6 minute read
College of Health Sciences
Master’s in Sports Science & Rehabilitation Levels Up with New Program Director, Degree Enhancements
The Master of Science in Sports Science & Rehabilitation (MS-SSR) is undergoing a massive transformation. Not only is the program under new guidance, but it will also soon offer eight areas of concentration, or tracks, to better address student interests and goals.
MS-SSR Program Director Dr. Brittany Ramirez
“The graduates of this program are our future health care workers, so my goal is to provide them with the best opportunities to learn and expand their skill sets,” said Program Director Brittany Ramirez, DC (’15), MS (’18), LAT, ATC, CCSP® .
Dr. Ramirez, herself a 2018 graduate of the program, took over as program director in November of 2020 and immediately got to work on her vision for it. “The benefit of having gone through this program as a student first is that I know what I found helpful and what could be improved,” she said. “While the core courses are the same for everyone, I believe that adding these specific areas of concentration—such as sports chiropractic, sports nutrition, or wellness and fitness—will take the guesswork out of the process for students wanting to hone in on various areas of expertise for their elective courses.”
In addition to the new concentrations, Dr. Ramirez is working with subject matter experts to develop 35 new courses, with the goal of expanding the opportunities for certifications as well as knowledge. For example, the Sports Emergency Care course and lab, open to all program students, have been updated and help prepare students for working on the sidelines of athletic games. The course and the lab bring practical knowledge in wound care, splinting, taping, spine boarding, and helmet removal and concussion assessment, among others.
“We brought Brianna Kraft, a top athletic trainer, to advise us on how to revamp this course to maximize the information provided. It is a unique and useful course for all MS-SSR students,” said Dr. Ramirez.
The MS-SSR program is online, with the exception of a lab and hands-on internship, which the student can complete locally.
Growing up an athlete in North Carolina, Dr. Ramirez obtained a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from High Point University. Her plan was to continue her education as a physician’s assistant, but that changed when she fell in love with the chiropractic profession while working in a chiropractor’s office. Following graduation from Logan in 2015, Dr. Ramirez went into private practice in Columbia, Missouri. In 2016, she took a position with the University of MissouriColumbia (Mizzou) Athletics as assistant athletic trainer. Just a few months later, she accepted a position with Logan University as the assistant director of human performance at Mizzou and concurrently began working on her MS-SSR degree online at Logan.
• Sports Chiropractic • Sports Nutrition • Mental Performance
• Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention • Wellness Coaching • Golf Performance
• Wellness and Fitness
• Sports Science
Currently, she works part-time at her chiropractic practice, and she and her husband serve as team chiropractors for Mizzou Athletics. In fact, Dr. Ramirez is the only female team chiropractor for an SEC football team. Her husband, Jose Ramirez, DC (’09), MS (’18), does most of the travel with the football team and is also a Logan graduate. The couple met before Dr. Jose Ramirez took a job at Mizzou and now live in Columbia with their 1-year-old daughter, Isabela.
As evidence of her passion for sports medicine education, Dr. Ramirez has been selected to serve as a peer reviewer for the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education (CASCE). In this position, which holds a 3-year term, Dr. Ramirez will harness her expertise and experience to review strength and conditioning education programs as a part of their applications for accreditation. Additionally, she recently participated in the exclusive NCAA Women Leaders in College Sports Institute for Administrative Advancement program, a premier leadership development program for women in intercollegiate athletics administration. Each year, only 75-80 women are invited to participate, and while this year’s event was virtual, the personal and professional development was unparalleled.
“The three and a half days we spent learning from women who have excelled in the field of athletics administration was invaluable,” said Dr. Ramirez. “The presentations consisted of resources and insights to help us excel and progress our careers within collegiate athletics, and I was able to connect with women from all over the country in multiple roles.”
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New Master of Science in Strength & Conditioning Coming Summer 2022
High-performing athletes deserve the most qualified, well-rounded athletic performance coaches. As such, Logan’s one-year, online Master of Science in Strength & Conditioning program will feature a science-based, evidence-informed curriculum and prepare graduates to sit for the Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist exam—the gold standard for athletic performance. To develop the program and courses, Dr. Ramirez is working alongside industry-leading coaches in athletic performance, including:
PAT IVEY, PHD, RCCC, CSCS, MSCC is creating the Program Organization, Administration and Oversight course, which will be tailored for those in the athletic performance field to learn principles of facility layout and design, policies, procedures, emergency planning and assessment of athletes and staff.
With more than 20 years of experience in athletic performance, Dr. Ivey is the associate athletic director for student athlete health and performance at the University of Louisville. Previously, he has worked at Arkansas State University and Mizzou, where he also played football and ran track. After graduation, he played in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers. He is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and an accomplished speaker on sports performance.
SCOTT BIRD, CSCS, RSCC*E is creating the program’s internship and field experience courses, which offer hands-on opportunities to immerse students in an athletic performance setting such as in private gyms or high school, collegiate and professional athletics. Scott has more than 30 years of experience implementing strength and conditioning programs for multiple sports and has participated in 22 championship and bowl experiences. He has worked at Mizzou, Kansas State University, University of Houston, Texas Tech University and The Ohio State University, among others, and is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach, and a Mental Performance Mastery Certified Coach.
BRYAN MANN, PHD, CSCS*D, RSCC*D, TSAC-F,
SCCC will serve as a subject matter expert for Logan University, sharing insight and expertise into various aspects of strength and conditioning including velocitybased training. Dr. Mann has experience working with many different sports teams and currently serves an assistant professor of kinesiology & sport sciences at the University of Miami.
Dr. Pat Ivey
Scott Bird
Dr. Bryan Mann With multiple degree concentrations available, Logan’s Master of Science in Sports Science & Rehabilitation program is essential for preparing the most qualified professionals committed to recovery and performance.
