Episode 5

Social Determinants of Health w/ Dr. Alejandra Merriman

Published on: 8th February, 2021

Our guest today is Alejandra Merriman, Sports Medicine Instructor and Clinician at Dorsey High School in South Central Los Angeles. In this episode we discuss the lack of access to Athletic Trainers in Los Angeles (LA) and its implications to the health of athletes in underserved communities of LA.

Show Notes

  1. Latinx Athletic Trainers
  2. Access to ATs in CA
  3. CA has the second largest number of athletes of any state, with 40% of those athletes at schools without an AT or with another healthcare provider5
  4. % number of students eligible for free lunch (criteria applied for national school lunch program, submitting household income forms, student homeless/migrant status)
  5. Roughly 90 high schools in LAUSD with sports
  6. 6 of them have an ATC
  7. 42 high schools have 90+ % of students that are eligible for free lunch
  8. Basically, the other 40+ schools have 50% of their student body eligible for free lunch
  9. Actions items for ATs to walk away with from this discussion
  10. Participate in CATA upcoming virtual hit the hill
  11. If you have relationships with LAUSD athletic directors, have a conversation: AT Last can guide you with this
  12. Contact AT Last for questions collaboration
  13. References
  14. McLeod TCV, Cardenas JF. Emergency preparedness of secondary school athletic programs in Arizona. Journal of Athletic Training. 2019;54(2):133-141.
  15. Johnson ST, Norcross MF, Bovbjerg VE, Hoffman MA, Chang E, Koester MC. Sports-related emergency preparedness in oregon high schools. Sports Health. 2017;9(2):181-184.
  16. Post E, Winterstein AP, Hetzel SJ, Lutes B, McGuine TA. School and community socioeconomic status and access to athletic trainer services in wisconsin secondary schools. Journal of Athletic Training. 2019;54(2):177-181.
  17. Kroshus E, Rivara FP, Whitlock KB, Herring SA, Chrisman SPD. Disparities in athletic trainer staffing in secondary school sport: implications for concussion identification. Clin J Sport Med. 2017;27(6):542-547.
  18. Post EG, Roos KG, Rivas S, Kasamatsu TM, Bennett J. Access to athletic trainer services in california secondary schools. Journal of Athletic Training. 2019;54(12):1229-1236.
  19. Adler NE, Newman K. Socioeconomic disparities in health: pathways and policies. Health Affairs. 2002;21(2):60-76.
  20. Reback R. Investments in students’ physical and mental health inCalifornia’s public schools. Getting Down to Facts II Web site.https://gettingdowntofacts.com/publications/investments-studentsphysical-and-mental-health-californias-public-schools. Published2018. Accessed September 4, 2019.
  21. Simon JE, Wikstrom EA, Grooms DR, Docherty CL, Dompier TP, Kerr ZY. Athletic training service characteristics for patients with ankle sprains sustained during high school athletics. Journal of Athletic Training. 2019;54(6):676-683.
  22. Adams WM, Scarneo SE, Casa DJ. State-level implementation of health and safety policies to prevent sudden death and catastrophic injuries within secondary school athletics. Orthop J Sports Med. 2017;5(9):2325967117727262.
  23. Contact/Support/Questions/Comments
  24. How to contact the initiative to support, collaborate, ask questions:
  25. Email: atlast@atvantagepodcasts.com
  26. GoFundMe
  27. https://www.gofundme.com/f/increasing-diversity-in-athletic-training
  28. CATA virtual symposium 2021
  29. Registration link: https://cvent.me/vvQyay
  30. Guest Contact info
  31. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-merriman-dat-atc-ces-56196787/
  32. LatinxATs
  33. Twitter: @LatinxATs
  34. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/500517684009280/
  35. Instagram: @LatinxATs
  36. Gratitude and Blessings
  37. Artwork by Jason Eisenberg
  38. Instagram: @dots_and_squares
  39. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoneisenberg00/
  40. Intro/Outro music by Willie B the Ichiban Don
  41. Instagram: @ichibandon
  42. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-brown-25945b168/
  43. Production / Engineering / Editing / Content Creation
  44. Joseph “J Pash” Patrick
  45. Website: https://www.passionnetpro.com/
  46. Twitter: @passionnetpro
  47. Instagram: @passionnetpro
  48. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passionnetpro/
  49. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/passionnetpro/
  50. Gerson Sandoval
  51. Instagram: @thesoundarchitects
  52. Websites: 
  53. https://thesoundarchitects.com/
  54. https://soundbetter.com/profiles/347950-the-sound-architects
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About the Podcast

The AT Last Podcast
Sports medicine practitioners recognizing, addressing, and catalyzing change.
Sports medicine practitioners recognizing, addressing, and catalyzing change within their spheres of influence. Hosts Adam Cady, Christopher Bates, and Kristen Ross focus specifically on the issue of “race” in America, its disparaging impact on our society, and how that is reflected within the world of athletic training.
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About your hosts

Christopher Bates

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Christopher Bates is a proud family man and has passionately worked in sports medicine and human performance for over a decade. He is both a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), as well as a Registered Strength & Conditioning Coach (RSCC). Bates' experiences and paradigms for excellence have led to the creation and establishment of several holistic sports medicine and athletic-performance skill development programs across all levels of athletics including Olympic, University, High School and youth.

Currently, Bates serves as the Sports Medicine Manager and Head Athletic Trainer for USA Water Polo’s Men’s Olympic team. Bates also directs the athletic-performance skill development for the team along with the team's dedicated strength and conditioning coach.

Kristen Ross

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Dr. Ross attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas obtaining a Bachelor's degree in athletic training and a Master's in Kinesiology. Dr. Ross later received his Doctorate in Health Sciences with a Specialization in Organizational Behavior and Leadership. Dr. Ross has spent the majority of his professional Career providing sports medicine services in performing arts, industrial, and secondary school settings.

Adam Cady

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Adam C. Cady holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology/Athletic Training from California State University-Fullerton, and a Master of Health Science from Duke University. He is also a graduate of the sports medicine fellowship program at The Steadman Clinic, in Vail, Colorado. He currently works as a Physician Assistant at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he specializes in sports medicine.

His current passions/research interests include improving health equity in underserved communities and Functional Medicine.