[su_spacer size=”20″] The College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS) has announced that University of Georgia Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Ron Courson, ATC, PT, will receive the 2015 Jack Weakley CATS Service Award.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Over the years, Courson’s leadership and participation on task forces and committees have helped develop guidelines that have elevated the role of college athletic trainers in response to emergency situations as well as prevention of catastrophic injuries.  His involvement has unquestionably made a profound impact on improving the health and safety of student-athletes.
[su[su_spacer size=”40″] “Few have effected a true athlete protective environment in sport Ron has,” said Scott Anderson, CATS president. “Unknown and unknowing football players have and will owe their life and their health to Ron Courson.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Courson served as Chair for the NATA/AFCA Spearing in Football Task Force. Courson continued to serve as Chair for the Inter-Association Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletics. He was a member of the Inter-Association Task Force that produced Exertional Heat Illness guidelines and was on the team that developed the Appropriate Medical Coverage for Intercollegiate Athletics recommendations. In addition, he has participated on the writing teams for NATA position statements regarding: Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletics, Emergency Preparation in Athletics, Management of the Spine Injured Athlete and Preventing Sudden Death in Sport. Most recently, he participated in the 2014 Football Safety Summit.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Courson served as chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers’ Committee of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He was a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Committee and the NCAA Life and Work Balance Task Force. Additionally, Courson served as the president of the SEC Sports Medicine Committee.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “I am truly honored and humbled to receive the Jack Weakley CATS Service Award from the College Athletic Trainers’ Society,” Courson said. “CATS has contributed greatly to the profession of athletic training and to receive an award named for Jack, whom I have known for years and who has represented our profession so well, means a great deal to me.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Courson will be honored in front of his peers at the 2015 College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS) Spring Symposium held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday, May 14.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Jack Weakley CATS Service Award is awarded to the individual who has made significant contributions to the profession of college athletic training and shown support for the college athletic trainer, “helping those who help others”.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Photo credit: Sean Taylor