Full-time Dignity Health athletic trainer to ‘touchdown’ on Chandler Unified sidelines this season thanks to ‘innovATe’ project
Dignity Health Foundation East Valley and Korey Stringer Institute partner to keep junior high student athletes safe through dedicated athletic training services
(Chandler, Ariz. - Aug. 29, 2025) — Friday Night Lights are back and this season Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) will have a full-time athletic trainer on the sidelines at all seven junior high school campuses thanks to a partnership between Dignity Health Foundation East Valley and the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI).
In 2022, Dignity Health Foundation East Valley was awarded a three-year, $180,000 grant through the ‘innovATe’ project offered by KSI, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing sudden death in sport. The funds enabled the placement of a dedicated athletic trainer to provide comprehensive medical care and injury prevention services to student athletes across CUSD junior high schools through Dignity Health’s Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Korey Stringer Institute for their commitment to student athlete safety,” said Julie Alvarado, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Dignity Health Foundation East Valley. “This grant allows us to significantly enhance the resources available to junior high school players in a variety of sports. We are proud to expand this type of care to our community.”
This critical role will provide on-site medical attention, injury assessment and injury prevention education. They will also provide guidance to coaches, players and parents on recognizing and managing heat-related illnesses. The athletic trainer will also collaborate closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care for student athletes. The role will expand comprehensive sports medicine coverage to junior high schools in CUSD, a resource not previously available at this level within the district.
“Having access to a full-time athletic trainer will be a game changer for student athletes at the junior high level," said Suzie Squires, athletic training manager with the Dignity Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute. “This proactive approach helps ensure the well-being of developing athletes and allows them to build healthy habits on and off the field to carry with them in the sport career.
“Every athlete deserves access to the specialized care of an athletic trainer,” said Christianne Eason, President of Sport Safety and Education and Director of innovATe, KSI. “For adolescent athletes, who are still growing both physically and cognitively, this support is just as critical, if not more so, than it is for collegiate or professional athletes. By bringing athletic trainers into schools, we’re taking an essential step to safeguard the health and well-being of student-athletes. We commend Dignity Health for their ongoing commitment to prioritizing the care of athletes in their community.”
The Dignity Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine program was established in the East Valley in 2014 and has since served more than 30,000 student athletes across 45 schools and 9 school districts. As part of the program, Dignity Health employs more than 30 athletic trainers who provide athletic training services at many of the East Valley high schools for their student athletes. The ‘innovATe’ project is funded through the Education fund that was established through the NFL concussion litigation.
Interviews are available with Suzie Squires, athletic training manager with the Dignity Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute. Please contact Abby Kay at 858-216-6220 or abby.kay@commonspirit.org to schedule.
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