Jason Viel, Director of Athletic Training Services for Rock Valley Physical Therapy, was up-close and personal for a history-making day for the state of Iowa.
The dean of Quad-Cities’ athletic trainers, Viel was on hand to witness Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signing HF196 into law.
The bill puts athletic trainers and occupational therapists on the healthcare recruitment list of providers eligible for student-loan repayment for serving rural Iowa, a huge step in drawing medical professionals to smaller, in-need communities across the state.
The bill also includes provisions allowing physicians, physician assistants and physical therapists to be eligible for the program. For years, it was available only to a specific grouping of medical professionals who graduated from Des Moines University.
“This is a great step forward for athletic trainers in Iowa,’’ said Viel, who boasts over 20 years of service to the medical field and Rock Valley Physical Therapy. Viel serves as the head athletic trainer at Bettendorf, Iowa-based Pleasant Valley High School. “Having athletic trainers on the list of healthcare providers who can access funds for student-loan repayment, will help to get athletic trainers to more rural youth athletes.’’
The bill, Viel believes, will create a safer environment across the board statewide.
“This will help schools, hospitals and private practice clinics be able to better recruit Iowa athletic trainers to rural schools,’’ said Viel, who did his undergraduate work at Central College (Pella, Iowa) and earned his master’s degree from Indiana State University.
Viel has guided the athletic training fortunes at Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf, Iowa) since 2008 and has worked at the high school level since 2002. Viel, outgoing, upbeat and personal, is a member of the MAATA District 5 Board of Directors and has served as Secretary and President-Elect of Iowa Athletic Trainers Society.
“I would like to thank Senator Chris Cournoyer for agreeing to add athletic trainers to the bill in the Senate, Representative Jacob Bossman for his work on the House side to make sure that the amendment went through the House and Governor Reynolds for signing the bill into law,’’ added Viel.
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller