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Athletic trainer joins Mercy Rehab staff
Mercy Health Center recently announced the addition of Justin Allphin, a certified athletic trainer, to the hospital's rehabilitation team.
As full-time athletic trainer, Allphin will focus on assessing, rehabilitating, treating and preventing injuries among athletes at Fort Scott Community College, and assist with sideline coverage at various Fort Scott High School events.
FSCC and Mercy Health Center recently partnered to meet the demand and serve both college and high school athletes with prevention techniques, diagnostic services and comprehensive rehabilitation.
According to a news release, Mercy believes the athletic trainer position fits well into the health center's sports medicine team and the position rounds out a robust offering to all athletes in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and surrounding areas.
Mercy conducted a nationwide search and found 17 candidates for the position with varying backgrounds and experiences. Candidates' experiences ranged from new graduates to 22 years of experience in the field.
Staff members at Mercy and FSCC interviewed all candidates.
"Justin brought a great combination of experiences, motivation and passion to carry out the Mercy mission," Mercy Director of Rehabilitation Services Eric Baldonado said. "Justin's character will be an excellent fit. FSCC was impressed with knowledge and experiences and I was impressed with a maturity level and passion to succeed within the Mercy team."
Although Allphin will be employed by Mercy Health Center, his office and treatment area will be located at FSCC. Athletes who need additional care will be referred to specialists as necessary.
Allphin received a bachelor's degree in exercise science with an emphasis in athletic training from Brigham Young University. He brings a vast array of experiences from BYU to Fort Scott. He served athletes in many sports at BYU including football, baseball, softball, women's soccer, and men's basketball.
In his role as athletic trainer at BYU, he gained an expert knowledge in bracing, physician extender services, evaluation and treatment of injuries, and assessment of the athlete beyond sports-related injuries. During his last year, he was an intern at a physician clinic which helped him gain experience in taking his services from Mercy to the community.
"The program at BYU provided me with exposure to all types of Division I sports," Allphin said. "While at BYU, I was able to assist the the head athletic trainer by extending services to the athletes, whether through the assessment of an injury or rehabilitation."
Allphin added, "It is rewarding to work with an athlete and see them return to perform to their potential."
Allphin chose to pursue a career in sports medicine after an injury in high school.
"I had aspirations to play college football, but after an injury I realized that would not be possible," he said. "An athletic trainer helped me not only with my physical rehab but also helped me work through the mental aspects of understanding my limitations as well. He inspired me to extend myself in the same manner to other athletes."
In 2006, proceeds from the Mercy Foundation Gala supported start-up costs for the Mercy Sports Medicine program which includes equipment, supplies, a vehicle and part-time salary. Since that time, the demand for sports medicine in the area has continued to grow, officials said.
"This is a terrific new partnership between FSCC and Mercy Health Center and hopefully it will positively impact FSCC and FSHS for years to come," FSCC Athletic Director J.D. Ettore said. "FSCC is thrilled to have Justin on our team. He showed early on his first class skills as a trainer but he also brings a level of commitment and energy that are essential to be successful in this role."
Allphin and his wife, Jenny, were raised in Southwest Missouri and have a 5-month-old son, Austin. The family now lives in Fort Scott.
"We are excited to become part of this community," Justin said. "We love the small town feel of Fort Scott and we look forward to using our talents to serve the community."
Through FSCC and the Mercy/FSCC Sports Medicine Departments, scholarships can be offered to students who would like to be student trainers. Anyone who is willing to work hard, be around excellent athletic programs and has an interest in a medical-related profession, may contact FSCC or Mercy Rehab Department with regard to the possibility of participating in this scholarship opportunity.
For more information about the Mercy Sports Medicine program, contact Baldonado at (620) 223-7029.