April Pelligrini
Beating the Competition
April Pelligrini landed her dream job through hard work, determination, and Merrimack’s Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program. She is a Certified Athletic Trainer for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse at Curry College.
In her role as Athletic Trainer, April works with the teams to prevent and treat injuries, rehabilitate acute and chronic injuries, and communicate effectively with colleagues, coaches, players, doctors, and other healthcare personnel.
April felt it was important to get her master’s degree to give herself a competitive edge in the industry.
“Overall the instructors, resources, and experiences provided the best experience I could hope for. I loved being able to do my clinical hours off campus at other schools to see how other institutions practice athletic training. I also appreciated the program director’s and other instructors’ ability to listen to my feedback about the program.”
Experience in and on the field
During her athletic training coursework, April gained invaluable field experience at a variety of practicum sites, including Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, Tufts University, Boston College, and Harvard College. She learned how to treat, manage care, and rehabilitate athletes in clinical and real-word settings.
She was also able to see first-hand what is expected of athletic trainers in various levels of their careers, as well as gain a fundamental understanding of the importance of building relationships with different people in the industry.
In the future, April hopes to experience life at a Division 1 or 2 school before moving on to work in a smaller setting, like a training or rehab facility.
“Personally, I don’t feel I would have been mentally prepared enough or had enough confidence if I had not obtained a master’s degree in athletic training.”
