Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation Specialist
The Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation Specialist Award is given to a sports medicine professional whose work and contributions have significantly impacted the field of sports medicine or rehabilitation for athletes.
Congratulations to Our 2023 Winner!
Scot Morrison, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Scot Morrison is a board-certified physical therapist with a strong career in sports medicine/science. Scot currently works as a contract Sports Med Provider within the US Special Operations Command POTFF program. He also consults for a variety of teams and individuals through his company PhysioPraxis. Previous roles include a similar position within AFSOC, Director of Sports Medicine for the MLS Professional Referee Organization, and running a sports medicine practice in Portland, OR. In addition, he is also in his second term as the Chair of the AASPT Sports Performance Enhancement SIG and is pursuing his PhD under Franco Impellizzeri through the University of Verona.
Download the Press Release
Award Eligibility
| NSCA Membership |
| Consecutive membership for 2 years* |
| NSCA Certification |
| Licensure (AT, PT, MD, DO, DC) |
| Cover letter, resume or CV, and criteria worksheet received |
| Award Not Previously Received |
*Consecutive membership is counted back from the date the award is to be conferred.
Additional requirements listed in the General Awards Criteria, include but not limted to, nominee must be nominated by a member in good standing and nominees will be sent a criteria sheet to fill out that must be returned before the required deadline.
Past Award Recipients Include:
| 2020 - Ben Reuter, PhD, ATC, CSCS*D |  |
| 2019 - William J. Hanney, DPT, PhD, ATC, CSCS |  |
| 2018 - Daniel Lorenz, DPT, PT, ATC/L, CSCS |  |
| 2017 - Bill Holcomb, PhD, ATC, LAT, CSCS,*D, FNATA, FNSCA |  |
| 2016 - Robert Panariello, MS, PT, ATC, CSCS |  |
| 2015 - Arianne Missimer, DPT, RD, FMS, RKC, TPI, CSCS |  |
| 2014 - Morey Kolber, PT, PhD, OCS, Cert. MDT, CSCS |  |
| 2013 - Terry Grindstaff, PhD, PT, ATC, SCS, CSCS,*D | |
| 2012 - John P. McCarthy, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA | |
| 2011 - Greg Myer, PhD, CSCS | |
| 2010 - Scott E. Lawrance, CSCS | |
| 2009 - Danny McMillian, DPT, CSCS | |
| 2008 - Jaynie Bjornaraa, PhD, MPH, PT, CSCS,*D | |
| 2007 - Dan Wathen, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA | |
| 2005 - David Potach, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D | |
| 2004 - Jeff Falkel, CSCS,*D | |
| 2003 - Todd Ellenbecker, CSCS | |
| 2002 - Jeff Fahrenbruch, MPT, CSCS,*D | |
| 2001 - Donald Chu, PhD |
How are recipients selected?
1. The process for selection shall be as follows:
a. Nominations must be received before the established deadline.
b. NSCA Headquarters will verify eligibility requirements for nominees have been met.
c. Qualified nominees will be notified.
a. If there are no qualifying nominees, the award will not be given.
d. Criteria sheets and supporting information will be sent to the Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation SIG Chair, unless the Chair is a nominee.
a. The Chair will:
1. Determine if any of the nominees are part of the current Executive Council.
a. If none are, the Chair will submit the top three nominees to the Council for vote. The Chair may participate in this vote.
b. If members of the Council have been nominated and rank in the top three, the Chair will create an impartial Task Force of five to vote on the winner. The Chair may not participate in this vote.
i. The Task Force will be comprised of >50% Chair selected NSCA members and <50% past award winners.
ii. Task Force composition should include membership from diverse professional and demographic backgrounds.
b. If the Chair is a nominee:
1. The top three nominees will be submitted to the Chair of the Membership Committee for committee vote.
a. If a member of the committee is a colleague, graduate or postdoc advisor or advisee, family member, or close collaborator of a nominee, then the member shall disclose this conflict to the remainder of the Committee and recuse himself or herself from service on the subcommittee of the award for which the individual is nominated and from voting for the finalists of that award should the individual be included, if applicable. Committee members may nominate applicants, but may not write supporting letters for nominees during their terms of service.
e. The Chair will notify NSCA Headquarters and the Awards and Honors Committee Chair of winner. The Executive Council will not notify the selected recipient.
2. The Awards and Honors Committee Chair will:
a. Notify the Board of Directors of the recipient.
3. NSCA Headquarters will:
a. Notify the recipient of the award.
b. Send regret notifications.
c. Create a Press Release announcement of the winner.
d. Will verify attendance at the National Conference awards banquet.
