Paul Culina

Paul Culina received his bachelor of science in physical education with a minor in health education from Norwich University in 1991. He received his masters degree in education from Norwich in 1993.

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Culina worked as an athletic trainer at Norwich University and Bowdoin College before beginning his career at the University of Maine in 1995 where he is still serving.  At Maine, he has held the position of Assistant Athletic Trainer, Head Athletic Trainer and is currently the Director of Hockey Operations and Athletic Trainer for the Men's Ice Hockey program while also teaching courses in the school's Athletic Training Education Program.  

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He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the Maine Athletic Trainers Association (MATA), along with the Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers’ Society (PHATS). He was also the district representative to the National College and University Athletic Trainers’ Committee and the Memorial Resolutions Committee and is the current NATA Liaison to the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee.

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Sherrie Weeks

Sherrie Weeks received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Training from Castleton State College in 1989.  In 1995, she completed a Master of Education in Athletic Training from the University of Virginia where she was a graduate assistant at Virginia Military Institute.  Finally, in 2004, Weeks completed an Education Specialist degree from Liberty University where she concentrated in Higher Education Leadership.

 

Weeks has worked in many athletic training venues including a private Physical Therapy clinic where she was an outreach athletic trainer to local high schools and Husson College.  She moved on to the University of Maine in 1995 where she worked as an assistant athletic trainer before becoming the Program Director of UMaine’s education program.  Since retiring from these positions, Weeks now is employed by Northern Light Health as an outreach athletic trainer responsible for athletes at Orono High School.

 

She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the Maine Athletic Trainers Association (MATA).  She served on the board prior to this in the president and vice president positions.  Weeks currently is the chair of the education committee for the MATA and is on the education committee for Northern Light Sports Health.  She has been recognized at the state level by being awarded the Mike Linkovich Post Graduate Award and was inducted into the MATA Hall of Fame.

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John Ryan

John earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education/Athletic Training, a Master’s in education and a CAS in Educational Administration all from the University of Maine. He also earned his Doctorate in Education and Athletic Administration from Concordia University-Chicago, and in 2015 became an NIAAA Registered Athletic Administrator.
 

He is currently in his eleventh year as the head athletic trainer at South Portland High School after serving in the same capacity for 21 years at Bangor High School. John has been recognized at the state, district and national levels, having received the Bill Cox
Service Award, the Mike Linkovich Post Graduate Award, MATA Hall of Fame, MBM-Henry Schein Secondary School Athletic Trainer Service Award and the NATA Athletic Trainer Service Award. He has served as MATA Secretary, Vice President and Chair of the Secondary School Athletic Trainers Committee, NATA District 1 Nominations Committee Chair and NATA District 1 Representative on the Hall of Fame Committee. He has also helped South Portland High School earn recognition as an NATA Safe Sports School, First Team in 2016 and 2019.
 

John is also a member of the Maine Concussion Management Initiative’s Executive Board, the Maine Department of Education’s Workgroup on Concussion Management Policy, MCMI Executive Board, the Maine Principals’ Association Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association's Athletic Trainer Liaison and has spoken extensively to several groups including the MIAAA, Maine School Superintendents Association, Maine Parks and Recreation Association and MAHPERD on topics including Emergency Action Planning and Concussion Management.

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Chris Rizzo

Christopher Rizzo, DAT, ATC, CSCS is in his 20th year of teaching as a full Professor and serving as the Coordinator of Clinical Education for the Master of Science in Athletic Training Program at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. In addition to developing clinical experience opportunities for students, his primary teaching responsibilities include Examination of Orthopedic and Athletic Injuries, Physical Agents in Athletic Health Care, Manual Therapies and Clinical Reasoning in Athletic Training.

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Mr. Rizzo earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. He continued his education at Indiana State University where he earned a Master of Science in Athletic Training. In the spring of 2022, Mr. Rizzo earned his Doctor of Athletic Training from AT Still University.

Mr. Rizzo was the lead author of “Athletic Trainers Have a Place in Interprofessional Education and Practice” which was published in the Journal of Interprofessional Care in 2014. He also served as a contributor to a White Paper detailing Interprofessional Education in Athletic Training, which was published in 2015.

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From 2014-2018, Mr. Rizzo served as the President of the Maine Athletic Trainers’ Association and is a Site Reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

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In his free time, Mr. Rizzo enjoys running and camping with his wife and two children.

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