Rod Walters, DA, ATC, SCAT

Walters received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degree from Appalachian State University. Upon graduation, he became a collegiate athletic trainer at Lenoir-Rhyne College. In 1985, he transitioned to his alma mater as Head Athletic Trainer and remained there until moving to the University of South Carolina in 1990. Rod coordinated the healthcare of student-athletes at these universities for 27 years. During the summers from 1984 to 1986, he began work on his Doctorate of Arts degree at Middle Tennessee State University and received it in 1988. In 2007 he transitioned to the consulting community providing consultations, education, and is an excellent resource to his clients.

Walters served on the National Athletic Trainers Association’s Board of Directors from 1997 to 2003. Prior to that, he was District Secretary where he represented the NATA’s members from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Rod served on many initiatives within NATA including the Membership Task Force, the College/University Athletic Trainers' Committee (2005-2007) and is currently a member of both the Professional Responsibility in Athletic Training Committee and the Hall of Fame’s Special Considerations Committee. He served NATA as the liaison to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine from 2003 to 2009 and also was liaison to the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics from 2003 to 2006.

The Maryland Board of Regents selected Walters as the lead investigator of the exertional heat stroke death of University of Maryland student-athlete, Jordan McNair. Walters acclaimed national media for the report and investigation. In 2019, Walters also worked on the Braeden Bradforth exertional heat stroke death investigation at Garden City Community College, in Garden City, Kansas.

Walters is very active in sports medicine providing program review and recommendations for best practices to clients from high schools to colleges and universities to professional sports. He has become a sought after expert for incidents in and around sports. His work includes review of Emergency Action Plans, concussion care, sudden cardiac death and general orthopedic injury. It can be said Rod is one of the leading experts specific to sports injury including concussions, sudden death, or exertional conditions. Walters provides concussion monitoring services to the Big 12 as he coordinates their Football Medical Observer program. Walters was the lead ATC Spotter for the 2019 Super Bowl and has served the NFL as an AT Spotter since 2013. Walters was asked to direct the University of Maryland’s inaugural Athletic Medicine Review Board and also serves on the University of Georgia Athletic Medicine Review Board.

Walters recently received recognition from the National Athletic Trainers Association for 50 years of membership. He was recognized as a Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer in 2003 and inducted into the NATA’s Hall of Fame in 2005. Walters is also a member of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association’s Hall of Fame. Walters received the 2011 Distinguished Athletic Training Alumni Award from his alma mater Middle Tennessee State University as the 2018 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award from the University of South Carolina. He is a member of the NATA’s Professional Responsibility in Athletic Training Committee. Through evidenced-based education courses, Walters offers seminars on a variety of topics including exertional heat stroke and Emergency Action Plans. His attendees range from high school athletic trainers to professional sports.

Walters is married to Susan Ferguson of Columbia, SC, and they have four children and nine grandchildren. The grandchildren affectionately refer to Walters as Doc. Walters enjoys woodworking in his free time.

Ron Courson, ATC, PT, SCS, NRAEMT, CSCS 

Ron Courson currently serves as Executive Associate Athletic Director – Sports Medicine with the University of Georgia Athletic Association.  He joined the University of Georgia in May of 1995, after serving four years as Director of Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining the Alabama staff in 1991, he served as an athletic trainer/physical therapist with Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his undergraduate degree in education/physical education from Samford University, where he played soccer and ran track and field.  Ron performed two years of graduate work at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and graduated with honors from the Medical College of Georgia in 1989 with a degree in physical therapy. He is a board certified clinical specialist in Sports Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Ron is additionally a nationally registered  advanced emergency medical technician as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Ron has been involved in many athletic training activities including work as an athletic trainer with the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle; 1987 World University Games in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He served as the chief athletic trainer for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials as well as the chief athletic trainer for track and field for the 1996 Olympic Games.

Active in his profession, Ron has served as a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports committee.  He is a past president of the Southeastern Conference Sports Medicine Committee as well as chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and NATA liaison to the American Football Coaches Association.  During his tenure at Alabama, he served as president of the Alabama Athletic Trainers’ Association and as chair of the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers. He served as a member of the D1A Athletic Directors Task Force on Student-Athlete Development. He currently serves on the NFL Health and Safety Committee. Ron was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Hall of Fame in 2011 and the NATA Hall of Fame in 2013.

Ron is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia, teaching in the athletic training education program. He serves as a clinical instructor teaching physical therapy students from schools throughout the country.  He is active in sports medicine research and education, having authored a number of professional papers and text chapters.  He has served as lead or co-author with the NATA on position papers for emergency preparation, exertional heat illness, management of sudden cardiac arrest, management of head and cervical spine injuries, MRSA, and medical time out.  Ron co-chaired the national Spine Injuries in Sport Group, developing evidence-based medicine protocols for pre-hospital care of the spine injured athlete.  He developed the nation’s first Athletic Medicine Review Board, which provides independent oversight for the athletic medicine program at Georgia. Ron presents frequently at regional and national sports medicine meetings. He has testified before Congress as well as the Knight Commission and served on the White House “Stop the Bleed” Hemorrhage Control National Education Initiative.

Ron is married to the former Eileen O'Connell of Waycross, Georgia. Eileen is a physical therapist who attended the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia. Ron and Eileen have four children, John, Anna, Luke and Will.

Ray Castle, PhD, LAT, ATC, NREMT

A native of St. Joseph, LA and a 1990 graduate of LSU, Castle has an extensive background in education, clinical practice, and professional service spanning over 32 years. Dr. Castle's clinical practice background has included experiences at the high school, college, and international (1996 Atlanta Olympic Games; USOC Sports Medicine Staff for 2003 Pan American Games; and 2004 US Women's Bobsled) levels, large-scale medical coverage and coordination, as well as extensive experience in emergency medicine. He received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University, where he began as an athletic training student.  Ray received his Master of Science and his Doctor of Philosophy in Human Performance and Recreation from The University of Southern Mississippi. Additionally, Ray is a nationally registered emergency medical technician (NREMT) as well as an EMS Instructor through the Louisiana State Bureau of EMS.

Castle is nationally known and recognized for his skills and contributions to advancing the athletic training profession and advocacy for sports health and safety through 200+ presentations, research projects, and publications.  He has served in various leadership roles in state, regional, and national organizations, including a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Education Council (2004-2008), Board Commissioner on the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) from 2011-2017, and Vice-President of the Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association (2013-2016). Ray is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including National Athletic Trainers' Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (MDAT) in 2017, induction into the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2014, and Louisiana Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2019.

After a 20-year stay at LSU where he was Professor and Athletic Training Program Director, Castle transitioned in August 2022 to devote his energy and passion to Action Medicine Consultants, LLC, as Owner and Chief Medical Officer since 2012. His company provides sports medicine event coordination; emergency medicine and response training; EAP development and audits for organizations; and continuing education courses. One of his most recent activities was serving as a consultant for the Louisiana High School Athletics Association in the development and implementation of its Pre-Game Administrative Conference (PAC), or “medical time-out” program. He currently serves as medical coordinator for over 20 large-scale events in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Ray is married to the former Katherine Vanduzee of Baton Rouge, LA. Katherine is an administrative assistant who attended LSU.

David Heath, DO, DAT, ATC, FAAEM, FACEP, FACOEP

Dr. David Heath is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician, EMS Medical Director and Adjunct Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine for the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM). Prior to his current position, he was a hospital administrator serving as Department Chairman of Emergency Medicine and Facility Medical Director.

Dr. Heath was residency-trained in Emergency Medicine by the esteemed Cleveland Clinic Health System in Northeast Ohio (named #2 World's Best Hospital 2022 by Newsweek) serving as a Chief Resident and Faculty for the Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. During residency training, he was twice recognized as Outstanding Resident Faculty of the Year. As a senior resident, he was nationally recognized as the 2014 American Osteopathic Foundation Outstanding Resident of the Year.

He completed undergraduate education at Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) with dual majors in Athletic Training and Physical Education. While an undergraduate student, he was also a four-year member of the NCAA Division II LMU golf team. Dr. Heath has been recognized by the University with a number of awards including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, Young Alumnus of the Year and inductee into the LMU Professional Hall of Fame.

He returned to his alma mater to attend medical school at LMU-DCOM graduating as a member of the Inaugural Class. He held notable positions establishing himself as an effective leader including Inaugural Class President, SGA Vice-President and Alumni Association President.

In addition, Dr. Heath has continued his athletic training education with a second doctoral degree in Athletic Training (DAT) from A.T. Still University. He is the only individual in America to hold both DO and DAT degrees. Dr. Heath also earned a Master of Science (MS) degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with an Advanced Athletic Training Concentration.

For over 20 years, he has maintained the BOC Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) credential amassing considerable clinical experience in a number of practice environments including NCAA Division I/II athletics, secondary schools, clinical outreach and sports medicine clinic rehabilitation. Overall, Dr. Heath is a respected clinician, leader, speaker and medical educator with a strong commitment to both the emergency medicine and athletic training professions.

Jeremy Gsell, ATC
Jeremy Gsell is in his 18th season as an athletic trainer for the Alabama football program and his sixth as director of rehabilitation services.

In his primary role at Alabama, Gsell is charged with facilitating the long-term injury and post-surgical care and rehabilitation for all football student-athletes. This includes serving as the direct liaison to the Crimson Tide’s weight room and team physicians.

He is the direct supervisor to the assistant football athletic trainers Matt Gorby and Paige Ruden as well as performance analyst Clay Keith.

Prior to his arrival at Alabama, Gsell served as an athletic trainer at the University of Southern Mississippi for two seasons (2005 & 2006) where he was the Golden Eagles’ primary trainer for men’s basketball while assisting with football.

His first stint at Alabama came as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the Crimson Tide football program from 2003-05. During his time at the Capstone, Gsell completed his master’s degree in sports management in 2005.

Gsell spent a year interning with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts in 2002-03 where he covered practices, workouts and games while also overseeing inventory management. He assisted with the Colt’s daily rehab and athlete treatment.

He is regular speaker at athletic training conferences, including the SEC Athletic Trainers Association, the Alabama state conferences for ALATA, ASMI and The University of Alabama Athletic Training Program. He serves as an adjunct professor at Alabama, teaching lab classes for principles of rehabilitation and reconditioning in athletic training.

Gsell is a 2002 graduate of Salisbury University with a degree in physical education, concentrating in athletic training.

A native of Rock Hall, Md., Gsell and his wife Dana have one son, Brayden.

David C. Fleshman, Attorney

Ed Strapp, TP-C/FP-C, NRP, LATC, ATC 

Ed is currently a Trooper & Flight Paramedic with the Maryland State Police but maintains his athletic training certification and is still very active with the US Ski and Snowboard teams as well as providing event coverage for local tournaments and games and presenting on emergency care for athletic trainers around the country. Ed holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (1999) in Exercise Science/Athletic Training and a Bachelors’ Degree from the University of Pittsburgh (’97) in Physical Education, Exercise, and Sports Science/Athletic Training. Ed has been certified for 20+ years and has worked in a wide variety of settings from High School and College programs to elite summer leagues and has been traveling around the world with the Ski and Snowboard Teams.  

The Acute care of patients has always been his passion throughout Ed’s career working in EMS, Athletic Training, and even as a ski patroller at several mountains. Ed has been an EMT-Basic since 1997 and became a Paramedic in 2010. Ed has been working full-time in EMS since 2010. In addition to his athletic training certification, Ed also holds a flight paramedic certification and tactical paramedic certification.