More Than 100 Students Explore Careers in Sports Medicine at NextGen Workshop

On April 26, Bringing America Sports Health (BASH) hosted the inaugural NextGen Sports Medicine & Performance Workshop, bringing together more than 100 high school students from across the Baltimore region for a day of hands-on learning, mentorship, and career exploration.

The workshop was created with a simple goal: expose students to the people, professions, and pathways that exist within sports medicine and performance. While many young people are familiar with athletes, coaches, and teams, far fewer understand the careers that support athlete health, safety, and performance behind the scenes.

Students rotated through interactive stations focused on athletic training, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning. Throughout the day they learned directly from healthcare and performance professionals, gaining practical experience and a better understanding of what these careers look like in real life.

The event would not have been possible without the support of more than 20 volunteers who donated their time and expertise to teach, mentor, and encourage students. Their willingness to share their stories and experiences helped bring the professions to life for attendees.

The day concluded with a college fair featuring representatives from the Community College of Baltimore County, Frostburg State University, Towson University, and Bowie State University. Students had the opportunity to learn about academic programs, admissions requirements, and educational pathways that can lead to careers in sports medicine and healthcare.

The workshop was made possible through partnerships with the Maryland Athletic Trainers’ Association, Will Power Sports Physical Therapy, Top Athlete System, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association all of whom share a commitment to developing the next generation of sports healthcare professionals.

For BASH, the event represents more than a single day of programming. It is part of a larger effort to build a stronger pipeline into athletic training, physical therapy, strength and conditioning, and other allied health professions. By providing students with early exposure, hands-on experiences, and access to mentors, we can help more young people see themselves in these careers and understand the steps required to get there.

The success of this year's workshop has already sparked conversations about expansion. BASH hopes to make the event an annual tradition in Maryland while exploring opportunities to replicate the model in other regions.

To everyone who volunteered, partnered, attended, or supported the event, thank you. Together, we are helping students discover careers they may never have known existed and building the future of sports medicine one student at a time.