Athletic Trainers on college campuses all across the country treat injuries and help keep their student-athletes healthy. Let's meet those that everyone in the athletic department depends on, a group that works countless hours serving their university.
Today let's hear from Hawai'i Hilo's Kensei Gibbs. Kensei has been at Hawai'i Hilo since 2012 and has been the head athletic trainer since 2016. His 20+ years as a certified athletic trainer has included stops at Campbell University, Boise State, the University of Washington, Universit of Hawai'i and Auburn.
Why did you become an athletic trainer?
I truly wanted to be able to medically help and support people, especially athletes. When I was in college my uncle was a former Japanese professional baseball player and he first introduced me to his Athletic Trainers. When I attended the University Of Hawaii ,along with doing an internship at Iolani School, that is when I decided that I wanted to become a Certified Athletic Trainer.
What do you most like about your job/career? What gets you up in the morning?
Having the ability to help student-athletes, professional athletes, Olympic athletes and community athletes with their various injuries thru treatment and rehabilitation. What really gets me up in the morning is looking myself in the mirror and having the desire, drive, motivation, passion, and compassion to provide medical care to see all of them get better. To be able to succeed so they may go back to succeed in their sport but most of all in their daily lives. Making a difference in their mental and physical well being one step at a time is the most important educational part of helping them.
If you were not an athletic trainer, what would you be?
An orthopedic surgeon.
What is the biggest challenge facing your profession currently?
The shortage of athletic trainers world wide. It is not getting any better in the hiring process for high schools and colleges. What should or can I/We do to help this hiring of certified ATC''s that will want to stay at our institutions and provide us with great years of service and loyalty? So we can all educationally learn and grow from each other to make our institutions a much richer place.
Funniest Road Trip Moment
Every year while traveling with our baseball team we go out to eat at different restaurants, but it is always my birthday but it is really not!!! Our baseball student-athletes and coaches set up a birthday surprise dinner and have the servers and the entire team sing Happy Birthday to me along with bringing me a cake and even candles to blow out.
Favorite Binge-Worthy Show
Any of the NCIS Series!!!
Favorite Fast Food
Either spam musubis and/or BBQ Chicken Plate Lunch from either L & L or Ono Hawaiian BBQ.
Your Own Greatest Sporting Moment
When I was the team's head athletic trainer and they were playing in the national championship game in Division I. Also, having the opportunity to work with various professional sports organizations and also Olympic sports as an Athletic Trainer. Helping the community people here in Hilo.
What's Your Favorite Part about Working at Your School?
Working at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, it is the people that are very unique. More importantly is what I am able to do to help support our Hilo community by giving back to help mak
