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Breathe out unwanted thoughts with your next exhale and re- focus your attention instantly on what is important right now, at this moment.” Choosing the Path for You As you’ve seen throughout this book, sports medicine professionals help athletes of all sorts in a variety of ways. While the educational requirements can be tough, the experts across the various fields covered here all stress how great the rewards are. Physical therapist Keith Steigbigel said PTs taking care of injured people is an “invaluable skill.” Getting the job you want in the field, said athletic trainer Bob Howard, means you have to “go full steam. Do every little extra to make yourself good.” For Dr. Sean Richardson, a career in his field means having a desire, getting the right education, and making connections with people in the field. Then satisfaction will come, as he told Careers in Psychology, after you help an athlete make the mental changes that lead to a “change on the field and [they] become even better in sports…” Sports medicine is a profession for people who love the thrill of competition and want to help others.

60 C areers O ff T he F ield • Health Careers in Sports