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Photo courtesy of: CHSPDr. Chad Starkey

Dr. Charles “Chad” Starkey, AT, FNATA of Athens, Ohio has been selected for induction into the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association (OATA) Hall of Fame.  

Starkey has been professor and associate director of Athletic Training within the College of Health Sciences and Professions at 91̽�� since 2005.

OATA Hall of Fame inductees are recognized for their outstanding performance in the profession. Candidates demonstrate excellence through their scholarly activities, contributions to educating future athletic trainers, and in service to the state, district and/or national organization as well as in their communities. 

Starkey received his B.S. degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown in 1982, his M.S. degree from 91̽�� in Athens in 1983, and his Ph.D. from 91̽�� in 1988. During his Ph.D. years, Starkey also served as an athletic trainer and instructor in the OHIO Department of Athletics.

After receiving his doctorate, Starkey left OHIO to become an associate professor in Athletic Training at Northeastern University in Boston, where he worked for the next 17 years. In 2005, he was enticed back to 91̽�� by his long-time mentor, Charles “Skip” Vosler, to help re-establish the athletic training educational program to one of the elite programs in the country. His years of academics have allowed him to instruct, guide, and mentor over 1000 athletic training students, many of whom are in the profession today.

Since returning to OHIO, Starkey has lent his energy and support to the OATA. He served for six years on the College and University Athletic Trainers’ Committee including serving as chair. He has also served on the OATA Legislation Committee for the past 12 years and is still currently active.

Academics has always been his main focus and he has held numerous positions on committees of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), the NATA Board of Certification (NATABOC), and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), all related to athletic training education and/or credentialing.

Over the years as a recognized leader in athletic training education, Starkey has been asked to do three international presentations, 48 national presentations, and 55 regional presentation. A prolific writer, Chad has also published 29 peer-reviewed papers; as well as, 30 invited papers. He has published 21 texts and contributed 17 textbook chapters.

Starkey’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards over the years. He was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2009, received the NATABOC Dan Libera Service Award in 2007 for outstanding contributions to athletic training certification, received the NATA Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Education Award in 2006, was inducted into the Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2017, and was inducted into the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences Hall of Fame in 2016.

Chad and his wife, Mary Connolly, reside in Athens with their four dogs.

Chad will be officially inducted into the OATA Hall of Fame on May 17, 2019 during the Hall of Fame Banquet as part of the 2019 OATA Annual Meeting and Symposium. The event will be held at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio.