Nathan Johnson, a Certified Athletic Trainer with University Medical Center, has been named 2009 Sandy Sandlin High School Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Tennessee Athletic Trainers Association. The award was presented during the organization’s annual meeting Jan. 16-17 at the Opryland Raddison Hotel.

Johnson, who has worked with Friendship Christian School during his entire nine years with UMC, has been instrumental in organizing UMC’s annual Sports Screenings Day which provides comprehensive health screenings to Middle Tennessee student athletes.

He also spearheads the hospital’s annual Coaches Clinic, which features health education programs focused on athletic injuries to area coaches. Johnson has also been active in enhancing the UMC Sports Medicine offerings for the Nashville Superspeedway and Sherry’s Run.

“We congratulate Nathan on this well deserved award are happy that he has been recognized for his efforts in our community,” said Vince Cherry, UMC Chief Executive Officer. “Nathan has enhanced and grown the sports medicine program to meet the needs of the student athletes, coaches and administration of Friendship as well as enhance the sports medicine program at the hospital and in our community. His dedication to student athletes is commendable.”

Johnson holds a bachelors degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Medicine from Cumberland University. He continues to be involved at Cumberland and serves as an Approved Curriculum Instructor for their Athletic Training Education Program – a position he has held for over two years. 

 “The TATS award is awfully nice, but for me the best reward is when one of my athletes can get back into the game -- and then come over and say ‘thank you,’” Johnson said.

Nathan and his wife, Danna, have two children (Michael age seven and Alex age four) and reside in DeKalb County.