Killian returns to Ritzville as athletic trainer for hospital, school

Dustin Killian returned home to Ritzville earlier this summer to accept a position at East Adams Rural Hospital as an athletic trainer for the district.

He is now also contracted to serve as an athletic trainer for Lind-Ritzville/Sprague athletic programs for the fall season, as a new partnership program between the hospital and school districts.

Killian moved back to Ritzville in July, when he also started working for the Physical Therapy department. He said returning home was two-fold: it was a great job opportunity and also the place he wants to raise his family.

Killian and his wife Natalie have three children, Archer, Axel and Amaya, and he said his strong family ties to Ritzville and the strength and support of the small town community helped seal his decision to return home.

He is a 2004 graduate of Ritzville High School, and attended Brigham Young University in Idaho. He received his Bachelor’s in Health Science, before completing his Master’s at University of Idaho in Athletic Training.

At the hospital, Killian is responsible for helping rehabilitate patients with sports related injuries. He also focuses on patients rebuilding strength through a variety of exercise regimens and focusing his work to each individual patient.

At the high school, Killian has met with each varsity athlete competing in football and volleyball this season.

He completed a preseason evaluation of the athletes to determine their ability to execute functional movements, range of motion and he also completed concussion testing.

With the increased risk of concussions in contact sports, like football, Killian said it is crucial to meet with athletes prior to the start of the season to determine personalities and tendencies. All of the athletes are unique and have different characteristics, Killian said, and it is imperative he consider that if he has to evaluate a potential concussion during a game or practice.

Killian attends practices on a regular basis and assists coaches with taping athletes as needed and observing practices to watch for any potential injuries or dramatic changes in movement from the preseason evaluations.

Along with attending practices, Killian will attend every football game this season and every home volleyball game.

Killian said he will assist Head Coach Greg Whitmore in making calls about potential concussions in football, but is confident in the concussion management team Whitmore has already established.

This is the first time the local school district has ever hired an athletic trainer and Killian is anxious for the seasons to begin. He believes athletic trainers are assets to school programs by helping protect the athletes or rehabilitate them after an injury.

Killian works full time in the Physical Therapy department, but he has been able to maintain flexibility in his schedule while working as an athletic trainer for the schools.