Sports Medicine Staff Member Recognized

Posted: Apr 19, 2021

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara's assistant athletic trainer Sean Shahmirzadi has been named the 2020 California Athletic Trainers' Association Athletic Trainer of the Year: Excellence in Patient Care Award.

"The CATA Athletic Trainer of the Year award is given to those athletic trainers who demonstrate excellence in quality patient care and who go above and beyond on behalf of their patients," former president of the California Athletic Trainer's Association Jason Bennett said. "Sean Shahmirzadi epitomized the meaning of this award in 2020 for his dedication in providing evidence-based health care to maximize the safety and well-being of all student athletes at Santa Clara University."

Shahmirzadi is in his sixth year with the Broncos and works with the women's soccer program. He has been instrumental in assisting the staff with implementing evidence-based treatment methods and policies/procedures.

"I am humbled to be the first California Athletic Trainers' Association Athletic Trainer of the year award recipient," Shahmirzadi said. "I am incredibly grateful for Ryan Holleman and the entire Sports Medicine department who have provided me with the resources and support to develop as an athletic trainer and provide high level care to our student athletes. I am also very thankful for the Bronco student-athletes who trust me to manage their overall well-being, especially while working through adversity to return from an injury."

In addition to his duties with women's soccer, Shahmirzadi is a Network Professional Athletic Trainer for the US Soccer Federation. In this role, he works international friendlies, tournaments, and training camps with the U20 and U23 US women's national teams. He is responsible for the delivery of USSF standards in injury prevention, recognition, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation during US youth national team camps.

Shahmirzadi is also a member of the advisory board for the California Concussion Institute (CCI). In this role he works with a group of interdisciplinary health care practitioners to ensure Californians have access to high quality concussion care. In addition to the cases he helps consult with, he has been instrumental in assisting to put on the CCI Annual Symposium at Levi's Stadium which gives clinicians an opportunity to attend a conference focused on best practices and evidence surrounding concussion management.

About the California Athletic Trainers' Association (CATA):
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the provision of physical medicine and rehabilitation services, serving as physician extenders in the prevention, assessment and treatment of acute and chronic injuries and illnesses. The California Athletic Trainers' Association (http://www.ca-at.org) represents and supports 2,200 members of the athletic training profession through communication and education.