Florida Hospital Selects Athletic Trainer to Support Partnership with Volusia County Schools

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla., August 8, 2018 Florida Hospital has selected Erik Nason to serve as the athletic trainer to coordinate care for the 5,000 student athletes at Volusia County Schools.

Nasons new role is part of Florida Hospitals five-year, $2 million partnership with Volusia County Schools. As part of the historic agreement, Florida Hospital committed to provide a dedicated certified athletic trainer to act as a liaison with the schools to streamline and coordinate care for student athletes, and work with the district to improve concussion protocols. In addition, Nason will also work with athletes off the field to help with conditioning and nutrition, which can prevent injuries.

Nason has nearly 20 years of athletic training and sport medicine experience and is the current president of The Athletic Trainers Association of Florida. This role is a two-term, three-year, peer-elected position which supports the professional development, membership management, educational platforms, legislative efforts and governmental affairs for the organizations 2,500 members and 3,200 athletic trainers statewide.

Nason spent 17 years as an athletic trainer at the Kennedy Space Center, providing onsite musculoskeletal rehabilitation for employees. He also provided astronaut care during launches and landings as part of Kennedy Space Centers health stabilization program. During his career, he treated more than 3,000 employees with over 50,000 patient appointments.

Since 1999, Nason has been the program manager and athletic trainer for the Justin Boots Sports Medicine Team, providing sports medicine care to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) participants during several annual rodeo events in Florida, in addition to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Nason earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Athletic Training from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. He also earned a Master of Science in Physical Education/Athletic Training from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association. He is certified in adult CPR, Automated External Defibrillators (AED) use, and Bloodborne Pathogens by the American Red Cross. Nason is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Furthermore, Nason is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida (ATAF).

Established in June, the historic agreement with Florida Hospital supports the more than 63,000 students enrolled in 78 Volusia County Schools by working to reduce chronic absenteeism, coordinating care for student athletes, and encouraging future career paths in the health care industry.

About Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region
A member of Adventist Health System, Florida Hospitals mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ. Encompassing seven Florida Hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties, the Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region is the largest hospital system in the area, with 1,226 beds and more than 7,800 employees. The Florida Hospital Central Florida Division - North Region includes Florida Hospital DeLand in DeLand, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City, Florida Hospital Flagler in Palm Coast, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida Hospital Oceanside in Ormond Beach, Florida Hospital New Smyrna in New Smyrna Beach, and Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares.