University exercise science professor Michael Ferrara is just one of five people in the nation being inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame for 2009.

Ferrara, a professor in the College of Education’s department of kinesiology, founded and directs UGA1s athletic training education program and the St. Mary1s Hospital Athletic Training Research and Education Laboratory at UGA.

“The NATA Hall of Fame is the highest honor in the athletic training profession, and Mike is well-deserving of this recognition,” said Ron Courson, UGA’s head athletic trainer. “Mike is widely respected nationally and internationally for his work in the field of athletic training. His research in sports concussion and exertional heat illness has significantly influenced the body of knowledge in these important areas. His work in international athletic training has truly had a global impact on our profession.”

Ferrara came to UGA in 1998 and established a world-class athletic training education curriculum and a graduate sports medicine program. Now, UGA’s undergraduate athletic training program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

“I have been lucky to have been mentored by so many great people throughout my career,” Ferrara said. “At UGA, I work with the best athletic training and clinical staff in the country. It is a joy to come to work each and every day when it is something you love to do.”

Ferrara will officially be inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame at an award ceremony June 19 in San Antonio, Texas at NATA’s annual clinical symposium.

- UGA News Service