CHESTER, Pa. – Widener head athletic trainer A.J. Duffy was recently interviewed and profiled for the Oct. 2023 issue of National Athletic Trainers' Association News Magazine (N.A.T.A.). The story covered his journey to becoming the organization's 16^th president.

Duffy, who is now the N.A.T.A.'s president-elect, is set to take over as president in June 2024. He will be sworn in at the Annual Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in New Orleans. In the meantime, he is shadowing Dr. Kathy Dieringer, the current N.A.T.A. president.

Duffy's interest in athletic training began while taking an athletic training class at Jackson Community College while still in high school. He would eventually work at the University of Michigan after he accompanied his teacher to a conference. At the conference, Duffy met future mentor Lindsy McLean, who was working at Michigan.

One of the next steps in Duffy's career was getting a phone call from Michigan Athletic Trainers' Society President Rich Ray. Duffy would get the position of state liaison officer and create the first directory of state associations for all 50 states.

After a stint as the exhibit chair of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association, he continued up the ranks, ranging from being on national committees, district treasurer, district director, and serving on the N.A.T.A. Board of Directors.

Duffy said there was always someone along the way to encourage him to take that next step. And perhaps the biggest one of all was from his wife, Monica, who encouraged him to run for N.A.T.A. president. Since he was the only person who ran for the position, Duffy is officially on his way to becoming the 16^th president N.A.T.A.

Duffy's goal as president is to "reach out and talk to as many people as possible," citing its importance to his perspective so both parties can have a voice and work together.

Additionally, he also has "AT2050" at the top of his list, a plan that looks ahead to how health care and education will look in 25 years.

Duffy has been on Widener's staff since 1990, providing Pride student-athletes with care for over 30 years. He was also the president of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society.

Duffy has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, a master's from the University of Arizona, and his Physical Therapy Certificate from Drexel University.

To read the entire profile, click the "NATA News Magazine" link at the top of this article.