HAROLD KING, ATC/L, MBA

• Job: Manager of orthopaedic community outreach for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s sports medicine program.

Enlarge this image

BARRY WILLIAMS / Special

Harold King is the manager of orthopaedic community outreach for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s sports medicine program.

• What I do: “I manage the certified athletic trainers who are involved with CHOA’s sports medicine outreach program. We send athletic trainers to cover sports events at 13 participating high schools. We’re on the sidelines of every game to provide care, prevention and rehabilitation of athletic injuries to student-athletes. We also provide injury-prevention programs for young athletes and their parents.”

• What got me interested in this: “I played sports in high school and [I] knew I wanted to stick around athletics all my life. I thought I’d be a teacher or a coach, but then, while participating in sports at Valdosta State [University], I got to know athletic trainers and went into sports medicine.

“I’ve worked with college athletes, spent 10 years in the National Football League, and now work with high school athletes.

• Best part of the job: “Being around athletes. It’s very rewarding to see someone return to play after being hurt and know that you were a part of that. You form strong bonds with your patients as you help them through rehabilitation.”

• Most challenging part of the job: “When you first start working as an athletic trainer, you realize that athletes and their parents are looking to you to take care of them. You have to keep your emotions in check, handle the emergencies and make the first assessment of an injury. You’re the front-line person.

“You also have to think long term about this injury. A coach may tell you that in his day, athletes played with that kind of injury. You have to explain why that isn’t a good idea for the player down the road.

“Sports medicine has changed so much. New knowledge and techniques are happening every day, and you have to keep up with it.”

• What people don’t know about my job: “Athletic trainers work long hours, both in the clinic and on

the field. Ten- to 12-hour days are not uncommon during football season.

“In the spring, we find ourselves sprinting back and forth between lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball and tennis games, as well as covering track and field events. Time management is an essential skill.”

• What keeps me going: “Being around athletes and young people keeps you young. I like taking in that vibe, and still participate in athletic activities myself. Right now, I’m mountain biking.”

• Preparation needed: “You need good grades in science and biology to get into a college athletic training or sports medicine program. After earning a BS degree, you must pass a national certification exam offered through the National Athletic Trainers Association and be licensed in Georgia.”

• Salary range: “It depends on the work setting, and if you work for a college, it will depend on the athletic division.”

The median annual salary for athletic trainers in 2006 was $36,560, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

— By Laura Raines, Pulse editor. Got an interesting job that you love? E-mail your story to pulseeditor@ajc.com.