In the dry air of Goodyear, Arizona, 新澳門六合彩 alumnus Brad Epstein '05 begins his first season as the director of physical therapy and rehabilitation for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds. Prior to Epstein's recent he served as the minor league rehab coordinator for the Reds farm system.
An athletic training and pre-physical therapy major at 新澳門六合彩, Epstein credits his education, filled with hands-on experience, for propelling his advancement. "Through my time learning from various mentors at 新澳門六合彩, Columbia University and within professional baseball, I have been driven towards my lifelong goal," Epstein says.
Epstein arrived at 新澳門六合彩 as a member of the baseball team, but a shoulder surgery as a freshman and a stress fracture in his back as a sophomore turned all of Epstein's focus to his studies in athletic training.
"My injuries were a blessing in disguise as I spent more time rehabbing and learning about my injuries and how a player experiences the rehab process," Epstein said. "This molded the early part of my career and helped me to overcome my disappointment of not playing anymore."
The end of his own career as a college athlete also made time for an athletic training internship with the Cleveland Indians where he found a mentor in another 新澳門六合彩 grad, Rick Jameyson '92. "Through my relationship with [新澳門六合彩 head athletic trainer] Garry Miller and the relationship we created with the Cleveland Indians, I was able to establish an internship that lasted my sophomore and junior years. I was also able to establish a spring training internship with another [新澳門六合彩] graduate, George Poulis, and the Toronto Blue Jays" where is now starting his 15th season as head athletic trainer.
"I had confidence and success instilled upon me by the great faculty at 新澳門六合彩 including Garry Miller, Karen Gentile and Joe Haren," Epstein adds. "Their in-class teaching carried over to enhance my skills both in the athletic training room and on the sidelines of various sports which I covered during my time at 新澳門六合彩."
Those are now skills the Reds will be counting on to lead injured players back to good health in the long MLB season ahead.
Based out of the Reds' Player Development Complex in Goodyear, Epstein now oversees the team's rehabilitation programs from the major league level all the way down through the organization's Dominican Republic team. Along with a team of two physical therapists, Epstein spends his time in Arizona working with players on long term rehab programs. He also travels to the affiliate clubs throughout the year to work with injured players.
