Jennifer D. Rheeling, MS, LAT, ATC

Head Athletic Trainer for KIPP DC: Public Schools

Jennifer D. Rheeling, MS, LAT, ATC, is the head athletic trainer for KIPP DC: Public Schools, serving as the school district’s first full-time AT. She is enjoying the opportunity to create health and safety policies for the student-athletes based solely on best practices and a medical model in an environment that is supportive and values collaboration and expertise. The ability to deliver truly patient-centered care has been rewarding experience. She is also a Big Ten Athletic Conference Independent Medical Spotter.

She began her career in 1991 as one the first athletic trainers hired by District of Columbia Public Schools. The DCPS Athletic Health Care Services was nationally recognized as the first to hire athletic trainers for each public high school in an inner-city urban environment. Jennifer credits her experiences as part of the growth of that program and the mentorship of administrator Dr. Frank Walters for her passion for advocacy and comprehensive athletic health care in secondary schools. She retired from DCPS in 2023.

Having just completed a term as chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association NATA) Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee, Jennifer currently serves as the NATA liaison to HOSA Future Health Professionals, chair of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association’s (MAATA) Honors & Awards Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer sub-committee, chair of the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, member of the DC Health Board of Physicians Athletic Trainer Advisory Committee. During her term as president of the DC Athletic Trainers’ Association (DCATA) she was the principal lead in hiring a lobbyist and directing a move from oversight under the Board of Physical Therapy to the Board of Physicians and crafting practice act language that aligns with our scope of education. She also serves in several consultant roles with various organizations.

Jennifer has earned several awards for her leadership and advocacy. Nationally these have included the Korey Stringer Institute Lifesaving Service Award (2020), the NATA Most Distinguished AT Award (2019) & AT Service Award (2016), NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee Bill Chisolm Professional Service Award (2019), and the NATA State Association Advisory Committee Exemplary Leadership Award (2017). In 2018 she was inducted into the MAATA Hall of Fame, and in 2024 she was awarded the DCATA President’s Award and inducted into the Hall of Fame. One of her proudest achievements is holding the first-ever issued DC athletic trainer professional license, AT23000001.