General John Jay Sports Information

Philena Latcha Named John Jay College Head Athletic Trainer

New York, NY - John Jay Director of Athletics Cat Alves has announced that Philena Latcha has been named Head Athletic Trainer. 
 
Latcha is no stranger to the CUNY Athletic Conference landscape, as she served the last seven years at Hunter College as the head athletic trainer. 
 
"We are excited to welcome Philena into the Bloodhound family," commented Alves. "Philena brings extraordinary experience to our department and in the area of athletic training. She will immediately provide energy, leadership, and mentorship for our student-athletes and staff in this area."
 
Latcha has developed a nine-month ACL rehabilitation program that focuses on biomechanics of acceleration, deceleration, running, jumping, and transverse plane movements to improve movements in sports. She implemented, designed, and executed assessment test for risk factors in ACL prevention program and concussion management that includes but not limited to sideline care procedures and return-to-play protocols. 
 
"I am excited to join the staff and student-athletes here at John Jay College," commented Latcha. "I hope to make an impact on this already established and amazing program. One of my many goals is to make a difference in the day-to-day lives of each student-athlete that comes through the office. I like to thank Cat (Alves) and the hiring committee for having the confidence in me to be the head athletic trainer." 
 
Among her responsibilities at Hunter were providing care and prevention of athletic injuries while implementing treatment within the scope of practice defined by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) to over 250 intercollegiate student-athletes. 
 
Latcha assisted the Hunter College Athletics Strategic Planning and End of Year reports while maintaining and updating Emergency Action Plan for all facilities used by athletic teams. 
 
Additionally, she cultivated and executed an Emergency Mental Health Plan for all student-athletes. She trained all coaches and recreational staff in First Aid/CPR/AED for certification and collaborated with CUNYAC Medical Advisory Committee to develop COVID Return-To-Sport Plans. 
 
She assisted with the organization and development of the Hunter College Student-Athletic Advisory Committee as well as coordinating student-athlete speakers and National Girls and Woman in Sports Day. 
 
Latcha has served as an adjunct professor for First Aid and CPR at Brooklyn College while also volunteering as an athletic trainer at the United States Olympic Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, in Chula Vista, CA back in 2018. 
 
Her first full-time role as head athletic trainer came back in 2007, where she was also the Co-Director of the Sports Performance Team at The City College of New York (CCNY). In her nine years at CCNY, she provided care and prevention of athletic injuries while also overseeing the strength and conditioning programs. 
 
Latcha attained several Athletic Training internships while pursuing a degree, as she interned at the Professional Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy in 2007. A year earlier, she worked at Division I Northeast Conference (NEC) member, Wagner College, where she assisted in the care of approximately 100 members of the football team. In 2005, she interned at fellow NEC institution, Long Island University (LIU), where she helped created new exercise strategies to rehab programs as well as modalities and manual training. 
 
Latcha earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hunter College in 2003 in Physical Education before graduating from Long Island University in 2007 with a Master of Science degree in Sports Science. 
 
She is affiliated with the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and holds certifications as a NYS Licensed Athletic Trainer, NATABOCK Certified Athletic Trainer, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). 
 
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Courtesy of John Jay Athletics