Moorpark College Sports Medicine
Moorpark College Sports Medicine
The Moorpark College Sports Medicine team works hard on and off the field and court to educate, support, and serve the medical needs of all student-athletes in our 17 Men’s and Women’s programs. Our mission is to assist student-athletes with sport related injuries back to full participation as quickly and safely as possible.
What is an Athletic Trainer?
Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.
Athletic training encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of emergent, acute or chronic injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an allied health care professional.
Our Team
Cherisse Meichtry, MS, ATC, PES – Athletic Trainer
Cherisse came back to join the Moorpark College staff in 2006. She played two years of volleyball for the Raiders and earned her Associate’s degree in Human Performance in 2000. She transferred to the University of South Carolina and received her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training in 2003, and received her Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania in 2005. Prior to Moorpark College, Cherisse was the athletic trainer at Carson High School for a year and a half, and worked in two Physical Therapy clinics providing patient care and high school outreach.
Cherisse started teaching at Santa Monica City College in 2006 with Introduction to Sports Injuries. Since 2007 she has been a part-time instructor at Moorpark College, teaching: Health and Society, Safety and First Aid, Women’s Health, Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries Lecture and Lab, Athletic Injuries Seminar, Sports Nutrition Seminar, and Fitness for Life Seminar.
Cherisse takes pride in setting a good example for her athletic training students and athletes to be good students first. In 2000, Cherisse was awarded Moorpark College, Western State Conference, and California Community College Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Cherisse is a board certified athletic trainer and is also certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid instruction. Cherisse is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Far West Athletic Trainers Association, California Athletic Trainers Association, and California Community College Athletic Trainers Association. She has also served as the conference rep for the Western State Conference athletic trainers, and the AT rep to the WSC athletic directors.
Mariel Stegmeir, MA, ATC – Athletic Trainer
Mariel returned to Moorpark College to join the staff in 2018. She played two years of soccer for the Raiders and earned her Associate’s degree in 2008. She transferred to San Diego State University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training in 2010. She also received her Master’s degree from SDSU in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Rehabilitative Science in 2012.
While obtaining her Master’s degree, Mariel was the Athletic Trainer at Hilltop High School and Francis Parker each for a year, and San Diego Mesa Community College for a year. She was also a preceptor for San Diego State University’s Athletic Training program while working at San Diego Mesa. After living in beautiful San Diego for 5 years, Mariel wanted to experience some seasons and cold weather, so she moved to New York during the summer of 2013. While there, she worked at Dowling College for 3 years and Long Island University Post for nearly 2 years. Both colleges participated in NCAA Division II sports.
Mariel missed her family and the warm weather, so she moved back to California to be a part of the Raider family once again. Mariel is a board certified Athletic Trainer and is also certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid. Mariel is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Far West Athletic Trainers Association, California Athletic Trainers Association, and California Community College Athletic Trainers Association.
Pierre Durand, MD & Michael Vercillo, MD – Team Physician, Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Durand and Dr. Vercillo evaluate and diagnose orthopedic injuries on the sidelines and in the athletic training clinic. They also perform our annual health appraisals, as well as many of our orthopedic surgeries.
Athletic Training Students
Athletic training students are an integral part of the sports medicine team. These students volunteer their time to learn more about the athletic training profession, and as a requirement prior to entry into a formal education program.
Students who want to become certified athletic trainers must earn a master’s degree from an accredited professional athletic training education program. Using a medical-based education model, athletic training students are educated to provide comprehensive patient care in five domains of clinical practice: prevention; clinical evaluation and diagnosis; immediate and emergency care; treatment and rehabilitation; and organization and professional health and well-being. Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences.
Moorpark College offers all of the prerequisite classes to prepare you for transfer to a 4-year institution for Kinesiology and/or Pre-Athletic Training. We also provide the opportunity for students to gain hands on experience, and obtain required clinical hours in preparation for the next level. We are an approved clinical site for California State University, Northridge and work closely with their athletic training program.
Recommended prerequisite coursework offered by Moorpark College:
BIOL M01 Introduction to Biology
ANAT M01 Human Anatomy
PHSO M01 Human Physiology
NTS M01 Introduction to Nutritional Science
KIN M13 Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries
KIN M13L Prevention & Care of Athletic Injuries Lab
MATH M15 Introductory Statistics
PSY M01 Introduction to Psychology
*** There may be additional course requirements and recommended classes depending on the school you transfer to, such as: CHEM M01A General Chemistry, HED M01 Health and Society, HED M05 First Aid, CPR, & Emergency Procedures, HED M07 Personal Health, KIN M01 Introduction to Kinesiology, KIN M18 Foundations of Fitness, NS M19 Medical Terminology, and/or PHYS M10A General Physics and Lab. This is why it is important to see our counselor to help with class selection.
Students from Moorpark College have transferred and finished professional requirements for Athletic Training at: CSUN, Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State, Long Beach State, and many others.
If you are interested in athletic training, click here.