At Advocate Health, caring for people often starts long before they enter a clinic or hospital. Sometimes, it starts on a practice field, in a training room or on the sidelines of a high school game.
For Tim, being an athletic trainer at East Mecklenburg High School is about much more than practices and game days. It’s about showing up, building trust and helping young athletes stay healthy, confident and safe.
A steady presence on campus
Licensed as an athletic trainer in 2003, Tim has spent more than two decades working in sports medicine, with nearly 15 of those years serving students and families through Atrium Health.
Each day, he arrives on campus early to prepare the training room, connect with coaches and staff, and support athletes through injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and game-day coverage. From taping ankles to overseeing rehabilitation plans, Tim is often one of the first people athletes see when school lets out, and one of the last to leave after practices and games conclude.
That daily presence matters. It creates consistency. It builds relationships. And it helps student-athletes know they have someone in their corner, both on and off the field.
Care that goes beyond the game
Tim’s path to athletic training began with an early interest in emergency responders and grew into a lasting passion for health, fitness and sports. What drew him to the profession was the way athletic training brings together physical care, mental support and the life lessons that come through competition.
That perspective continues to shape how he approaches his work.
“I like helping people and enjoy watching sports,” Tim said. “I try to be a good role model for those I interact with and believe that each daily interaction, no matter how small, is an opportunity to make the world a better place.”
For Tim, caring for student-athletes means more than responding when an injury happens. It means helping them prevent injuries, recover with confidence and feel supported throughout the season. It also means meeting them where they are — with encouragement, consistency and care that extends beyond the scoreboard.
Showing up with purpose
For Tim, the most rewarding part of the job is simple: helping people and doing it with purpose.
“My personal mission is to spread goodwill and cheer,” he said.
His story reflects what athletic training can look like at its best: skilled, compassionate care delivered in the moments that matter most. It also reflects something bigger about who we are at Advocate Health. We know that supporting health and well-being takes more than treatment alone. It takes trust, presence and people who are committed to making a difference, one interaction at a time.