PEACHTREE CITY, GA—The Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association (GATA) named Dan Vacala of Savannah, GA as the recipient of the Jerry Rhea Athletic Trainer of the Year Award at their annual meeting Jan 13, 2012. The honor is based primarily on his work as a healthcare professional in the Savannah, Ga area and he was nominated by fellow athletic trainer Joseph Wilson.

The award’s namesake, Jerry Rhea, entered the athletic training profession in 1958 while a student at Texas A&M, working under legendary coach Bear Bryant. He was elected president of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) 1986-87, and has served on many NATA committees. Rhea served as the first head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Falcons and devoted the early years of his career as athletic trainer to the Odessa (Texas) Schools, the high school football culture made famous by Friday Night Lights.

Mr. Vacala is dual-credentialed as a certified physician assistant and certified athletic trainer at Chatham Orthopaedics in Savannah, GA. Throughout his career, he has continued to serve as an athletic trainer working with local, middle school, high school, college, and Olympic level sports teams. He has served as the Head Athletic Trainer for multiple international events in Savannah including regattas, beach volleyball, and Tae Kwon Do events. During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta he served as the Chief Athletic Trainer for the Weightlifting Venue.

The Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association is an organization committed to education of its members and enhancement of the profession of athletic training, leading to better healthcare for the population which it serves. The GATA is proudly composed of licensed athletic trainers in many different settings. Over 1000 licensed athletic trainers from professional, collegiate, and high school teams to industries, physician offices, and rehabilitation clinics all work together to promote and practice the profession of athletic training within the state of Georgia. Follow the GATA on Twitter (GATAInfo).