Kate Fullerton

Bio

For the past 10 years, Kate Fullerton has been the person Penn State Schuylkill student-athletes rely on before, during, and after competition. As the campus's Head Athletic Trainer, she works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep athletes healthy, guide them through injuries, and help them safely compete at their highest level.

When Kate joined Penn State Schuylkill in November 2016, she became the first athletic trainer in campus history. Given the opportunity to build the Sports Medicine Department from the ground up, she established a collegiate-level program that now provides comprehensive care to every Nittany Lion student-athlete.

"I was hired as the first athletic trainer at the Schuylkill campus and had the opportunity to build the program here. I wanted to be able to influence positive change for the athletic department and the profession of athletic training and sports medicine."

Kate earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Guilford College before completing her Master of Science in Athletic Training at Bridgewater State University. Throughout her education, she gained experience in a variety of settings, including high schools, physical therapy clinics, Boston College football, Bridgewater State football and softball, and national track and field events at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston.

Before arriving at Penn State Schuylkill, Kate served as the Head Athletic Trainer at Lewiston High School in Maine while also working as a Certified Athletic Trainer in an orthopedic rehabilitation and physical therapy clinic. She also developed a strength and conditioning program that helped the school's boys hockey team capture two state championships and the girls hockey team earn two district championships before expanding the program to all student-athletes.

Her passion for athletics began long before her career in sports medicine. Growing up, Kate participated in nearly every sport imaginable, including soccer, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, taekwondo, tennis, golf, track and field, bowling, skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, surfing, and ultimately softball through high school and college. Those experiences gave her a unique appreciation for the physical and mental demands student-athletes face every day.

As Head Athletic Trainer, no two days are ever the same. From evaluating injuries and developing rehabilitation plans to providing emergency medical care, coordinating with physicians, educating athletes on injury prevention, monitoring environmental conditions, and determining when athletes can safely return to competition, Kate's work impacts every athletic program on campus.

Her mission is simple.

"My goal is to keep athletes healthy and on the field, court, or course. Letting me know what's going on gives me the best chance of helping athletes stay in the most competitive shape they can be."

Outside of Penn State Schuylkill, Kate has also dedicated herself to serving her country. She spent eight years in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer, earning the rank of Captain and completing deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Poznań, Poland. She currently continues her military service with the United States Army Reserve as an Observer, Coach, Trainer (OC/T) based out of Honolulu, Hawaii. She also holds several professional certifications, including Nationally Registered EMT (NREMT), HGP-I and HGP-II, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support Instructor.

When she's away from the athletic training room, Kate enjoys watching professional football and never passes up a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

As someone who works closely with every team, she encourages student-athletes to make the most of every opportunity.

"Enjoy your time with your teams and learn from your teammates and coaches while you can. Although some days or weeks may drag, I promise that the years will fly by and they will be some of the best years of your life. Don't take them for granted, and make the most of each day, practice, and game."

Looking back on a decade at Penn State Schuylkill, Kate is most grateful for the people she's met along the way.

"Thank you to my coworkers. I moved here to be closer to family, and you all have become my second family. It is because of the incredible athletes, the passionate coaches, and amazing staff at Schuylkill that make me excited to come to work every day."

For the past decade, Kate Fullerton has been much more than an athletic trainer. She has been a mentor, educator, advocate, and trusted resource for generations of Nittany Lion student-athletes, helping them overcome setbacks and perform at their very best.