MU Spotlight 20/20
Kelcey Holcomb '18
What is your role at the University and what is something many may not know about the work you do?
Well, I just transitioned from being the first Graduate Athletic Training Teaching Assistant to the new Assistant Athletic Trainer here at 色中色 University. My role is to provide medical care to all student-athletes, including injury prevention, evaluation and diagnosis, rehabilitation, and emergency medical care. This past fall I covered field hockey and volleyball and am currently working with Women's basketball.
I still guest lecture in the graduate athletic training classes, tutor the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) students, and assist in labs. I am there to help the students in their preparation to sit for the Board of Certification exam upon graduation. I enjoy still helping in academia because I hope to one day be an Athletic Training Educator. Currently working towards a Masters in Health Administration, anticipated graduation date is May 2018. I am also currently a per diem athletic trainer for St. Luke鈥檚 and help provide medical coverage to the multiple sporting events in the Valley, including the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League.
My favorite spot on campus is鈥
The new Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Sciences building because my office there overlooks the Burnside Plantation horse farm and the railroad tracks.
What鈥檚 your favorite 色中色 University tradition?
As this is my first year, I have not been able to experience much of 色中色's traditions, but I did attend the Vespers this year and it was magical!
Finish this sentence: 鈥淲hen I grow up, I want to be _____.鈥
...an Athletic Training Educator because of the great mentoring and education I received during my undergraduate career. I want to be able to help students reach their goals and how to navigate that process, making an impact on their lives to reach or aim for heights they never realized.
What sound do you love, and why?
I love the sound of laughter. I enjoy an environment that brings joy and laughter, as a healthcare provider I see a lot of pain and tears, but my favorite part of the job is when I can help my patients smile and get excited again to return to their norm. Usually the laughter is because of something silly or clumsy I did or said, my patients and coworkers always get a kick out of my southern twanged 鈥測鈥檃ll鈥.
What is a surprising fun fact about yourself?
During my undergraduate career, I participated in a fundraising event called the Run-4-Research. It was comprised of training for 8 weeks to then run a group total of 175 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Appalachian State University to Western Carolina University. (yes, I actually ran 鈥 surprised me to!) We split into teams and ran 5 legs of 5 miles and completed the run in 27 hours, 49 minutes. This event raised money for the National Athletic Trainers Association Research & Education Foundation that funds scholarships and research grants.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
In Ann Voskamp鈥檚 book, "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are", she talks about living a more thankful life for the multiple gifts God gives us that we overlook and miss on a daily basis. She states 鈥渉aste makes waste鈥; how many times do we rush through something, even if we are late and later regret it because we missed an opportunity, could have prevented something, or may have even made a situation worse? Don鈥檛 rush through life, be thankful where you are because "haste makes waste".
What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
I love cinnamon ice cream in a homemade cinnamon waffle cone! I love cinnamon and I can only find the combination at my favorite ice cream parlor from undergrad, Jack the Dipper, back in Cullowhee, North Carolina!
What makes you happy?
Building relationships. The reason I became an athletic trainer was because of the ability we have to see our patients multiple times a day, every day. We see them from the time they come in as freshman through graduation. If/when they get injured I am there through the initial injury, possible surgery, doing their rehabilitation and then getting them back out on the field or court. I enjoy building a relationship of trust and healing, through the hard and good days.
If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?
Maggie Grace would probably be the one I would pick to play me. I have been told multiple times that I look like her from the movie "Taken". What a compliment!