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Recognizing the Future of Athletic Training

The 2026 Henry Schein Medical Athletics & Schools Rising Star Award honors emerging Athletic Trainers who are already shaping the future of Sports Medicine. Designed for recent graduates with one to five years of experience, this award spotlights professionals whose impact, leadership, and drive set them apart early in their careers.

Each year, the Henry Schein Medical Athletics & Schools Recognition Committee selects outstanding candidates who exemplify excellence, growth, and forward momentum in Athletic Training.

Meet your 2026 Rising Star Finalists

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Abby Robinson

 

MS, ATC, CES
Athletic Trainer
Westminster High School | California

Abby Robinson is expanding access to healthcare by bringing high-level sports medicine practices into an often-underserved high school setting. She recognized gaps in the foundational infrastructure needed to safely support athletics, and in response, built a comprehensive sports medicine program, developing Emergency Action Plans, implementing environmental safety protocols (including heat, lightning, and air quality policies), and establishing systems for injury tracking, rehabilitation, and medical clearance. Abby also extends her impact through community health education. As a licensed Stop the Bleed instructor and soon-to-be CPR instructor, she is expanding access to life-saving training for students, staff, and the broader community.

Committed to advancing her clinical skillset, Abby earned her Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certification in her second year of practice, enhancing her ability to address movement dysfunction, prevent injury, and support long-term athlete health. Beyond clinical care, she founded a sports medicine internship program, which provides hands-on experience and mentorship to students interested in healthcare careers. In a community where access to higher education pathways can be limited, several participants have already gone on to pursue degrees in sports medicine and related fields.

 

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Notable Accomplishments:

  • Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) (earned in second year of practice)
  • Founder & Director, Westminster High School Sports Medicine Internship Program (3+ years) - Several students have gone on to pursue collegiate degrees in sports medicine and healthcare
  • Licensed Stop the Bleed Instructor CPR Instructor Certification (in progress)
  • Built and implemented full sports medicine infrastructure (EAPs, safety protocols, injury tracking systems)

Breyah Jones

 

M.Ed, M.S., ATC,LAT
Athletic Trainer
Atrium Health 

Breyah Jones is a trailblazer in athletic training whose career is defined by leadership, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to expanding access to care. Immediately after becoming certified, Breyah took on the role of Committee Chair for the District of Columbia Athletic Trainers’ Association (DCATA), where she helped launch the committee, establishing structure, driving engagement, and creating a foundation for future professionals to get involved. She now serves as the LGBTQ+ Committee Chair for the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA), where she continues to advocate for inclusivity, representation, and support within the profession.

As the first athletic trainer at Friendship Tech Prep, Breyah developed a fully functioning athletic training department capable of serving all student-athletes and their families. Recognizing financial barriers within the school community, Breyah secured grant funding to purchase critical medical equipment, including an AED and Kestrel device, and founded an athletic booster club to provide pregame meals for student-athletes. Her ability to identify gaps and mobilize resources has had a direct and lasting impact on athlete safety, health, and overall well-being. In addition to her work in the secondary school setting, Breyah served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Washington Prodigy Women’s Tackle Football Team, where she elevated the standard of care by advocating for expanded access to medical services and implementing stronger healthcare practices for the organization.

 

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Notable Achievements

  • Committee Chair, District of Columbia Athletic Trainers’ Association (DCATA)
  • LGBTQ+ Committee Chair, Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association (MAATA)
  • Founder, Athletic Training Department at Friendship Tech Prep (Washington, DC)
  • Secured grant funding for critical medical equipment (including AED and Kestrel device)
  • Founded Athletic Booster Club to support student-athlete nutrition (pregame meals)
  • Head Athletic Trainer, Washington Prodigy Women’s Tackle Football Team

Mary Catherine Lee

 

DAT, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer
Madison Healthplex Performance Center 

Mary Catherine Lee is an emerging leader in athletic training, seamlessly integrating clinical care, research, and professional service to advance both athlete health and the profession. Beyond her clinical responsibilities, she is deeply engaged in professional leadership. She serves as Chair of the Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association (MATA) Early Professionals Committee and represents her state on the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA) Early Professionals Committee, where she supports the development, engagement, and retention of early-career athletic trainers.

Mary Catherine’s passion for brain health and athlete safety is evident through her work in concussion management and research. Through her doctoral training, she is helping advance best practices in concussion care, including return-to-learn strategies and improved education for athletes, clinicians, and schools. She actively translates research into practical tools, developing concussion management resources that can be implemented in real-world secondary school settings. Mary Catherine also extends her impact through advocacy, serving on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Brain Injury Association, where she works to raise awareness and improve support for individuals affected by brain injuries.

 

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Notable Achievements

  • Chair, Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association (MATA) Early Professionals Committee
  • State Representative, Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA) Early Professionals Committee
  • Board Member, Mississippi Brain Injury Association
  • Doctoral research focused on concussion management and brain health, developing concussion management resources for secondary schools

Rising Star winner receives: 

 

 

$500 Henry Schein Merchandise Credit

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Plus prizes from Nexus Sports Medicine® and Hyperice®

About the Rising Star Award

Created in 2021, the annual award honors emerging athletic trainers with one to five years of experience in the sports medicine industry. It recognizes recently graduated athletic trainers in the US who have not yet reached a senior-level position but have a strong career trajectory with the potential for forward advancement and appointment at the highest levels of the profession.

View the Rising Star Award Guidelines

2025 Rising Star Winner

Ian Jeffer, Head Athletic Trainer at Desert Ridge High School!

"I feel blessed to have this opportunity and look forward to using this platform to continue advocating for my athletes, educating my students, and contributing to the growth of the athletic training profession. As an athletic trainer, I strive to serve others with respect and compassion, recognizing the challenges our athletes face and helping them to overcome them.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to Henry Schein Athletics and the sports medicine community for selecting me as the recipient of the 2025 Henry Schein Rising Star Award. I am truly humbled and grateful to be chosen from among so many incredible candidates. I am thankful for the chance to make a greater impact in this field and to be a faithful ambassador for this amazing profession."

- Ian Jeffer, Head Athletic Trainer at Desert Ridge High School

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