RHS Athletic Trainer
The On-Site Athletic Trainer Program at Roosevelt
Roosevelt is one of 11 Seattle Public School high schools that has an on-site Athletic Trainer. The trainers are provided as part of a partnership between the District and Seattle Childrens' Hospital, first started in 2008. While trainers work out of their office at RHS, they are employees of Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The partnership pays trainers for 32 hours a week, over a 44-week period. The Roosevelt Athletic Booster Club (RAB) has committed to fund an additional 6 hours per week, bringing the position to full-time. Funding the additional hours is something the RAB budgets for and votes on each year.
The Trainer helps all WIAA athletes, and attends many events for lots of teams. But the contract requires the Trainer to attend the following: All contact football practices; Varsity football home and away games; JV football home games; and home wrestling and gymnastic meets.
Meet Our Athletic Trainer, Casey Lougheed
Hi Casey! How long have you been at RHS?
I am finishing up my third year at RHS, I started here the fall of 2019.
Can you briefly explain what an Athletic Trainer does? What does the job involve?
Athletic trainers (AT's) are highly-qualified, multi-skilled health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education, training and the state's statutes, rules and regulations. As a part of the health care team, services provided by athletic trainers include primary care, injury and illness prevention, wellness promotion and education, emergent care, examination and clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. I provide care at athletic practices and events here at Roosevelt High School (or other athletic venues) on most afternoons and evenings.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I've lived in Texas most of my life and it's where my family still lives. I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s in athletic training in Texas, then worked as a high school athletic trainer for 8 years prior to moving to Seattle. I moved to the PNW to have better access to my hobbies: rock climbing, hiking, camping and mountain biking. I also enjoy cooking and entertaining friends. I recently fostered/trained a future service dog for a year and jump at the opportunity to dog-sit for others.
How do students make an appointment or come see you?
I post my office hours on my door and student-athletes can come see me at any point during those times. I should note that they should not come see me during the school day, they should wait until they get out of class. They can also reach me via email to coordinate a time to see me: casey.lougheed@seattlechildrens.org
What's the best part of your job?
The human body is amazing - I like the challenge of problem solving that occurs with athletic injuries. I also find value in helping and educating others. Not to mention, high school kids are fun, so they keep things interesting!
What part of your job is the most challenging?
I often say that I wish I could be in multiple places at once or that there was one more of me. Since a lot of our teams play on off-campus locations, I can’t support all of our athletes like I wish I could. Often times, in the heart of a sports season I will have a line of kids out the door waiting to see me, so it would be nice to give them just a bit more time before they rush out to practice.
What sports do you play?
I can’t remember the last time I played any team sports! I’ve just been crazy about outdoor hobbies the past 5-10 yrs. This is a photo from a mountain bike trip I recently took out in Leavenworth.
