Compass athletic trainers receive awards

MARENGO — Two of Compass Memorial Healthcare’s athletic trainers recently received recognition for their work in their chosen field.

Ashley Dickey, athletic trainer for English Valleys High School, was named Iowa Athletic Trainer Society Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year.

The award was presented April 11 at a conference in West Des Moines.

Rhianna Freiburger, who has been Williamsburg High School’s athletic trainer for 5 1/2 years, was named 2025 A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Science Health Care Innovation Award.

Dickey was nominated for Trainer of the Year by Jessica Rummery and Freiburger.

The award is for “someone who has kind of gone above and beyond” in promoting the vocation at the state and national levels, Dickey said.

Dickey has spent several years at secondary schools and is very deserving of the award, said Freiburger.

“I think sometimes … the secondary school can kind of be used as a step off [point]” said Freiburger. Dickey has stayed at the high school level rather than leaving for the college ranks.

“[She] really cares for her athletes and secondary schools in general,” said Freiburger.

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“We are co-chairs of the secondary school committee,” said Dickey, “so we have a number of different initiatives.”

One of the ways the committee brought attention to athletic trainers was the Inked by IATS promotion at the girls state basketball tournament.

The organization sent temporary tattoos to teams whose athletic trainers who met certain criteria, and the athletes wore the tattoos during the tournament.

Such initiatives bring attention to “who we are and what we do,” said Dickey.

Athletic trainers stay in the background of sports, said Dickey. They aren’t in the championship photos. They aren’t in the public eye. And they don’t want to be.

“It’s just a huge honor,” said Dickey of the IATS recognition. Working with Compass has given her and Freiburger opportunities to promote the health of athletes and the vocation of athletic training.

“I’m just grateful I’m here,” Dickey said.

Freiburger was nominated for the award from her alma mater by Dr. Tamara McCloud and one of her mentors, Professor Alison Valier.

The award is given to an alumnus who, through research or advocacy, reduces negative health care determinants.

While earning her master’s degree, Freiburger wrote about how to teach athletic trainers to recognize social determinants in health care.

For her doctorate, she broadened that research to cover social determinants in health screening.

Social determinants include access to food or safe housing, access to safe environments or safe places to play and unemployment, which can lead to an absence of health insurance, said Freiburger.

Determinants are things that impact the quality of life. You can’t help health improve unless you know about it, Freiburger said.

Freiburger chose to work in rural high schools because she believes she can impact people more. Just being in a rural community creates barriers because rural areas have more of those determinants, she said.

“Iowa has a lot of health care deserts,” said Freiburger.

“I think because I’m aware of [determinants] … I think I’m a better clinician,” Freiburger said. She’s better able to give whole-person care, she said.

“[It’s a] passion of mine. Makes me a better athletic trainer.”