Wade Bartlett is married to Kristin Bartlett together they have 3 girls, Alyssa (21), Taryn (16) and Rynna (14). They reside in Spring Hill where they have lived since 1998. He has been a member of TATS and SEATA since 1997 and NATA since 1991.
Wade is employed by STAR Physical Therapy in Franklin and has been with the company since 2006 where he was the Athletic Trainer at Franklin High School. He currently is an Outreach High School Athletic Training and Education Coordinator. He also serves his community as the Athletic Training Coordinator for several Travel Events and Youth Sports Leagues. These include GNASH Hockey, NYHL, WCSA, and Volleyball and Basketball events throughout Middle Tennessee.
In 2004, Wade was asked by the TSSAA to assist in establishing the TSSAA Wrestling Weight Management Program. This included writing and regulating the rules, developing the Assessment Testing Procedures for each wrestler, and creating an Assessor Training Program. TSSAA named him the Director of the TSSAA Wrestling Weight Management Program in 2004 for his work.
A graduate of Minnesota State University at Mankato Athletic Training curriculum program in 1993, he went on to receive his Masters of Science Degree from Oklahoma State University in 1997.
Wade’s dedication to the profession has been recognized by his peers in the medical community through several awards: Baptist Hospital Caring Hands Award (2003), TATS Backbone Athletic Trainer of the Year Award (2004), TATS Joe Worden Clinic/Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year Award (2016) and SEATA Clinic/Industrial/Corporate Athletic Trainer of the Year (2017).
If elected, Wade would like to promote the need of Athletic Trainers in High Schools, recreational and travel sports leagues, and Physician offices as physician extenders. With today’s ever changing reimbursement rates from insurance carriers, the cost for these services need to be transferred to these outreach sites. We as a TATS need to assist in locating funds, both public and private, for these positions, otherwise I can see a downturn in care in the outreach setting. Because of these economic realities, Athletic Trainers must show the financial value that we can bring to the ever changing medical community.