David Draper EdD, ATC, FNATA

 

David O. Draper is a prolific scholar and Professor at Brigham Young University who has made lasting contributions to the profession of athletic training through his clinical practice, research, teaching and student mentoring. Dr. Draper has amassed an impressive body of work that includes over 100-refereed publications, 300 presentations and seminars, and a textbook that is widely used in athletic training education. Dr. Draper has been duly rewarded for his service and scholarship many times over receiving several awards including the 2001 William Clancy Distinguished Medal of Honor for Research and being named a Fellow of the National Athletic Trainers Association (FNATA) in 2009. Dr. Draper is widely regarded as a foremost expert on the theory and application of therapeutic modalities in athletic training clinical practice.

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David Draper received his Bachelor of Science in Health Education from Utah State in 1981, his Master of Science in Athletic Training from Brigham Young in 1983, and his Doctor of Education in Leadership and Educational Policy Studies in 1988 from Northern Illinois University. While at Northern Illinois, David taught both PE and athletic training courses (1983-1985). When he was at Illinois State, David served as an assistant professor teaching athletic training courses (1986-88) and was the head athletic trainer at Illinois Wesleyan (1988-92). Since joining the faculty at Brigham Young University in 1992, David has been active in both teaching athletic training students and research. David is a NATA Hall of Fame inductee (2014), RMATA Hall of Fame inductee (2014), NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (2009), Fellow of the NATA (2009), RMATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer (2008), Utah Athletic Trainers’ Association Educator of the Year (2005), and NATA Medal of Honor Recipient (2001). When asked how he got into the athletic training profession, David states that “in 1976 to 1978, I was a distance runner for Rick’s College in Rexburg, Idaho. I tore my meniscus and was nursed back to health by the head athletic trainer. The rest is history.” David has been married to Nancy for almost 40 years and have five children and eight grandchildren.