WISE, VA — UVA Wise announced the hiring of Emily Atkinson as Director of Sport Medicine on Monday, Aug. 1. 
 

Atkinson comes to the school after serving as the head athletic trainer at the University of Pikeville (UPike) for the previous three years.

"We are excited to welcome Emily to the Cavalier family," remarked Director of Athletics Kendall Rainey. "She is well prepared to lead our sport medicine area and will ensure quality health care for our student-athletes."

 As the head athletic trainer, Atkinson administered a staff of four athletic trainers and cared for more than 500 student-athletes. She served as the primary contact for football, men's basketball, dance, archery, golf, Esports, and swimming. Atkinson was instrumental in concussion protocol as she led staff in updating and designing concussion management plans and sport-specific return to play protocols.

 Before serving as the head athletic trainer at UPike, Atkinson was an assistant athletic trainer for the Bears from 2017 to 2019. 

 While at UPike, she was twice named the athletic trainer of the year while also serving on the Mid-South Conference Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 2019. A year later, the league office awarded her the Athletic Trainer Above and Beyond Award.

 Atkinson has also spent time at Elkhorn High School (Ky.), the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of South Dakota, Iowa Western Community College, Morningside College, and Creighton University while also working at various events across the nation. 

 Atkinson obtained a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Wayne State College (Neb.) before later adding a master's in athletic training from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Atkinson begins her duties at UVA Wise on Aug. 1.