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Florida Hospital — soon to be renamed AdventHealth — has selected Erik Nason to serve as the athletic trainer to coordinate care for the 5,000 student-athletes in Volusia County public schools.

Nason’s new role is part of Florida Hospital’s five-year, $2 million partnership with Volusia County Schools. As part of the historic agreement, Florida Hospital committed to providing a dedicated certified athletic trainer to act as a liaison with the schools to streamline and coordinate care for student-athletes, and to work with the district to improve concussion protocols. In addition, Nason will also work with athletes off the field to help with conditioning and nutrition, which can prevent injuries.

Nason has nearly 20 years of athletic training and sports medicine experience, and is the current president of The Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida. The presidency is a two-term, three-year, peer-elected position that supports the professional development, membership management, educational platforms, legislative efforts and governmental affairs for the organization’s 2,500 members and 3,200 athletic trainers statewide.

Nason spent 17 years as an athletic trainer at the Kennedy Space Center, providing on-site musculoskeletal rehabilitation for employees. He also provided astronaut care during launches and landings as part of Kennedy Space Center’s health-stabilization program. During his career, he treated more than 3,000 employees with over 50,000 patient appointments.

Since 1999, Nason has been the program manager and athletic trainer for the Justin Boots Sports Medicine Team, providing sports medicine care to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) participants during several annual rodeo events in Florida, in addition to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Nason earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education/athletic training from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. He also earned a Master of Science in physical education/athletic training from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and certified in adult CPR, Automated External Defibrillators (AED) use, and Bloodborne Pathogens by the American Red Cross. Nason is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Nason also is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and The Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida (ATAF).

Established in June, the historic agreement with Florida Hospital supports the more than 63,000 students enrolled in 78 Volusia County public schools by working to reduce chronic absenteeism, coordinating care for student-athletes, and encouraging future career paths in the health care industry.

Encompassing seven hospitals in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties, the Florida Hospital Central Florida Division-North Region is the largest hospital system in the area, with 1,226 beds and more than 7,800 employees.

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Barb Shepherd
Barb and her husband, Jeff, were both born in Kokomo, Indiana, a factory town surrounded by cornfields about 50 miles north of Indianapolis. In 1979, they set out on a road trip that would define their lives, and would end with their taking up residence in DeLand. After working at the DeLand Sun News and the Orlando Sentinel 1979-92, Barb helped found The Beacon, and was appointed publisher and CEO in 2013. Since late 2004, Barb has also managed Conrad Realty Co.’s historic property in Downtown DeLand, where The Beacon is an anchor tenant.

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