There are many areas one can work when they choose a field in one of the health professions. These areas include commonly known professions such as a Certified Athletic Trainer, Respiratory Therapist, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Dental Hygienist, Audiologist, Speech Pathologist, Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technologist, Dietitian, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, and others. 

Each of these professions use medical terminology and medical abbreviations daily.  They communicate to each other within a profession as well between professions as part of an allied health team.  Being able to communicate efficiently in one’s profession and with those in other medical professions can determine if the team provides optimal patient centered care and can at times mean the difference between life and death for a patient. 

Timothy A. Tolbert, PhD, ATC is the Exercise Science Program Director and Associate Professor at Brenau University in Gainesville, GA.  He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of West Alabama, Master of Education from Berry College, and Doctorate in Human Performance from Middle Tennessee State University.  He started his career in higher education in the fall of 2009 as the Athletic Training Education Program Clinical Coordinator at Marshall University.  He also served as the Program Director.  Since then, he has been an Exercise Science faculty member at Georgia Gwinnett College and Brenau University.  Prior to his career in higher education, he worked as an outreach athletic training providing services to high schools and a community college in Alabama.  He has taught courses in multiple areas throughout his career, including athletic training, exercise science, and health promotion.  Dr. Tolbert’s research interests are in the areas of athletic injury epidemiology and techniques to improve student learning.