2019-20 GHATS Membership Drive
2019-2020 GHATS Membership Drive opens September 1st. The drive will last from 09/01 to 12/01. Professionals, joining during this time period will make you a Member in good standing. The designation allows you to be considered for committee appointments, allows you to vote in elections, allows you to participate in our Honors and Awards process and allows you to Pre-Register your HS students for the Student Athletic Trainer Workshop (that will open October 1st); maintaining your Member in good standing status enables you to run for an elected office.
To join/renew your GHATS Membership for 2019-2020, go to the Login/Join the Member Area Tab at the top. The coupon code is included in these instructions. Coupon Code: ONBOARD2020. GHATS Membership is $30. But, if you join between 09/01 and 12/01, you may use the code to receive $10 off the regular Membership cost when you go to PayPal to submit your payment.
GHATS Monthly Spotlight Winners: November 2019
Kristie Hayes is the Head Athletic Trainer at Porter High School. She’s in her 18th year in the Athletic Training profession and her 16th year in New Caney ISD. Kristie opened Porter High School in 2010.
Kristie has been married to her husband, Gary, for 16 years; they have a daughter, Kami, who is 12. When she’s not helping Student Athletes recover from injuries, she’s with her family. Though, you’re also likely to catch Kristie and Kami on the Porter campus.
Why I joined GHATS: I joined because I wanted to be involved in our local organization. This is a great organization that truly benefits its members and students of the greater Houston area.
Why I continue to renew membership: The benefits far exceed the cost of membership to an organization that supports our profession. I really like what GHATS does for the student athletic trainers in the area. The fact that we can provide them with a free workshop during the school year is unlike any other organization.
Social Media:
Twitter: @PorterSpartans, @newcaneyisd, @aggietrainer
Facebook: kristie.hayes.54, @porterhighschool
Instagram: aggietrainer
This is Michelle’s 23rd year at South Houston High School as Athletic Trainer and her 25th year in education/athletic training overall. She holds a Master’s Degree is in Fitness and Human Performance from UH-Clear Lake and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Lamar University-Beaumont.
Michelle and her husband have been married for more than 12 years and do not have kids or pets. Instead, she states her “athletes and student athletic trainers are all her kids”. She also has a unique hobby and talent, which helps keep her sane. She makes stained glass. The included image is her creation.
I have been a member of GHATS for over 20 years and attended GHATS as a student athletic trainer my senior year of high school in 1991.
I am a member of GHATS because I feel it is a good organization for the athletic trainers in the Houston area. The student athletic trainer workshop was my first taste of GHATS; and, it continues to be a great opportunity for student athletic trainers to be exposed to the profession.
Twitter: @SoHotrainers & @SouthHoustonHighSchool.
Facebook: South Houston High School.
GHATS Monthly Spotlight Winners: October 2019
Justin Hargrove MS, ATC, LAT
Justin is a native of Mount Pleasant, Texas, graduating from Mount Pleasant High School in 1994. He attended Howard Payne University (HPU) in Brownwood, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in All Level Physical Education in 1998. Justin obtained his Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration from Texas A&M University–Commerce in August of 2019. During his time at HPU, he served as a Summer Intern Athletic Trainer for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994 & 1995, under the direction of Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer Otho Davis, and with the Dallas Cowboys in 1996. Upon graduation in 1998, Justin served as a Seasonal Assistant Athletic Trainer for the New York Jets. Justin has also worked for an Orthopedic Surgeon in Brownwood, Texas, Dr. Marlen Strefling, in a Physical Therapy Clinic in Longview, Texas and an Athletic Trainer in the Secondary School Setting (2004-2017) at Mount Pleasant High School.
Justin has been a Member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) since 1995. He passed the Texas Licensure Test in 1998 and passed the Board of Certification exam in 2000. Justin arrived at Northeast Texas Community College as the Athletic Trainer and Instructor of Human Performance in 2017. In February of 2019, Justin was given the additional duties of Assistant Athletic Director for NTCC. With the completion of his Master’s degree, he now he serves as Director of Human Performance in the new Associates of Science Human Performance degree program at NTCC.
Justin served on the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association (SWATA) Secondary Schools Athletic Trainers Committee from 2015-2018 and joined the SWATA Public Relations committee in July of 2018. He also joined the NATA District 6 AT’s Care team in 2018.
In his spare time, Justin serves as a Volunteer Firefighter for the city of Mount Pleasant Fire Department and the Nortex Volunteer Fire Department in Titus County, Texas. Justin has been married to Kay Hargrove since 2003. They have two children Devon and Madison.
Cale M. Cosper, LAT
2007-2017: Outreach Athletic Trainer- Richmond Bone and Joint Clinic/Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine
2011-2012: Houston Stallions Arena Football- SIFL/LSFL – Head Athletic Trainer
2010-2012: Houston Power Women’s Professional Tackle Football- Head Athletic Trainer
2009-2018: Houston Energy Women’s Professional Tackle Football- Head Athletic Trainer
2008-2009- Katy Ruff Riders Arena Football- IFL- Head Athletic Trainer
2005- 2007- Foster High School – Lamar consolidated ISD- Athletic Trainer
2004- Obtained LAT, Graduated Texas State University.
Member in good standing since 2005
2017: GHATS Bobby Gunn Award
2015: 2017 Social Committee Chair
2015: Workshop T-Shirt Design Contest Chair
2012-2017: Designed developed and maintained the Hall of Honor Slide Show/video, put together flower arrangements for honorees at the Workshop; attended the golf tournaments and provided photographer services; photographer services at Student workshop.
My wife Laura and I just celebrated 8 years of marriage on Oct 22, 2019. Our son Cooper will be 4 in February. We enjoy our family time together on the weekends and like to travel.
As most ATs say, I joined so that my student athletic trainers can attend the Workshop. I did it for that reason at first; but, when I was with RBJC and Memorial Hermann for 10 years I still maintained my membership and became more involved with the organization and saw its importance to our athletic training community here in the Houston and surrounding areas – how it promotes us as professionals, creates a network and a bridge between high school, college and professional athletic trainers at all levels. I also liked that its intent of being created was also as a social group, where we can go and have fun and not only see our friends when we are working an event on a playing field or court.
GHATS Monthly Spotlight Winners: September 2019
Rudy Lazar is the Head Athletic Trainer at Paetow High School.
Originally from Sealy, Rudy graduated from Texas Lutheran University in 2005. He has worked as an Athletic Trainer in the secondary school setting for 15 years. He is currently in his 3rd year at Paetow High School in Katy ISD.
Rudy enjoys spending time with his wife, family and two dogs (Lola and Elliot). And, he enjoys cheering on his favorite H-Town Teams – Astros, Texans and Rockets.
He became an Athletic Trainer because he has a passion for two things: Sports and helping student athletes achieve their goals within the realm of athletics, while making an impact on their daily lives and futures.
Why do I GHATS? I joined GHATS to connect with Athletic Trainers in the Houston area, as well as create an opportunity of my Student Athletic Trainers to connect and learn about the professional and what it entails.
Program Twitter: @Paetow_AT
Tiffany Kizziah is the Head Athletic Trainer at Foster High School and is in her 13th year at Foster. She graduated Sam Houston State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Sports Medicine emphasis. In 2010, she attended Wharton County Junior College to earn her EMT-Basic. And, she earned her Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2017. She is an American Red Cross CPR and First Aid Instructor, a member of THSCA, GHATS, TSATA, SHSU Athletic Training Alumni and Friends Association, and President of the Foster FFA Booster Club. On top of all her Athletic Training duties she is also a single mother to a 15-year-old daughter who is an active softball player and FFA member raising cattle, lambs and chickens.
I continue to be a member of GHATS to allow my students the great opportunity of attending the GHATS Student Athletic Trainer Workshop to gain a further knowledge in the field of sports medicine. It allows them the opportunity to meet other students in Houston and the surrounding areas that have a common interest with them and to visit with colleges that provide a further educational experience in Athletic Training. It also allows professionals to meet and mingle among each other outside of the daily game day routines.
Personal Twitter: @tkizzyk
Program Twitter Accounts:
@FosterSportsMed
@LamarCISD
@lcisdathletics
Instagram Account: fosterhsat
GHATS Special Announcement
For immediate release:
GHATS is proud to present the Dr. Walter R. Lowe Scholarship, a scholarship for all GHATS College-Level Athletic Training Student Members. This scholarship represents Dr. Lowe’s ongoing and continued support of GHATS and his ongoing support and loyalty to Athletic Trainers. Dr. Lowe is a paragon in the Sports Medicine Community. He is a world-renowned Orthopedic and the Head Team Physician for the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, University of Houston and several local high schools. Dr. Lowe is known for being the consummate professional; however, above all professional traits, he focuses his practice – and teaches his residents and fellows – on the importance of patient-centered care, community involvement and service and continually invests, supports and recognizes Athletic Trainers as important and integral medical professionals.
This scholarship will be added to our current Spring Honors and Awards. The annual deadline for applications is April 1st. Complete details on eligibility are included in the GHATS Standing Rules – located in the Administration tab on the website; the application form is located under the Honors and Awards tab.
This scholarship was made possible through the benevolence of UT Ortho a Part of UT Physicians. Several people assisted with facilitating this partnership. We must thank Dr. Lowe, Cynthia Plitt, Morgan Dean, and Bob Marley (Athletic Trainer for UT Ortho) for their willingness to discuss this opportunity and their help towards the completion of this project. Thank you, everyone!
Orthopedic Surgeon, Chairman and Professor of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). He also serves as the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Memorial Hermann at the Texas Medical Center and LBJ General Hospital. He is the Medical Director of the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute. Founding member: International ACL Study Group. Undergraduate Degree from Colorado State University, Medical Degree from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency from Tarrant County Affiliated Hospitals, Ft. Worth, Texas, Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship at Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Sports Medicine in Inglewood, California. 2014 Jack C. Hughston Sports Physician Award by the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Recipient of the NFL’s 2018 Jerry ‘Hawk’ Rhea Team Physician of the Year Award. Head Team Physician: Houston Texans, Houston Rockets and University of Houston. Consultant: NASA. Special Interests: Knee and Shoulder Injuries, Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy and minimally invasive surgery.