Kaitlyn Okin ʼ25, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program at the University of Lynchburg, has received three grants to support her research.
Her project, titled “The ‘Why’ Behind Athletic Trainers: Experiences with the Social Determinants of Health at In-Crisis Secondary Schools,” was born out of her love for research but also a passion for advocacy and accessibility.
Okin’s interest in research was developed while earning her undergraduate degree in public health from Hollins University. During her time as an undergrad, she participated in multiple fellowships, as well as conducted research for her capstone project.
“It was a huge culture. Everyone did research,” Okin said. “It didn’t matter what degree you were getting.”
She brought that same passion to Lynchburg when she began her graduate studies in 2023. Classes had only been in session a couple of weeks before she approached Dr. Tom Bowman about pursuing research at Lynchburg.
Okin recalled that Bowman was surprised but recognized her passion immediately. “He said to me, ‘I’ve never had a first-year come and ask me to do research. Nobody ever wants to do research.’”
For Okin, research is more than just an academic pursuit. To her, “research is supplemental to what I’m learning in school, and just who I want to be as a person.”
Her interest in the social determinants of health — the nonmedical factors that affect health outcomes — was inspired by her experiences as a transcriber for a project focused on the effects of COVID-19 on the homeless population in Roanoke.
The time she spent listening to the recorded interviews impressed upon her the importance of diving deeper than a survey alone could show.
“Just hearing the actual stories, instead of reading a survey — you get those extra things,” Okin explained. “Where they express how they feel, you can document that. When they are just really passionate, you can appreciate that as well.”
Okin added that she’s always been the kind of person who isn’t “going to speak for someone. I’m going to help them speak for themselves. Or if I have a platform, I’m going to educate and help other people as well.”
Okin’s current research project at Lynchburg explores the experiences of athletic trainers who serve as primary health care providers for athletic events at low-income secondary schools. In these environments, their understanding of the social determinants of health is crucial for delivering quality care to student-athletes who may have limited access to health care.
“There’s been a lot of quantitative research on the topic within the athletic training community, but not a ton of qualitative,” Okin explained. “A lot of times, when barriers are expressed in a survey form, there’s not really any way to elaborate on it.”
She said this lack of qualitative data is what motivated her to tackle this research project through the use of interviews.
As she pursued her research, Okin applied for and was awarded three grants to support and fund her efforts. She received $1,000 from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, $500 from the Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association, and a Schewel Student-Faculty Research Fund grant from the University of Lynchburg.
As the data collection was nearing completion for her project, Okin reflected on the experience: “I can definitely say that this project, even without it being fully completed, has 100% changed my outlook on the profession and just gives me more encouragement to pursue my morals.”