Health-sciences faculty member is new CPC athletic trainer
By Elijah Huhn
Knightly News Reporter
Athletic trainers are an important part of any sports team, whether they are professional-team or school-team trainers.
They attend to athletes injured during a game, from minor cuts and scrapes, or serious injuries, such as broken bones, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, head and neck injuries, or concussions.
Trainers also evaluate injuries, provide treatments and can identify and address issues to help athletes prevent injuring themselves.
Central Penn has a new trainer—the college’s own Professor Matthew O’Brien, academic coordinator of clinical education.
O’Brien, originally from Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, moved to Harrisburg 10 years ago. He grew up playing sports and was a high-school and college athlete.
During that time, O’Brien got used to being around medical personnel during games. Inspired by the trainers, he went to local high schools and colleges to provide onsite therapy for athletes.
O’Brien, a certified athletic trainer and a physical therapist assistant, has been involved in athletic training for 20 years.
Last fall, Central Penn appointed him interim athletic trainer, and in January, O’Brien became Central Penn’s athletic trainer, with that role beginning in April.
O’Brien gets along well with Central Penn athletes and relates to them as a former athlete. His main priorities when it comes to being an athletic trainer are consistency—having one person athletes can go to for their training needs—and being available to athletes, which includes welcoming them stopping by his office in ATEC 203 any time he’s there.
“It’s not about myself but the athletes,” O’Brien said. “I want the athletes to perform well, be safe, and of course, win. If I can help do that, then I would consider my job at Central Penn a success.”
O’Brien is in his office pretty much every day. Student athletes and other students can also meet with him in the athletic training room, on the second floor of Super Suite 127, above the campus health center, at Colleg Hill Road and B Street, Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Hours will expand soon.
Athletes can also email him at matthewobrien@centralpenn.edu to set up an appointment. O’Brien has enjoyed helping Central Penn athletes get healthy and safe, and remain so, while on or off the field, and he looks forward to continuing in his role through Cental Penn’s sports seasons.