Private Event for ACC Member Institutions/ACC Staff in the Health and Safety Areas and Administrative Areas

This includes the following:

Athletic Administrators, Athletic Performance/Strength& Conditioning Professionals, Athletic Trainers, Mental Health Providers, Physicians, Physical Therapists, Registered Dietitians, and more

This course is sponsored by the ACC Health & Safety Committee and Cal Athletics.

IF YOU WANT CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT:

1. Complete the attendance log for each session attended!

2. Complete the program evaluation for each session attended!

3. Complete the program quiz for each session attended!

Links are provided below for each session below.

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

For questions or concerns, email continuingeducation@berkeley.edu, and GO ACC!

• This program is eligible for a maximum of 5.75 Category A CEUs (NATABOC) and 3.5 CUEs for CSCCa.  

• NSCA approval is still pending prior approval as of May 8th, 2025

• Prior approval of CPEUs by CDR for live activities is not required if the activity meets Core Content Criteria and the live Activity Type definition (Activity Type 173 CDR CPEU Eligible Live definition)

• For all attendees:  Each attendee must determine which, if any, sessions will meet the professional standards set by your accrediting body to submit for CME/CEUs and only declare units for the sessions attended.  

Location:                          Westin Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

Fee:                                      NO FEE

Cancellation:                 No fee to cancel

Registration:                  Via ACC Office, or continuingeducation@berkeley.edu

ACC BOX DRIVE TO REVIEW ALL SLIDE DECKS

Speaker Bio:  

Dr. Katie Nichols became the Director of Mental Performance for Louisville Athletics in fall of 2022. Dr. Nichols oversees a team of mental performance coaches providing performance enhancement services to athletes, coaches, and support staff in a comprehensive and integrated sport psychology delivery model. Her work is grounded in a holistic approach to performance enhancement and personal development. Nichols has served in various roles in Division I college athletics for the past 14 years. She earned her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with focus in Career and Sport Psychology in 2014 and her doctoral degree in Sport Psychology Performance in 2017 from the University of Missouri. Nichols was awarded the 2017 Doctoral Student Practice Award from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Nichols earned bachelors’ degrees in Psychology and Sport Science from the University of Kansas in 2011.

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Kara Talley has been a member of the University of Louisville Athletics staff since 2016. As of September 2024, she has served as an Athletic Program Therapist, where she plays a key role in supporting the mental health and overall well-being of student-athletes. In her current role, Kara provides patient-centered care, including assessment, case management, crisis intervention, and therapeutic services for student-athletes experiencing mental health concerns. She collaborates closely with coaches, teams, support staff, and healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive, integrated care.  Before transitioning into her current position, she was the Associate Director of Academic Services, supporting student-athletes in achieving academic success and personal growth. A proud three-time graduate of the University of Louisville, Talley holds a BS in English and Communication, Master of Science in Sport Administration and a Master of Science in Social Work. She became a Certified Social Worker (CSW) in 2023. Her combined expertise in sport, academics, and mental health care reflects a deep commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes, both on and off the field.

Objectives:

• What is mental heath and mental performance? Attendees will understand and be able to identify key similarities and distinct differences, as well as department structure.

• Attendees will understand how the Mental Health and Performance teams work together and facilitate collaborative efforts within the athletics department and how to implement these teams.

• Attendees will learn and be able to discuss comprehensive, integrated ways mental health and mental performance staff members collaborate with fellow health and performance support staff, engage with community partners and athletics department as a whole.  Attendees will walk away with ideas on how to further collaborate with their own mental health and mental performance staff to optimize care

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Mike Mangano is a Certified Athletic Trainer with extensive experience in collegiate and professional sports. Currently serving as an Associate Athletic Trainer at Syracuse University with the Men's Basketball Program, he specializes in injury prevention techniques, performance optimization & education of student-athletes. Mike holds a Masters Degree in Exercise Science from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s in Athletic Training from SUNY Cortland, complemented by multiple professional certifications in performance enhancement, corrective exercise, sport science initiatives, and manual therapy techniques.

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to discuss risk factors and causes

• Attendees will be able to recognize early symptoms and red flags

• Attendees will be able to demonstrate understanding of when and how to refer for medical evaluation

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Alex Wendler joined Florida State University in 2023 as an assistant athletic trainer, supporting the football program and serving as an adjunct professor in the undergraduate Athletic Training Program. He previously spent two seasons as an assistant athletic trainer at Eastern Michigan University, working with football and women’s tennis. Prior to that, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Northern Illinois University, assisting with football and women’s track and field. Wendler began his career as a student athletic trainer at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and gained NFL experience as a summer intern with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. He earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (2019) and a master’s in sport management from Northern Illinois University (2021). Wendler holds certifications in Blood Flow Restriction (BFR), Dry Needling and IV Access and Administration; and is a member of the National Athletic Training Association (NATA). 

Objectives:

• After attending, attendees will be able to demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the surgical intervention and return-to-play protocol for a common football injury, while also exploring the unique surgical approach to treating AC joint sprains.

• After attending, attendees will be equipped to articulate the challenges and success rates associated with surgical reconstruction of the AC joint, and effectively communicate these factors to a student-athlete experiencing a similar injury.

• After attending, attendees will possess and be able to discuss the knowledge needed in order to develop and implement a tailored return-to-play protocol for athletes recovering from AC joint reconstruction surgery.

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Tyson Kudrna is a physical therapist who is currently the Division 1 PT Fellow at Wake Forest University.  Prior to this, he completed the sports physical therapy residency at the University of Utah.  He is certified as a Sports Certified Specialist (SCS) in Physical therapy, and Strength and Conditioning coach with the NSCA.  He is passionate about post-surgical recovery, complex ankle/foot pathologies, and utilizing sports science to accelerate and improve therapy outcomes. He has a goal of being a full-time PT in Division 1 athletics or a professional sports setting.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and his daughter, hunting and fishing, and playing sports in his free time. 

Objectives:

• Listeners will be able to apply bone loading concepts to their own practice and be able to effectively dose and modify programs based on response of the athlete.

• Listeners will be able to utilize and recommend nutrition consultation for appropriate recommendations on early supplementation to promote bone healing properties.

• Listeners will be able to apply strength and conditioning principles throughout the post operative phases to safely and effectively maintain cardiovascular health and relative strength measures.

• Listeners will be able to apply sports science concepts to load monitoring progression back to pre injury practice/game normatives.

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Ada Weiss joined Pitt football in 2022 as an athletic trainer, providing the Panthers with a highly experienced sports medicine professional.  Prior to her Pitt arrival, Weiss was an athletic trainer at the University of Wisconsin, her alma mater, over the 2021-22 academic year.  From 2015-21, Weiss was an athletic trainer at Wake Forest University. She worked with the Demon Deacons’ field hockey program her initial year (2015) before working with the football program from 2016-20.  Weiss was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the University of Virginia (2014-15). She worked with the Cavaliers’ cross country and golf programs while completing a master’s degree in kinesiology-athletic training.  Weiss earned her bachelor’s degree in 2013 from the University of Wisconsin in athletic training. She was an undergraduate student athletic trainer for the Badgers football program.  Weiss is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to demonstrate that they can recognize when activation of the emergency action plan is warranted.

• Attendees will be able to define Conversion Disorder and recognize its presentation

• Attendees will be able to develop a plan for rehabilitation and organization of a multi-disciplinary team approach to post-hospital care.

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Deena Casiero is currently the NCAA chief medical officer and senior vice president of the Sport Science Institute. She is a member of the senior staff and serves as a direct advisor on health and safety matters to the NCAA president, NCAA leadership and NCAA members. She oversees the operation and management of the Sport Science Institute and works collaboratively with the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.  Prior to joining the NCAA, she served as the senior associate athletic director for sports medicine and head team physician at UConn. Prior to that, she was the head team physician and medical director at Hofstra, served as the tournament physician and director of player medical services for the U.S. Open Tennis Championships and worked as the assistant team physician for the NHL’s New York Islanders.

Objectives:

• Learn about the NCAA’s new chief medical officer, Dr. Deena Casiero, and her vision for supporting the health, safety, and performance of student-athletes.

• Attendees will review and be able to discuss ongoing work of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, including student-athlete healthcare administration (including athletic training workforce issues), mental health, the Injury Surveillance Program, performance technologies, and more.

• Attendees will be able to demonstrate knowledge of updated educational resources, including the SSI Spotlight, the Sports Medicine Handbook, information about sickle cell solubility testing, and more.

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Jeff Ruser, CMPC, is a Licensed Counseling & Sport Psychologist and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® embedded in Athletics at the University of Notre Dame.  In this role, he has the privilege of supporting 750 student-athletes across 26 sports while contributing to dynamic sport psychology and sports performance departments. Dr. Ruser is also the Founder and Lead Consultant of Ruser Performance and Wellness, LLC, where he provides individual and organizational performance psychology services. He delivers educational presentations and training to high school and collegiate athletic departments as well as professional sports leagues.  As a published researcher, Dr. Ruser has explored social media use in collegiate sports, positive psychology, and athlete burnout. He was awarded the NCAA Graduate Student Research Grant and an Association for Applied Sport Psychology Conference Travel Award to support his dissertation research, Exploring the Emotional, Psychological, and Social Impacts of Social Media on Highly Visible Student-Athletes in the NIL Era.  He remains actively engaged in research related to sport psychology, sports performance, and collegiate athletics.  Prior to professional practice, Dr. Ruser earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a Ph.D. minor in Sport & Performance Psychology from Indiana University.

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to critically analyze the mental health and sports performance impacts of social media use and cyberbullying, in particular.

• Attendees will be able to apply evidence-based psychoeducation and interventions to enhance athlete health, well-being, and performance.

• Attendees will be able to identify ways to decrease harm and adverse online experiences of student-athletes.

• Attendees will be able to identify and support student-athletes who may be at greater risk for experiencing online cyberbullying, harassment, and/or abuse.

• Attendees will be able to identify and discuss future directions for furthering research, education, and evidence-based practice.

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Len Reeves is in his 23rd year as team physician for Clemson University. His career at Clemson began, through, during his undergraduate years when he served as a student athletic trainer. He graduated summa cum laude from Clemson University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. He then earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Dr. Reeves completed his residency in Family Practice at the Anderson Area Medical Center and also served as Chief Resident. He then went on to complete a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Eastern Oklahoma Orthopaedic Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Dr. Reeves also has a private practice with Prisma Blue Ridge Orthopedics. He has been appointed as a clinical instructor for the AnMed Health Family Practice Residency Program and is also the assistant director of their primary care sports medicine fellowship.  Dr. Reeves is board-certified by the American Board of Family Practice and has a certificate of added qualification in Primary Care Sports Medicine. He is a member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Family Practice, and the South Carolina Medical Association.

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to define and describe types of pneumothorax

• Attendees will be able to discuss appropriate imaging options for pneumothorax

• Attendees will be able to describe basic treatment options for pneumothorax in the athletic context

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Education:  Undergraduate Degree from the University of Florida. Masters Degree from Virginia Tech

Currently serving  as:  Interim Director of Sports Medicine at Virginia Tech and Head Football Athletic Trainer.

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to discuss when to include pneumomediastinum in the differential diagnosis for patients with these signs and symptoms.

• Attendees will be able to discuss and better understand flight restrictions for patients with pneumomediastinum.

• Attendees will be able to understand and discuss potential return to play timelines for patients with pneumomediastinum.

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Justin Smith joined NC State as the Head Football Athletic Trainer prior to the 2014 season. In his role, he manages all sports medicine operations for the Wolfpack football program.  A native of Honea Path, South Carolina, he began his athletic training career at The University of Alabama, where he earned both Bachelor's (B.S. - biology, 1998) and Master's (M.A. - Health Studies, 2002) degrees.  Upon graduation from Alabama, Smith assumed the role of Head Athletic Trainer at Miles College, an NCAA Division II institution in Birmingham, Alabama, providing care, prevention and rehabilitation of athletic injuries for the Golden Bears' 11 varsity sports.  After three years at Miles (2003-06), Smith took over as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, spending two seasons (2006-07) with the Dusseldorf, Germany-based American football club. During the offseason, he returned to Alabama to serve as head athletic trainer at Pelham High School.  Smith most recently served seven seasons as the Head Football Athletic Trainer at Appalachian State, where he coordinated the sports medicine health care for the Mountainers.

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the Pathophysiology and Risk Factors of Complex Concussions

• Attendees will be able to discuss how to develop a Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Assessment Approach

• Attendees will be able to implement Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play Protocols

• Attendees will be able to address Long-Term Health Considerations and Ethical Decision-Making

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz 

Speaker Bio:

Pete Galasso joined the University of Miami in June 2023 as a sports physical therapy resident, working primarily with the Hurricanes football team.  Prior to his arrival in Coral Gables, Galasso spent four years at the University of Florida working in various roles. Most recently, Galasso practiced as a sports physical therapist at the University of Florida’s Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute. In addition, he also served as an adjunct faculty instructor in UF’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Galasso is residency-trained in orthopaedics, graduating from the University of Florida Health Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency in 2021.  Galasso is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (2022) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties, a Level 1 Weightlifting Coach through USA Weightlifting (2022), and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (2020). He is also certified in blood flow restriction training and certified in dry needling.  Galasso has a strong background in strength and conditioning, including previous stops as a volunteer strength coach for the University of Miami Men’s Basketball Team (2022-2023) and the University of Florida Women’s Basketball Team (2021-2022).  Pete is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received his B.S. in Allied Health in 2015. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2019 from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Galasso later received his M.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology with a concentration in Human Performance from the University of Florida in 2023.

Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to explain the influence of elevated core body temperatures on autonomic nervous system function

• Attendees will be able to determine the effects of a cooling break on HRV

• Attendees will be able to identify load reduction strategies to mitigate performance decline

Links to:

LINKS WILL CLOSE 5/16, 5pm Pacific

NO RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT TIME!

Attendance Log

Program Evaluation

Continuing Education Quiz