June Athletic Trainer of the Month: Kira Paulin
Medco is proud to recognize athletic trainers who provide excellent care for their athletes by highlighting them as our Athletic Trainer of the Month. We are happy to announce our June Athletic Trainer of the Month is Kira Paulin, ATC!
Kira earned her bachelor’s degree at Saint Mary’s College of California and her Master of Science degree in Athletic Training from Plymouth State University. She has been the athletic trainer for the rugby and soccer teams at Saint Mary’s College of California for the past four years.
Why did you become an athletic trainer?
I signed up as a student athletic trainer my junior year at Saint Mary’s. After observing the day to day in a training room, I was hooked. By the spring of that year, I was observing rugby, the team I now work for. I immediately loved the fast pace and athlete interactions.
I had some more experience interning with a professional rugby team when I was studying abroad in South Africa, and that added to my interest of pursuing this career as well. That experience changed my life, and instead of being there for just one semester, I stayed for 13 months.
I went on to get my Master’s at Plymouth State in New Hampshire. I absolutely loved it there. I always joked that the only reason I’d come back to California would be Saint Mary’s rugby—saying this still makes me laugh because I am here now. There was something about my hands-on experience and the culture of that team that made me want to be a part of it.
I’ve been at Saint Mary’s for 4 years working with women’s soccer (3 previous seasons with men’s soccer) and rugby.
What is the most rewarding part of being an athletic trainer?
I love the day-to-day interactions with my athletes and the privilege of being a part of the injury recovery process.
What challenges do/have you faced in your career?
I’ve always believed that I need to gain my athletes’ trust and get them to “buy in” to what they are doing with regards to injury-rehab. They might not agree with the reasoning for being held out, but having that open line of communication helps.
Not having coaches support behind me with medical decisions makes the job harder. I’ve learned that sticking to my intuition and trusting my knowledge and background has helped—no matter how hard you’re pushed to change the decision.
All these challenges are learning moments. You take what comes, handle it, and move on. That doesn’t mean every decision is easy. It’s hard when a player or coach sees the short term only, and we look at the longer term. Hopefully at the end of the day, it’s something that can be sorted out and moved on from.
How have you made a difference in an athlete’s life?
It’s hard to answer for them – as athletic trainers, we play a big role behind the scenes in the injury recovery process. I try to be as supportive as I can while my athletes deal with an injury, whether it’s for 2 weeks or 8 months. Sometimes it isn’t about the physical rehab aspect but about what’s going on in their lives, school, etc. If you can understand that part, it becomes easier to tailor to the needs, set short term goals, and keep them focused
I’ve been on this journey for 4 years with some of my athletes. They sure have made a significant impact in my life during this time.
What is the most common injury you see in your athletes?
It depends on the sport, honestly. I’ve noticed that each season has its own trend with what type of injuries I see. I’m full-go with rugby right now, so I’ve seen an unusually high number of ankle sprains this year. AC injuries are pretty common as well.
With women’s soccer, I’ve seen more ankle and foot injuries.
What products are your must-haves in your athletic training facility and on the sidelines at events?
I love the PowerFlex with the foam dressing. That is so convenient! I’ve used it so many times on my rugby players—it makes it quick and convenient to cover up head lacerations. I highly recommend having some in your kit if you work a contact sport.
What do you like about the college setting?
We have a pretty great Sports Medicine Team at Saint Mary’s. The 5 of us are super tight knit—they all play a significant role in how much I’ve enjoyed working in this profession.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in athletic training?
You have to love it and know this is what you want to do, otherwise what’s the point? We work so many weekends, holidays, etc. It’s not your typical work setting, but I promise you, it’s so rewarding at the end of the day.
Also, the athletic training world is smaller than you think. Make connections, introduce yourself to visiting ATCs—you never know how those connections might help you in the future.
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