SAN ANTONIO (July 10, 2023) – Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has promoted Abigail Garcia, LAT, ATC, as Head Athletic Trainer. Garcia, who has been at OLLU since November 2020 as Assistant Athletic Trainer, takes over the position from Corey Beechner, who resigned earlier this summer to pursue other opportunities. Beechner had been in charge of the Athletic Training Department for 10 years. 

Garcia commented, "I am excited to start this new chapter in my career, and I couldn't be happier to have it be at the place that gave me my start, and the place that has molded me into the Athletic Trainer I am today. Of course, I couldn't have gotten here without the leaders and coworkers I had the privilege of working with. They helped me hone my craft even more and have helped me to do my best every day, and so I greatly thank them from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to keeping the health of our athletes as top priority and can't wait to get started."

Most recently, Garcia delivered comprehensive medical coverage and care to a wide range of football athletes ages 6-18 at the Nike Football Camp. She also serves as a preceptor for graduate students enrolled in the Athletic Training Master's Program at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio.

Garcia came to OLLU after numerous internships and shadow positions, including those with physical therapist Dr. Martin Noyola in Devine, Texas, and with Burbank High School in the San Antonio Independent School District. She worked there with Athletic Trainer William Marshall, where she acquired insight and knowledge regarding high-school level athletic training, including settings, rehabilitation, diagnostics, pre-participation screenings and prevention.

At UIW, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training, she received more than 1,200 clinical hours. She worked alongside the UIW football team in fall 2018 and 2019 and the UIW track and field team in spring 2019.

In 2018, Garcia participated in a research study at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland to rehabilitate recruits in basic training.

As Head Athletic Trainer at OLLU, Garcia provides immediate assessment and treatment of injuries and ailments for 18 intercollegiate teams. She implements rehabilitation, conditioning and injury prevention plans and maintains accurate medical documentation per privacy guidelines. 

Garcia has earned the following certifications/licensing: National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification (BOC), Athletic Trainers Licensing, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) certification, National Provider Identifier (NPI) certification and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification.

Garcia is pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from OLLU with projected completion in December 2023.