Fabrizio Apodaca

Background

I am a certified athletic trainer and educator with over a decade of clinical experience in secondary school athletics and higher education. My professional background spans full-time clinical practice, program operations, and academic instruction, with a focus on improving the quality, equity, and sustainability of athletic healthcare systems. I currently work in secondary school athletics while teaching undergraduate athletic training and allied health courses, bridging real-world clinical practice with evidence-informed education.

Areas of Expertise

• Athletic healthcare delivery in secondary schools;Athletic trainer staffing models and workload analysis;Injury prevention and risk reduction strategies;Clinical education and professional socialization;Program evaluation and quality improvement;Inter-professional collaboration in sports medicine;Strength and conditioning for athletic populations

Research Interests

My research focuses on evaluating the structure, processes, and outcomes of athletic healthcare delivery in U.S. secondary schools. Using mixed-methods approaches, my work examines athletic trainer staffing sufficiency, stakeholder perceptions of care quality, and systemic factors that influence access to athletic healthcare. I am particularly interested in how organizational and socioeconomic contexts shape healthcare delivery and contribute to disparities across school settings. My long-term goal is to translate research findings into practical staffing frameworks and policy-informed recommendations that improve working conditions for athletic trainers and care quality for student-athletes.

Education

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Inter-professional Leadership (Athletic Training Education), Kent State University
Anticipated May 2026
Dissertation focus: Evaluation of athletic healthcare delivery systems in U.S. secondary schools, with emphasis on athletic trainer staffing, organizational processes, and stakeholder perceptions of care quality.Master of Science in Athletic Training, Ohio UniversityBachelor of Science in Athletic Training, California State University, Northridge

Courses Taught

Publications