Doug Quon, MAT, ATC, PES

NFL Washington Redskins, Washington, D.C. Health Professions Graduate: 2012

After dislocating his shoulder in a wave runner accident in college, Doug Quon, MAT, ATC, PES, a self-described, injury-prone athlete, opened his eyes to the world of sports medicine through his physical therapy sessions.

“It turns out that getting hurt frequently helped me have a good background (in sports medicine): understanding what injuries were, what it took to get back from there and understanding, from a patient’s point of view, what they have to go through to get back to regular activity.”

After interning with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Quon has now been with the Washington Redskins for six years. He works 60 to 80 hours a week throughout the season and 90 to 100 during training camp, which doesn’t leave Quon much time outside of work beyond recreational cycling.

And while he loves his job, he said it’s not one he wants to be in the spotlight for — despite being part of the NFL’s 2019 Athletic Training Staff of the Year. “It’s weird,” he said. “A lot of people are like, ‘I saw you on the field; that is so cool seeing you on TV.’ It’s not good when you see me on TV because usually that means someone got hurt, so it’s kind of bittersweet. But we’re on the field for a reason: to try and make a difference.”

-Glenys Young