Jordan Jack ’24 first realized he wanted to become an athletic trainer while watching baseball games and wondering about the people who ran onto the field to help injured players.

“That’s how I learned what an athletic trainer was, and I wanted to do something that involves medicine, and I also really like sports,” Jack said. “Choosing that career path was a no-brainer.”

Another no-brainer was choosing Iowa State’s athletic training program, which allows students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. An Iowa native, Jack appreciated the chance to study in a high-quality academic program and gain extensive hands-on experience, all while staying close to home.

Because athletic training students earn two degrees in five years, they start to gain hands-on experience early in the program. Jack began completing clinical rotations in his first year at Iowa State, and by his third year, he was working with Iowa State’s softball team.

“Getting that kind of hands-on experience so early made a huge difference,” Jack said. “It helped me feel confident that athletic training was the right fit and confirmed I was pursuing something I genuinely enjoy.”

Working with the softball team helped Jack bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice, giving him a chance to develop his approach by responding to injuries in real time and gaining the kind of insight that only comes with experience.

“When you’re going into the workforce, employers might want someone with three to five years of experience in certain areas, so gaining those experiences as a student was very valuable,” Jack said. “You essentially have those years of experience under your belt when you’re coming out of school, so that gave me a pretty good boost in getting to where I wanted to go.”

After working with the softball team, Jack interned with the Iowa Cubs, the Des Moines-based minor-league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. He gained more hands-on experience there and grew as a clinician. Then, after a few months, he landed his first full-time position with the Florida Complex League Astros, the rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros.

“I played baseball myself for 17 years, and it was the sport that I fell in love with. Being able to do something with the sport for a living was a dream come true,” Jack said.

Jack has since transitioned to a full-time role with CAREonsite, which delivers onsite health services for employers. He’s contracted by Vermeer, an industrial and agricultural equipment manufacturer based in Pella, Iowa, where he provides athletic training for factory workers—often referred to as industrial athletes. The role has offered the experience of seeing the tangible impacts on his patients.

“I’ve worked with patients who couldn’t pick up or play with their kids because of injuries, and hearing that they’re able to do that again is very rewarding,” he said.

Jack has found purpose in helping others move, heal, and thrive. Along the way, he’s built a strong network through professional organizations, which helped him land jobs and scholarships.

“Getting involved with the profession outside of school will help you network and meet people,” he said. “By the time I became a certified athletic trainer, I felt like I knew everybody.”

That sense of connection, both with peers and patients, has reaffirmed that Jack chose the right path. What began as a childhood curiosity, watching trainers run onto the field, led him to Iowa State and paved the way for a fulfilling career.

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