For the past seven years, Marshfield Clinic Health System athletic trainer Michael Doersch has provided needed services to approximately 300 athletes in variety of sports in Neillsville High School, and to Greenwood High School since 2021. 

Athletic trainers are educated and highly trained allied health care providers specializing in prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. An athletic trainer plays an integral role on the health care team caring for all injuries and ensuring a safe return to play.  They care for the more normal, routine injuries on a daily basis and are also trained to recognize more traumatic injuries that may need to be referred to the doctor. They create a strong bond between the schools and the health system. “I am just one of several athletic trainers within the Marshfield Clinic Health System that covers many local high schools,” said Doersch. 

The impact made is immeasurable as they cultivate great relationships with the student-athletes, coaches, parents, and administration at these schools. A truly holistic approach is taken by athletic trainers upon injury to care for not only the physical injury, but the psychological issues as well so the athlete is truly ready in all aspects to safely return to sport. Great trust is built in athletic trainers by not only the student-athletes, but the coaches and parents alike as you create an environment that allows for the best care possible. An athletic trainer can be a great support to local high schools and a catalyst for the community.