Mid America Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA) Honors and Awards Committee has announced that Justin Clark, Athletic Trainer at Memorial Health System Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine and for Abilene High School, will receive the Dr. Denis “Izzy” Isrow Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award. MAATA recognizes members who make extraordinary contributions to their profession and association.
The Dr. Denis “Izzy” Isrow Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award recognizes an athletic trainer in the MAATA whose actions and activities have gone well beyond what is expected or required within the routine call of duty.
Others athletic trainers being recognized, along with Clark, include new MAATA Hall of Fame inductees, Jon Darling of North Dakota, Brian Hughes from Missouri, and Ron Walker of Oklahoma. Other award winners include Danielle Kleber from Nebraska receiving the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, Brad Floy of Iowa to receive the MAATA Service Award, Kitty Newsham from Missouri the MAATA Educator of the Year Award, Jessica Rummery of Iowa to receive the MAATA YP Distinction Award, and Emma Nye of Iowa receiving the Denise Fandel Award for Advocacy and Diversity Award. All awards will be presented at the MAATA Annual Meeting March 16-18 in LaVista, Nebraska.
Clark is currently serving as the Kansas Athletic Trainers’ Society (KATS) President-Elect, is the KATS representative to the Kansas State High School Activities Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (KSHSAA SMAC), and has been on the KATS Symposium Committee since 2015. Prior to his role as KATS President-Elect, Clark served as the KATS Treasurer for six years, Public Relations Chair for two years, and chair of the KATS Secondary Schools Committee for 10 years. He has also served on the MAATA Finance Committee from 2018-2020. He has volunteered as the athletic trainer for the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene since 2007 and at the National High School Finals Rodeo since 2009. Clark has served as preceptor for the Kansas State University Athletic Training Program since 2017 and volunteered as site coordinator for KSHSAA Volleyball, Wrestling, and Basketball playoff and state level events from 2009 to 2016. Clark has helped establish the first KATS Safety in Football campaign and he laid the foundation for moving to WBGT (WetBulb Globe Temperature) standards for heat illness, which is now being used in the state of Kansas. He also helped to create heat illness policy revisions to cross country meets and for band members. Clark also is a member of the Abilene High School health pathway advisory committee, committed to helping educate future healthcare providers.