BIOGRAPHY
An innovative professional, Dr. Rod Walters has enjoyed a storied career as a collegiate athletic trainer. A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Walters has long been active in the field of athletic training since his graduation from Appalachian State University in 1980, where he received his undergraduate and master's degrees. In 1988, Walters received his Doctor of Arts degree in Physical Education from Middle Tennessee State University. Walters was Head Athletic Trainer at Lenoir-Rhyne College (N.C.) for five years before joining the staff at Appalachian State. Following his work as Head Athletic Trainer at Appalachian State, Dr. Walters moved to the University of South Carolina, a member of the nation’s top athletic league in the Southeastern Conference, to take a similar position in 1990. While at the University of South Carolina Dr. Walters was elevated to the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine where he oversaw the health care and wellness for the university’s athletes.
A member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Dr. Walters served on their Board of Directors from 1997 to 2003. He received the NATA's Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer in 2003 and was inducted into the NATA's Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Walters has brought his expertise across the country with his athletic training seminars.
Dr. Walters’ accomplishments include:- Participant in the South Carolina Heart Association Electronic Defibrillator Task Force
- Consultant to the Appropriate Medical Coverage Task Force
- Numerous articles featured in such publications as the Journal of Athletic Training, American Journal of Sports Medicine and the Physician and Sportsmedicine periodicals
- Consultant to the Southeastern Conference regarding the pre-participation of the conference's football officials
- The development of several orthopaedic appliances including off-the-shelf braces for the elbow, and the Fortis, an ankle-foot orthosis for the troublesome "high ankle sprain.”
- Featured speaker at athletic training and sports medicine clinics both nationally and internationally
