This episode of Can You Hear Us Now, focuses on representation in sports medicine, specifically within athletic training careers. and how race, gender, and access shape who enters and succeeds in these roles. It explores the systematic barriers, stereotypes, and unequal opportunities that contribute to underrepresentation on the sidelines, and why diversity in this field is still limited. The episode features Marisa Scandole and Erin Dahlke, both experienced athletic trainers who provide insight from their professional backgrounds. They share perspectives on athlete care, injury prevention, and how important it is to build trust with athletes. Their experiences also highlight how representation in sports medicine impacts inclusion, communication, and the overall quality of care athletes receive. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of increasing diversity in athletic training and encourages listeners to realize how access and representation shape the sports industry.
Guests:
Erin Dahlke ATC, LAT is a certified athletic trainer at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with women’s volleyball and men’s lacrosse teams. She uses clinical skills to help athletes recover and return to the field. She is passionate about athlete connection and communication to better understand her athletes holistically. She often uses functional testing, evidence based practice, and functional rehabilitation to return athletes to play with confidence. Prior to UNC she worked with football and hockey programs that sparked her love of emergency medicine and quick decision making that came along with sports.
Marisa Scandole, MA, LAT, ATC, CIDN, is a certified athletic trainer with extensive experience in sports medicine, injury prevention, and athlete rehabilitation across both high school and Division I collegiate settings. She currently serves as the Athletic Trainer at Durham Academy, where she provides comprehensive medical care for student-athletes, oversees concussion management, and integrates advanced techniques such as dry needling to support recovery and performance.
Prior to this role, Marisa worked at San José State University as an Associate Athletic Trainer for Division I football and women’s tennis, where she coordinated medical care, mentored athletic training students, and helped streamline sports medicine operations. Marisa is passionate about evidence-based practice, athlete safety, and optimizing return-to-play outcomes. She earned her master’s degree in Kinesiology from San José State University and her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of South Carolina.