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Michael W. Goforth, MS, ATC

Adjunct Professor
  • Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, Virginia Tech Athletics
  • Focus area(s): Athletic training; sports medicine; coaching youth sports
A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member sits inside a studio for a professional headshot.
160 Jamerson Athletic Center

Education

M.S., Sports Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1995

B.S., Athletic Training, East Tennessee State University, 1991

Experience

1998 – present: Adjunct Professor (HNFE, ITMA) Basic Athletic Training, Advanced Athletic Training, Performance and Sports Medicine Series (1-4), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg

1998 – present: Associate Athletics Director, Head Athletic Trainer, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

2002 – present: Faculty Member VCOM Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program

2022 – present: Appointed by Gov. Youngkin to the Advisory Board for Athletic Training under the Virginia Board of Medicine

2010 – 2014: Co-Owner, Tech Sports Plex

1997 – 1998: Director of Wellness and Sports Medicine, Hamilton Medical Center/Bradley Wellness Center, Dalton, Georgia

1996 – 1997: Director/Co-Founder, Pioneer Sports Medicine/Physical Therapy Clinic, Greeneville, Tennessee

1995 – 1997: Head Athletic Trainer/Co-Founder, Green County Sports Medicine/Industrial Cooperative, Greeneville, Tennessee

1994 – 1997: Coordinator, Sports Medicine Academic Program, Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tennessee

1994 – 1997: Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer, Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tennessee

1994 – 1997: Assistant Athletic Director, Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tennessee

1992 – 1994: Head Athletic Trainer/Instructor, William Fleming High School, Roanoke, Virginia

1991 – 1995: Olympic Development Wrestling Athletic Trainer, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

1991 – 1995: Camp Trainer for Football, Baseball, Wrestling, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

1991 – 1995: Wrestling Athletic Trainer, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

1991 – 1995: Graduate Assistant Football Athletic Trainer, Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

1987 – 1991: Student Athletic Trainer, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee

Selected Major Awards

  • 2020 – MAATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award
  • 2019 – VATA Hall Of Fame Induction
  • 2016 – Frank Beamer Staff Excellence Award
  • 2014 – Nominated for NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer; CUATC/NATA Division I Athletic Trainer of the Year Award
  • 2007 – Dixie Youth Baseball National Service Award; Lynchburg Area Fire and Rescue Humanitarian Award; Dixie Youth Baseball World Series Participant, Manager
  • 2005 – College/University Athletic Trainers’ Committee Over and Above Winner
  • 1987-1991 – Athletic Management Award of Excellence in Athletic Training Management (Honorable Mention), William Fleming High School, Roanoke, Virginia
  • 1987-1991 – Larry Sutton Scholarship Award, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
  • 1987-1991 – Jerry Robertson Scholarship Award, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
  • 1987-1991 – Dean’s List, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
  • 1987-1991 – Roy Van Pangle Outstanding Physical Education Student Award, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee

Program Focus

I currently work on research concerning concussions in athletics.

Publications

  • 2017 – present: Head Impact biomechanics, the clinical diagnosis of sports-related concussion, and the application of osteopathic structural diagnosis and treatment. IRB #2017-047
  • 2017 – present: Reconstructions of Concussive Impacts in Football. IRB #17-721
  • 2017 – present: Pre-competition Manipulation and Concussion risk among Virginia Tech Football Players during the 2008-2016 Football Seasons. IRB#2017-041
  • 2014 – present: NCAA-DoD Grand Challenge ARC Research Award/Grant.
  • 2014 – present: Injury Surveillance in College Football. IRB #14-827
  • 2013 – present: Head Acceleration Measurements in Athletes. IRB #13-945
  • 2013 – present: Sports Traumatic Brain Injury Biomarker Pilot Study. IRB #2013/015
  • 2013 – present: Head Acceleration Measurements in Youth Football. IRB #11-558
  • 2012 – present: The Emotional Instability of Concussions on Athletes. IRB #12-699
  • 2018: Comprehensive Biomarker-based Clinical Concussion Diagnosis and Treatment. AOASM Case Presentation.

Reviewed Journals

  • 2019: Detecting Clinically Significant Cardiac Abnormalities with Pre-Participation ECG’s in College Athletes. Appleton, Rogers, Harris, Pham, Rivero, Brolinson, Beato, Goforth
  • 2018: Trends of Caffeine Use in an Intercollegiate Athletic Population
    Eck, Zabinsky, Goforth, Shan, Rogers, Brolinson. AOASM Poster Presentation
  • 2016: A Review of Return to Play Issues and Sports-Related Concussion
    Amy Doolan, Danial Day, Arthur Maerlender, Gunnar Brolinson, Mike Goforth
  • 2016: Effects of Recent Concussion and Injury History on Instantaneous Relative Risk of Lower Extremity Injury in Division I Collegiate Athletics
    Peter C. Fino, Lauren Becker, Nora F. Fino, Brett Griesemer, Michael Goforth, Per Gunnar Brolinson
  • 2013: RTP Following an Acute Coccygeal Fracture in Div. I Football. VCOM Poster Presentation
  • 2013: Hypertension in NCAA Division I Athletics. VCOM Poster Presentation
  • 2013: Illness and Musculoskeletal Medicine Encounters at a NCAA Division I Athletics Program 2008-2011. VCOM Poster Presentation.
  • 2012: Effect of Concussion on Postural Stability among NCAA Division I College Athletes using IsoBALANCE® 2.0 Force Plate Technology: An Analysis of VT Football Players over the 2009 and 2011 Seasons. Brolinson et al
  • 2012: Review of Return to Play Issues and Sports-Related Concussion
    Amy W. Doolan D.O., Daniel D. Day D.O., Arthur C. Maerlender Ph.D., Michael Goforth ATC, P. Gunnar Brolinson D.O.
  • 2012: Pre-competition Manipulation and Performance among Virginia Tech Football Players during the 2008-2009 Football Season Pilot Study
    AOASM2012

Oral Presentations

  • 2015 – present: VCOM Sports Medicine Conclave (The Team Approach)
  • 2019: Communication Tips, Mountain Athletic Trainers Society, Kingsport, TN
  • 2018: Future of The Athletic Training Profession, VATA, Williamsburg, VA
  • 2016: Concussions in Athletics, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke, VA
  • 2015: VT/VCOM Performance and Sports Medicine Symposium, Blacksburg, VA
  • 2015: Concussion Awareness, Frank Beamer Coaches Clinic
  • 2015: Healthcare-The TEAM Approach, Case Managers Breakfast, Roanoke, VA
  • 2014: Leadership in Athletics, Lewis Gale Regional Health Systems Management Retreat, Christiansburg, VA
  • 2014: LEAD Virginia, VT Athletics/Sports Medicine Economic Impact Presentation, Blacksburg, VA
  • 2014: Professional Preparation, Virginia Tech Performance and Sports Medicine Club