Leap of Faith

Dr. Matthew Smitley is the Clinical Assistant Professor and MSAT Program Director for the Athletic Training Program at the University of Idaho. The University of Idaho’s 24-month Athletic Training Program places students in real-life clinical situations to give them the needed experience to hit the ground running after graduation. Dr. Smitley first joined the faculty as a Graduate Teaching Assistant while pursuing a Doctor of Athletic Training in 2017. After receiving his degree in 2019, he joined the faculty full-time. 

Previously, Dr. Matthew Smitley worked with Mission Health, named one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems, and a full-time high school outreach athletic trainer. While there, he organized, coordinated, and provided health care for over 300 student-athletes across 28 teams and 16 different sports. 

In this episode…

Have you started down your career path but feel like you’re going in the wrong direction? Do you feel like there’s more out there for you, and it’s time for a change? 

Dr. Matthew Smitley worked at a great company in Northern California where he enjoyed his work and employers — but something was missing. His friend and mentor, Dr. Baker, had recommended pursuing a doctorate degree three years earlier, but he had dismissed the notion. Finally, something within Dr. Smitley snapped into place — he handed in a two-week notice at his office without any new job guarantee and plowed full-steam ahead into a doctoral program. From there, he found a passion for education and new clarity as a clinician and arrived in a position he loves: teaching at the University of Idaho. 

In this episode of It’s Not Just Business Talks with Sonja, Sonja Anderson sits down with Dr. Matthew Smitley, Clinical Assistant Professor and MSAT Program Director of Athletic Training at the University of Idaho, to discuss the leap of faith that led to his current position. Dr. Smitley talks about why he chose to pursue athletic training, the mentor that inspired him to reach his full potential, and what is unique about the University of Idaho’s Athletic Training Program.