Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Jessica Rummery, MS, LAT, ATC, is the Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society’s Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year.
Rummery, an athletic trainer at Bettendorf High School, was honored May 26 at the IATS’s annual Summer Meeting and Clinical Symposium at Des Moines, Iowa.
The honor is awarded to an athletic trainer working primarily in the secondary school setting that demonstrates quality work and positively promotes the profession with student-athletes and coaches.
“Jess is an amazing AT who always puts the best interest of her athletes at the forefront,’’ said Jason Viel, MS, LAT, ATC, Director of Athletic Training Services for Rock Valley Physical Therapy. Viel also serves as the head athletic trainer at Pleasant Valley (Bettendorf, Iowa) High School.
He lauded Rummery’s knowledge, compassion, care for her athletes and her boundless energy.
“She is the main cog in what keeps the Bettendorf High School sports medicine “machine” moving,’’ added Viel. “Jess finds ways to manage the large number of athletes and makes sure that all feel important. I rely on her for her input on many things related to athletic training. She has a cool head and helps our younger athletic trainers through difficult situations. Everything she takes on she does with amazing focus and dedication.’’
A Fort Worth, Texas, native, Rummery completed her undergraduate work in athletic training at Texas State University and earned her master’s degree in Kinesiology – with emphasis in Athletic Training – from Illinois State University. It was there she met her husband, David, an East Moline, Ill. native. The two set up shop in the Quad Cities with Jessica joining the Rock Valley family in 2021.
“Receiving this award has been one of the greatest highlights of my career,’’ said Rummery, an energetic and always-upbeat sort, who was also named chairperson for the IATS Career Advancement Committee.
“I can’t explain the feeling of being nominated and recognized by my peers and colleagues for this honor,’’ added Rummery. “I would never be able to express enough thanks to the athletic trainers, physicians and administrators whom I have worked with in the past and present. Their investment in me has been instrumental to my success. I’ll enjoy this recognition for many years to come.‘’
Rummery noted that to do what she does, to be where she is in her career, is the result of time, great care and a monumental investment from the many who have guided her through the years
“I would be remiss to exclude the people who have made the biggest difference in my career,’’ said Rummery. “My closest friends, family and my husband have supported me throughout my career and the hectic schedule that comes with the athletic training profession. Without them I would never have been able to pursue what I’m most passionate about; making better lives. And, while my employment at Rock Valley Physical Therapy has been just over a year, I have been mentored and given the resources to grow into my potential. I’m excited for the future of my career.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller