Future Students
Name: Davey S. Stamper
Hometown: Mt. Orab, Ohio
Major: Athletic Training
Class of 2022
Fun fact: My mom was fifty years old when I was born. I’m involved in the Honors program and in research in the Injury Biomechanics Research Center.
Career Path: Pre-med, Orthopedic Surgeon
Why did you choose your major?
I chose my major because of the strong focus on orthopedics, practical knowledge and clinical experience. I’ve been in HRS from the beginning; however, I started my first semester as a health sciences major before switching to athletic training, before the start of my second semester. Even though athletic training does not offer the path of least resistance to achieving my goals, I feel that the clinical experience, practical knowledge and coursework designed for a health care professional will be nothing but beneficial in helping me achieve my end goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
What advice would you give future students planning to pursue this major?
The best advice I could give to a student considering athletic training is to make sure that they are passionate about the program, prepared to make sacrifices and ready to be a professional in all aspects of the coursework. For those considering graduate school outside of obtaining a master’s degree in athletic training, the path is not easy. Working to include research experience, pre-requisite courses, campus organizations and other commitments alongside the athletic training curriculum can be cumbersome at times. With that being said, the athletic training program at Ohio State is among the best in the nation and undoubtedly prepares students to begin their careers as health care professionals or pursue higher education pathways.
What has been the most helpful resource(s) to you at Ohio State?
In my experience, the HRS advisors have been crucial to my success thus far. Whether it was stumbling through scheduling as a first semester student or planning coursework for my future semesters, my advisors were invaluable in providing advice, answering questions, and helping me plot my course to graduation and beyond. Once in the athletic training major, the faculty and staff proved to be just as wonderful. The small size of each graduating class really allows a student to establish a relationship with the faculty and staff outside of merely attending lectures and taking exams. The faculty and staff care about each student as a person as they do all that is possible to aid students on their specific pathway and mold them into outstanding professionals.
What are you doing as a student at Ohio State that you never imagined you’d be doing?
I never imagined myself gaining this type of clinical experience. As a senior in high school, and even first-year student at Ohio State, I had never imagined the experiences, professionalism and skills that I would gain through clinical experience. The hours spent in numerous athletic facilities on campus have been critical in becoming a young professional and preparing for a future as a health care professional.
Do you feel prepared for the future of your profession?
The athletic training program at Ohio State has consistently been among the best in the nation since its establishment. I feel without a shadow of a doubt that I am thoroughly prepared for the future of the profession or goals outside of athletic training. The faculty and staff are some of the most intelligent and wise people I have ever met. This combined with their knowledge of and experience in health care allows them to teach students the information and skills they will need at an extraordinarily high level. The large amount of clinical experience only helps to solidify knowledge and skillsets, as students incorporate everything they’ve learned into a real-world setting while under the guidance of an incredible health care team. For anyone considering a future in sports medicine, I fully believe there is no better place for them than the athletic training program at Ohio State.
What does “The future of health care begins here” mean to you?
The Ohio State University holds quite the reputation as a high-level research institution. When I hear, “the future of health care begins here” the first thing that comes to mind is knowledgeable faculty and staff utilizing the best equipment, research and methods available to mold the top health care professionals and researchers of the future.