UW–Madison alumna Stephanie Hernandez recently delivered a TED Talk highlighting the lack of athletic training access in youth sports and its impact on underserved communities.
Hernandez, who earned her doctorate in kinesiology with an emphasis in biomechanics from UW–Madison in 2022, is now an assistant professor of kinesiology and athletic training at Sam Houston State University and the director of the Healthy Activity Toward Promoting Injury Reduction (HAPIR) Lab.
In her talk, Hernandez drew on her research and personal experiences to argue for the importance of athletic trainers for young athletes. “My upbringing, my background in sports, and my research on youth sport equity all aim to shine a light on a huge issue in youth sports today, which is the lack of athletic training access.”
Hernandez’s research focuses on how socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity impact young athletes and their families, particularly in the context of sport specialization and injury prevention.
Hernandez highlighted the critical role athletic trainers play in ensuring young athletes have safe and positive experiences in sports. She advocated for expanding access to athletic trainers, particularly for marginalized communities where resources may be limited.
“If we can increase access to athletic trainers, we can have more children have a positive youth sport experience like I did,” she said.
Watch Hernandez’s full TED Talk.