Mission Statement

The mission of UC San Diego's Athletic Training/Sports Medicine program is to provide the prevention, management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. It is our goal to provide high quality health care in an educationally progressive atmosphere.

The UC San Diego Intercollegiate Athletic Training Department is comprised of three full-time ATCs, four post-graduate intern ATCs and roughly 15 athletic training students (ATS). The ATS consists of students from San Diego State (SDSU) and UCSD. The UC San Diego Athletic Training Room is a clinical site for SDSU's Accredited Athletic Training Education Program, as well as home to the UCSD athletic training internship program.

*UC San Diego Athletic Training internships are available to third and fourth year UCSD students. Please contact Britnie Priest at 858.822.6747 for more information.

Educational Materials
Click here to view some important sports medicine educational materials from the NCAA.

The NCAA randomly selects institutions and student-athletes for drug testing throughout the academic year, including the summer. All student-athletes are subject to drug testing before, during or after their competitive seasons. Student-athletes need to be aware of the NCAA Banned Drugs list and should check with the Athletic Trainers for any questions. Click here for the 2018-19 NCAA Banned Drugs list. Student-athletes who test positive are subject to at least a one-year suspension and loss of eligibility.

Many nutritional/dietary supplements contain NCAA banned substances. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not strictly regulate the supplement industry; therefore the purity and safety of nutritional/dietary supplements cannot be guaranteed. Impure supplements may lead to a positive drug test. The UC San Diego Athletics Department does not condone the use of nutritional/dietary supplements and the use of such supplements is at the student-athlete's own risk. Student-athletes should contact Head Athletic Trainer Vanessa Yang (858.822.0895 or vayang@ucsd.edu) for further information.

Mental Health & Concussions

UC San Diego Athletics Department takes the mental health & well-being of its student-athletes seriously. In addition to having a close relationship with the University's Counseling & Psychological Services staff, the Athletics Training Room works closely with our Team Physicians to address concussion-related injuries. The Athletics Trainers have protocols designed to ensure a safe & successful return to the playing field.

Click here for a concussion fact sheet that includes a list of symptoms.

Visiting Team Information
Click here to view pertinent info including emergency action procedures for our venues.

Athletic Trainers

	Vanessa Yang MS, ATC, CES Associate Athletics Director - Sports Medicine vayang@ucsd.edu Vanessa Yang was named UCSD's head athletic trainer in July of 2013. She began her tenure with UCSD Athletics in 2007 as an assistant athletic trainer. Prior to joining the Triton family, she served two years as the head athletic trainer for the Sports Clubs program at UC San Diego. Yang has also spent time at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. While at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, she worked with athletes in several sports, including wrestling, gymnastics, weightlifting and speed skating. Yang is an approved Graston Technique Provider, a certified Corrective Exercise Specialist and an American Heart Association Basic Life Support instructor. In addition, she is a preceptor for the San Diego State University Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP). Yang also serves on several committees, including the Far West Athletic Trainers Association College/University Athletic Trainers Committee and the National Athletic Trainers Association Executive Committee for Education Professional Education Degree Work Group. Yang received a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Pennsylvania State University before earning a master's in sports health care at A.T. Still University. Sport assignments: men's rowing, women's soccer, women's water polo
	Allison Pastor MS, ATC, CES Associate Athletic Trainer ampastor@ucsd.edu Allison Pastor was named an athletic trainer at UC San Diego in July of 2013 after spending the previous year as a graduate assistant with the Tritons. Over the 2012-13 school year, she worked with the UCSD cross country and baseball teams while also serving as a preceptor for the San Diego State Athletic Training Education Program. Prior to coming to La Jolla, Pastor was at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, where she worked with the women's volleyball and baseball programs. Also in North Carolina, Pastor worked with the Northern Guilford High School state champion football squad as well as the Winston-Salem Dash, a High-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, as part of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainer's Society. Pastor received her B.S. in exercise and wellness from Arizona State University in 2010 and her M.S. in athletic training from the UNCG in May of 2012. Sport assignments: women's basketball, men's/women's tennis, women's volleyball
	Eli Bisnett-Cobb MS, ATC Associate Athletic Trainer ebisnettcobb@ucsd.edu Eli Bisnett-Cobb was named an athletic trainer at UCSD in July of 2014. Prior to joining the Triton staff, Bisnett-Cobb spent four seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins as an assistant athletic trainer. From 2008-10, he was an assistant athletic trainer at the University of San Diego, where his primary duties included coverage of the baseball, cross country and men's soccer programs. Bisnett-Cobb was also an intern with the Minnesota Vikings and a graduate assistant athletic trainer at The George Washington University, where he worked closely with the baseball and women's volleyball teams. Bisnett-Cobb graduated from Marist College in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in athletic training. He earned a master's degree in exercise science from George Washington in 2006. Sport assignments: men's basketball, men's/women's cross country, men's golf, men's/women's track and field

The ICA Athletic Training Department at UC San Diego shares its facility with the Athletic Trainers for the Sports Club teams.

Directions, Hours, & Providers 

Map to the UCSD Athletic Training Room

Directions
- From Interstate 5, exit Genesee Ave.
- Head west on Genesee Ave.
- Turn left on Torrey Pines Rd.
- Turn left at the next signal (Northpoint Drive - UCSD North Campus Entrance)
- Continue through two stop signs, as the road curves right to the right it becomes Hopkins Drive
- Park in Hopkins Parking Structure.
- RIMAC is directly north of the structure and should be entered on the third floor.
- Proceed to the first floor to find the Athletic Training Room.

Athletic Training Room Hours
Our hours vary depending on team schedules and daily events. Please call (858) 822-2572 to schedule an appointment.

Acupuncture (Mondays from 1-4:45 p.m.; Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m.)
• Matt Callison MS, L.Ac.
• Lili Gould L.Ac., C.SMA
• Mike Spituzzi L.Ac.

For more information, click here.

Chiropractor
• Alicia Oswald DC, CCSP, CSCS

Team Physicians
Family Practice / Sports Medicine Physicians
• Suraj Achar, M.D.
• Amy Leu D.O., FAAFP
• Alan Shahtaji D.O., CAQ-SM
• Ken Taylor M.D.

Orthopedic Physicians
• Sonya Ahmed M.D.
• Catherine Robertson M.D.

Annual Participation Forms

Sickle Cell Information

Insurance Letter for Student-Athletes and Legal Guardians

UNDERGRADUATE Student Health Insurance Agreement

Associated Links

• National Athletic Trainers' Association
• National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Certification
• National Academy of Sports Medicine
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• American College of Sports Medicine
• Graston Technique