Central Appalachian Regional Education Research Center: Athletic Training

The Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center (CARERC) has provided graduate and continuing education for occupational safety and health professionals since 2012. In our application for renewal (July 2019 – June 2024), we aim to (1) provide interdisciplinary occupational safety and health education for graduate students and occupational medicine residents; (2) enhance the research skills of students and faculty in the targeted disciplines; (3) encourage and conduct interdisciplinary research on a variety of occupational diseases and injuries; (4) deliver continuing education, consultation and outreach to address environmental and occupational safety and health concerns; and (5) translate research into prevention practice. CARERC’s scope includes counties in eastern Kentucky, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, western Virginia, and southern West Virginia, where elevated rates of occupational injuries and fatalities persist, particularly in production agriculture, forestry, mining, law enforcement, manufacturing, and transportation. CARERC combines the resources of the University of Kentucky: College of Public Health (Occupational Medicine Residency, MPH and PhD with a focus on Occupational Epidemiology, and MPH, DrPH, and PhD with a focus on Agricultural Safety and Health); the UK College of Nursing (DNP in Occupational Nursing); the UK College of Engineering (MS and PhD in Mine Safety & Health), College of Agriculture (MS with a focus on agricultural health and safety in Community and Leadership Development), College of Health Sciences (MS with a focus on Occupational Athletic Training), and the Eastern Kentucky University: College of Justice & Safety (MS in Occupational Safety) and College of Health Sciences (MPH in Industrial Hygiene). CARERC collaborates with other regional institutions as well as industry, labor, and government in its Pilot Research Program (PRP), Outreach, and Continuing Education (CE) programs to enhance research capacity and catalyze the translation of research to practice. We plan to support the following number of trainees each year: 2 Occupational Medicine Residents; 3 Doctor Nurse Practitioners; 8 MPH and 19 MS students across the core programs. Building on our existing strengths and stature, CARERC will serve as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research in occupational safety and health and a centralized resource center for innovative education and training.