Athletic Training
San Diego Miramar College Sports Medicine Mission Statement:
The purpose of the SDMC sports medicine program is to provide quality health care for the student-athletes of Miramar College. The scope of the athletic training services encompass various domains which including injury recognition, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, education, and counseling that will enable the athlete to maintain an optimal quality of life beyond the span of athletic competition.
The athletic trainer will work in conjunction with the team physicians and athletic administration to assure the student-athletes receive quality care throughout their career at Miramar College. It is the intent and purpose of the SDMC athletic trainer to enhance health, improve performance and to provide our student-athletes the absolute best care possible.
What is an athletic training?
Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, evaluation and diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities.
SDMC athletic trainer:
Tami Vahalik, ATC
Tami Vahalik starts her inaugural year at Miramar College. She is a native of San Diego graduating from El Cajon Valley High School and has once again returned home to pursue building a tradition with Miramar College athletics. Tami has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Redlands in Redlands, CA and an MS Ed in Exercise Physiology with Adult Fitness, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine from the University of Akron in Akron, OH.
After passing her NATA exam she spent a year working at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK primarily working with men’s and women’s soccer and softball and teaching two courses in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. During her time there her focus was not only on working with her teams but also with gaining the knowledge to start the path to take on an athletic training room of her own. Her focus at NSU was on the billing and management of current and past insurance claims.
When her contract was up she once again moved home to California where she was hired at Whittier College in Whittier, CA. She started as the Assistant Athletic Trainer and Professor in the Kinesiology Department and worked her way up to take on the entire program of 21 Division III collegiate sports including football and men’s lacrosse. While there she was able to utilize her business background to grow the athletic training room to conform to the host of new challenges being presented.
When not busy at the college Tami works with the United Spirit Association working as a certified athletic trainer at their many summer camps and competitions that are held throughout the year. She has also been fortunate enough to spend some time on the field with two San Diego semi-professional women’s football teams and a handful of professional men’s lacrosse games. She has also had the opportunity to work with two amazing local high school programs.
Tami currently resides in El Cajon and looks forward to her time with the student-athletes and staff at San Diego Miramar College.
Facilities
- Hours: 10 - 6 PM *
- ROOM J 202
- Located Next to our New State of the Art Fitness Center
* Could Change on Home Gamedays
Pictures
Team Physicians
Interested in Athletic Training?
The National Athletic Trainers Association website has educational and beneficial information for anyone interested in a career in athletic training.
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