RBR Athletic Trainer Honored with National Athletic Trainers Asso

Red Bank Regional (RBR) athletic trainer Christina Emrich, Tinton Falls, was recently notified that she is a recipient of this year’s Athletic Trainer Service Award given by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). She will receive her award at the organization’s convention in June in New Orleans.

In a letter from the NATA Honors and Awards Committee, Ms. Emrich was told “she was selected for this prestigious national award due to her exceptional contributions to the profession and the Association.”

Ms. Emrich has served as the Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey President (ATSNJ) for the past year and has been a very active member, previously serving in various positions and on several committees in that association, helping build its contributions to the NATA and her community. As a member of the public relations committee, Ms. Emrich helped contribute to the ATSNJ being recognized with the Greatest Impact Award, Best State Association Award and Best State Association Honorable Mention. As a member of the Secondary School committee, Ms. Emrich continues to contribute to best practices in the health and safety of high school athletes. Most recently she was honored to represent ATSNJ as President in a press conference with NJ State Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, along with NJSIAA and other medical professionals bringing awareness to the NATA Heat Acclimatization Guidelines to prevent heat-related illnesses in secondary school athletes and an introduction in the use of wet bulb globe temperature to monitor environmental stress, allowing athletes to practice safely. The event garnered national TV coverage.

Ms. Emrich has also been recognized many times for her professional excellence. She has served as the athletic trainer for her alma mater since 1995. In that role, she has brought and pioneered best practices of athletic training and safety to RBR while mentoring her own squad of students pursuing athletic training and healthcare. Many of her pupils have graduated to launch careers in related health fields. Her alma mater (RBR) honored her in 2011 with her induction into their Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. She was also honored that same year with the NJSCA/NJSIAA Hall of Fame Induction as well. In 2016, she was recognized as RBR’s Educational Services Professional of the year. Ms. Emrich has also previously won NATA’s Secondary School Athletic Training Committee Gatorade Award in 2009, which recognizes certified athletic trainers who have provided exceptional service and dedication to their schools.

In addition to her professional duties at RBR and ATSNJ, Christina still volunteers as an emergency medical technician for both the towns of Tinton Falls and Little Silver. She has also volunteered her services as an athletic trainer for the 2014 USA Special Olympics and Special Olympics New Jersey.

She states of her most recent accolade, “ I am excited to be recognized by the NATA with this award, along with two other colleagues from New Jersey as well as having the opportunity to witness my mentor being inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame on the same day. I have always believed in helping others and working together towards a common goal. I am very lucky to share this belief every day with support and encouragement from my family, friends, colleagues, and most importantly, my student athletes, whom share my passion in making a difference.”