October 25, 2016
Subject: - Marc Mortellaro, MS, ATC, O-PAC
Dear Young Professionals’ Committee,
I am writing this letter to nominate Marc Mortellar, MS, ATC, OPA-C for the Young Professional Committee National Distinction Award. Marc is an Athletic Trainer like no other, and has been an integral member of the staff at Columbia University Medical Center for the past 5 years. Marc lead the way for the rest of us Athletic Trainer’s, and has helped mentor all of us Athletic Trainers here at CUMC.
Marc joined the Columbia University Department of Orthopedic Surgery, coming from a 2 year background as a “Physician Extender,” working in a private orthopedic practice in New York. For the first two years of his employment, he also worked part time as the Head Athletic Trainer for the University’s Club Sport Teams. Being able to manage working in a Physician’s practice, as well as with the club sport teams, Marc never let one take precedence over the other. While keeping his evaluation skills and treatment guidelines up to date on the sidelines, he was also honing his evaluation skills in the office. As a full time member of Dr. Charles Jobin’s clinical team, Marc took his skills and responsibilities in the office one step further by sitting for the Orthopedic Physician Assistants Exam. He recently handed down the position as Head Athletic Trainer for the Club Sport Teams, but picked up another responsibility, that of married life!
Outside of his clinical duties, Marc recently met with the rest of the Athletic Trainers, and brought up the idea of holding our own departmental meetings to discuss current topics in Athletic Training, as well as to talk about how we can further our own self-worth and marketability within the department. Because of Marc, we now hold monthly meetings where we have time outside of all of our busy schedules to focus on current topics in Athletic Training, discuss potential research proposals, and gather community among all of our separate practices. In addition to that, Marc also sits on the “Circle of Excellence” committee here in the department, which acknowledges departmental employees who exhibit exceptional character and work ethic.
When Marc is not in the office focusing on the patient’s in the practice, or helping with other responsibilities, you can find him as a member of both St Peters University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, as an Adjunct Professor, a position he has held since 2016 and 2012 respectfully. Being an Athletic Trainer, with a background heavily in Anatomy, Marc teaches Anatomy and Physiology with the Biology Department at Fairleigh Dickinson. Most recently, Marc started an Adjunct Professor position at St Peters University, helping to introduce prospective students to the field of Athletic Training by teaching the Introduction to Sports Medicine course.
In his academic career, Marc received his Bachelor’s Degree from Dominican College, followed by a Masters in Science, focusing in Movement Science from Seton Hall in 2012. Marc is currently defending his Dissertation, titled “Understanding and Identifying Factors That Influence Concussion Reporting in Adolescent Athletes” to obtain in Doctorate in Health Science, with a projected date of May 2017. Along with his Doctoral Dissertation, Marc has been involved with our non-operative Sports Medicine Team I regards to concussion research, something that he is very passionate about, and is hopeful to be involved with a research project in the near future. Along with this, he stays current by attending all NATA & EATA meetings, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Athletic Trainers Society’s in New York State, New Jersey and Orange County. Marc also maintains his NATA membership, his BOC Certification, and his National Board of Certification Orthopedic Physician Assistant Certification.
For all of these reasons, I am thrilled to nominate Marc Mortellaro for the Young Professionals’ Committee National Distinction Award. Marc not only embodies the ideas, goals and mission of the NATA, but he demonstrates the highest level of service, professionalism and competence day in a day out.
Thank you,
Michael Henne, ATC, CES
Michael Henne, ATC, CES
Athletic Trainer in Physician Practice
AT to Dr. William N. Levine
Center for Shoulder, Elbow, and Sports Medicine
Columbia Univeristy Irving Medical Center