Congratulations to our Athletic Training Program Manager, Bob O’Malley, MEd, ATC, on his induction into the Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association (EATA) Hall of Fame ’49 Club!
Bob has had an extensive career of service and leadership within the athletic training profession. Currently the Athletic Training Program Manager for Upstate Orthopedics and athletic trainer at Cazenovia High School, Bob previously was the Head Athletic Trainer and Athletic Healthcare Administrator at SUNY Cortland. Prior to SUNY Cortland, Bob served as Coordinator of Sports Medicine Services and Athletic Training Coordinator through Excelsior Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Amherst, NY, was Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Athletic Trainer at Philadelphia University and was an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Temple University and Marist College.
Driven by the athletic training mission of providing healthcare for all, Bob has contributed his services as an ATC Spotter for the NFL and was an athletic trainer with the United States Olympic Committee, covering such events as the Para-Olympic Games, Pan Am Games, Goodwill games, and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He has also cared for athletes at the United States Olympic Festival and at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid.
Throughout all of his experiences, Bob has been a consistent leader for the athletic training profession. He is a member of the New York State Board for Athletic training, advising on license requirements, licensing examinations and practice issues, and providing community outreach, while also participating in licensure disciplinary, restoration, and moral character proceedings. He has been the New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association (NYSATA) President, EATA Annual Meeting Exhibits Committee Chair, EATA Annual Meeting Site Selection Committee Member, and National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Certification examiner and model for certification exams.
Bob’s induction into the EATA Hall of Fame has been preceded by numerous professional awards and recognition. The SUNY Cortland Athletic Department recognized him with the Fraser Stokes Award in 2021 for his role in Cortland Athletics’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he has received the NYSATA John Sciera Service Award and the NYSATA Kent Scriber Recognition Award for his work in developing the 2013 Head Injury Symposium, and he has been a recipient of the NATA Athletic Training Service Award and the EATA Presidential Recognition Award.
The EATA Hall of Fame ’49 Club recognizes illustrious members of the Athletic Training profession whose contributions to the Association have been significant, substantial, and long-standing. Inducted members exemplify the mission of EATA through noteworthy, enduring contributions that enhance the quality of healthcare provided by athletic trainers and advance the profession, they have shaped the profession through their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to service, leadership, and professionalism. We can certainly all agree that Bob’s career has exemplified each of these qualities and more, and we are proud to have him leading our athletic training program and caring for many of our youth athletes.
Congratulations, Bob!
