as the University of Tennessee, Samford University, and the University of West Alabama. He has also served with medical missions in Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, and Honduras. Dr. Robertson enjoys golf, family and church activities. He, his wife Amber , and their daughters Riley and Jancey make their home in Harrison.
Liz Walker HHP & GATP Principal Secretary Telephone: (423) 425-4209 Office Address: 212 Arena

Gary B. Wilkerson, Ed.D., ATC
Professor
Director of Research

Telephone: (423) 425-5394
Office Address: 208 Arena

B.S. - Eastern Kentucky University
M.S. - University of Arizona
Ed.D. - University of Kentucky

Dr. Wilkerson started full time at UTC in the spring of 2000. He has had a diverse athletic training career and offers much insight into the non-traditional setting of employment. Dr. Wilkerson believes that it is our mission as educators to prepare athletic training students for both the non-traditional and traditional settings, which is the philosophy he has brought to UTC. His main area of interest in research is ankle biomechanics.

Marisa M. Colston, Ed.D., ATC

Program Director
UC Foundation Associate Professor of Health and Human Performance

Telephone: (423) 425-4743
Office Address: 212A Arena

B.S. - Eastern Michigan University
M.S. - Eastern Michigan University
Ph.D. - University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Dr. Colston joined the UTC faculty in 1999, as an assistant professor in the Graduate Athletic Training Program at the onset of the programs second year. Dr. Colston has an intense focus on the didactic preparation of the students, both academically and for research. She is currently chairing a number of Master thesis studies, in addition to graduate research projects. Dr. Colston's primary research interest center on lumbar spine injury prevention and mechanics, which was the focus of her dissertation research. She also has an interest in the ethical considerations of athletic training.

Scott L. Bruce, MS, ATC
Lecturer
Director of Recruitment

Telephone: (423) 425-1733
Office Address: 212C Arena

B.S. - East Stroudsburgh University
M.S. - Eastern Illinois University

Scott joined the UTC faculty in 2006 as a lecturer/instructor for the Graduate Athletic Training Education Program. Scott has been certified for 25 years and brings a wealth knowledge and experience to the classroom. He has worked with athletes at all levels of competition from youth sports to the elite Olympic level athletes. The highlight of Scott's career came in 2001 as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for football at the University of Miami when they won the Rose Bowl and the BCS National Championship. Scott is presently pursuing his PhD from UTC. His research interests involve therapeutic exercise and clinical prediction rules. He is married to Jana and has two beautiful children, Patrick (15) and Allison (13).

Brendon McDermott, Ph.D., ATC
Assistant Professor
Clinical Coordinator

Telephone: 423-425-2259
Office Address: 212B Arena

B.S. - Northeastern University
M.S. - Indiana University
Ph.D. - University of Connecticut

Brendon McDermott is an assistant professor and clinical coordinator in the Entry-Level Graduate Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Northeastern University and his Master’s degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University. McDermott then worked for four years at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA as an assistant clinical professor and assistant Athletic Trainer. He received his PhD from the University of Connecticut studying exercise science with a research focus on thermal physiology, hydration, and exertional heat stroke. His dissertation was titled “Effect of the Mode of Rehydration on Recovery from Exercise Dehydration: Cardiovascular, Hormonal, and Medical Considerations.” McDermott is currently a test item writer for the Board of Certification and a reviewer for multiple professional journals, including the Journal of Athletic Training. He volunteers yearly at the Marine Corps and Boston Marathon’s. In his free time, he enjoys distance running and spending time with his wife Jamie and their son Aidan.

David Jenkison, D.O.
co-Medical Director

Jason Robertson, M.D.
Medical Director

B.S. Lipscomb University
M.D. East Tennessee State University

Board-certified in both sports medicine and family medicine, and fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine, Dr. Robertson has served as team physician for a number of athletic teams, including Howard High School, the Chattanooga Lookouts, and most recently, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has also been on the medical staffs of the PGA Champions Tour and The SEC Basketball Tournament.

A commitment to sharing his knowledge and skills has led Dr. Robertson to teach at institutions of higher learning such as the University of Tennessee, Samford University, and the University of West Alabama. He has also served with medical missions in Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, and Honduras.

Dr. Robertson enjoys golf, family and church activities. He, his wife Amber , and their daughters Riley and Jancey make their home in Harrison.

Liz Walker
HHP & GATP Principal Secretary

Telephone: (423) 425-4209
Office Address: 212 Arena

UTC Athletic Training Staff

Todd Bullard, MS ATC Head Athletic Trainer Telephone: (423) 425-4275 Office Address: 133 McKenzie Arena	Michael Booi, MS, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Telephone: (423) 425-4275 Office Address: 133 McKenzie Arena	Brandy Leffler, MS, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Telephone: (423) 425-4275 Office Address: 133 McKenzie Arena
MacKenzie McDonald, MS, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Telephone: (423) 425-4275 Office Address: 133 McKenzie Arena	Jessica Tanner, M Ed, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Telephone: (423) 425-4275 Office Address: 133 McKenzie Arena	Ryan Degon, ATC Assistant Athletic Trainer Telephone: (423) 425-4275 Office Address: 133 McKenzie Arena
Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainers
Kerri Cramer, ATC Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer	Grant Davis , ATC Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer
Jacob Fox, ATC Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer	Jo Gundrum , ATC Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer

Graduate Athletic Training Program

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GATP Faculty & Staff

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