Tina Davlin-Pater, ATC, EMT

Tina Davlin-Pater is a distinguished Professor and the energetic Director of the Athletic Training Education program at Xavier University. Known for her dedication to student development, she also serves as the advisor for the university's vibrant student organization for athletic training. In 2024, she was honored with the prestigious GLATA Outstanding Educator Award, a testament to her contributions to the field.

Dr. Davlin-Pater's academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in athletic training from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. She furthered her expertise with a master's degree in kinesiology from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Utah. She has enjoyed some unique professional experiences, such as working as an athletic trainer for the Anchorage Bucs Baseball team in Alaska and volunteering at the National Figure Skating Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In the classroom, Dr. Davlin-Pater incorporates innovative teaching methods to create engaging, active learning experiences. For instance, she uses a mock Zombie Apocalypse scenario to introduce infectious disease topics and designed an escape room to review material related to head and spine injuries.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Davlin-Pater is passionate about providing students with unique learning opportunities. Students in the athletic training program have participated in cadaver labs alongside biology students, learned about emergency medical helicopter operations, and engaged in BioSkills labs at Beacon Orthopedics that includes guided dissections and the use of arthroscopic tools.

Dr. Davlin-Pater has published articles related to the use of vision to control orientation during aerial somersaults, metacognition, teaching and evaluating soft skills, and use gamification in the classroom. Research interests align with her commitment to furthering the education of athletic training students.