In every community across the United States there are names that are synonymous with specific buildings and landmarks. One of the most famous is Carnegie Hall, located in Manhattan, named after Andrew Carnegie, who funded the construction for the project. The world of sports has its own well-known landmarks and most any fan can think of the images that are conjured up by Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets and two that draw local attention during college basketball season—the Dean E. Smith Center and Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Piedmont Triad has its own distinct buildings and landmarks that come to mind in each of the three major communities. In the Greensboro skyline one of the more prominent buildings is the Jefferson Standard Building and Lincoln Financial Building which stand at least 20 stories tall.
One of the most recognized structures in High Point is the International Home Furnishings Center, which has been one of the backbones of the furniture market for years in the area and globally as countless have traveled to the Triad to buy furniture for companies across the world.
In Winston-Salem, the skyline is decorated by the Wells Fargo Building, which defines the downtown area. The BB&T Financial Building, which sits in close proximity to the Wells Fargo Building also adds to the majestic downtown landscape of the city.
Just a few blocks away, one of Winston's most well-known sports venues, Ernie Shore Stadium, has since undergone a name change, but for sports fans in the area it will always have a special place in their heart. Ernie Shore Stadium, which is now named David F. Couch Ballpark and serves as the home of Wake Forest baseball, opened in 1956 and was named for former major league pitcher Ernie Shore.
Shore played seven years in the major leagues for the New York Giants (1912), Boston Red Sox (1914-1917) and New York Yankees (1919-20). The former teammate of legendary baseball player Babe Ruth retired after his baseball career was completed and later used his passion for the game to build a park in Winston-Salem after a fire ravished the Southside Park.
The Shore family continues to remain strong in the Winston-Salem community and Salem College recently announced the addition of Ernie Shore's great great granddaughter, Riley, as its Head Athletic Trainer.
"I love having the opportunity to represent Salem College," said Riley Shore. "The campus is absolutely beautiful and full of history. As a Winston-Salem native, I admire how Salem College ensures that the history remains alive. The employees and staff are a close knit family at Salem College. We openly share new ideas with one another. Everyone's ideas and beliefs are considered when making big decisions."
"Novant Health Orthopedic & Sports medicine also provides me with a close group of athletic trainers," continue Shore. "As a group we understand the great demands put on us and we lean on each other for support. I chose to work with Novant Health because of the value they place on professional growth and patient centered care. Novant Health provides their athletic trainers with opportunities to constantly improve their skills."
Like her famous great grandfather, Riley was also passionate about athletics, which in a roundabout way is how she discovered her career as an athletic trainer. As Riley describes "growing up, gymnastics was my passion. I was a competitive gymnast for 13 years.
"Gymnastics is a private sport and is not affiliated with high school athletics," said Shore. "Athletic trainers do not work with private gymnastics companies, working with the gymnasts on preventative treatment, injury rehabilitation, emergency and follow-up care. During my freshman year of high school, I injured my pelvis and was diagnosed with pelvic misalignment and sciatica. My doctor advised me to temporarily discontinue gymnastic activities, however I did not take that advice. I continued to fight through the pain, causing my injury to progress from an injury that could have been treated with rest and rehab, to a pelvic avulsion fracture and then into what is called spondylolisthesis, a fracture and slippage between my fourth and fifth lumbar vertebra. The vertebrae fracture and slippage injury caused me to discontinue all gymnastic activities, permanently."
"If I had an athletic trainer to ensure I remained compliant and partake in injury rehabilitation after my initial diagnosis, my injury might not have worsened and caused me to quit the sport I love," Shore explained. "Knowing how passionate I was about gymnastics; I know first-hand how passionate other athletes are about the sports they participate in. I also know that the pain of hearing that you can never compete in athletics again, hurts more than the pain of the injury. My passion for athletic training came from my desire to ensure that no other athlete experiences the pain of having to permanently discontinue the sport they are most passionate about."
Like many in the healthcare profession, Shore has experienced a hectic schedule over the course of the last 18 months with the COVID-19 pandemic. "This year I have been forced to juggle the act of tending to athletes' day-to-day needs while also dealing with the complexity that comes with playing sports and keeping everyone safe in a pandemic," described Shore. "I will admit, a lot of times it can be overwhelming and mentally exhausting. Every day, the COVID-19 virus has been on my mind.
"Working under these circumstances is not something we train for," Shore described. "The COVID-19 pandemic forced athletic trainers to alter the way they do nearly everything. Training rooms have been modified to maintain social distancing and limits have been placed on how many people are allowed in the room at a time. We try our best to mitigate as many risk factors as possible, so that they can continue competing safely and stay healthy."
As Shore explains, "athletic trainers are the frontline worker in athletics. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how essential trainers are to health care. Athletic trainers have more roles than most think. In addition to their normal day to day tasks, athletic trainers have been helping districts design COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for athletics.
"Pre-pandemic, I took calls from athletes and coaches throughout the day, keeping tabs on injured athletes and setting up doctor appointments. But I have never had to take as many phone calls as I have this year. My phone is always blowing up with questions and concerns about practice and game modifications, social distancing rules, COVID-19 case tracking's, etc."
Like those in her field, Shore has quickly adapted to the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic issues that have plagued college athletics, while improving her skill set in the profession. "Every time my phone rings and I see it's a coach, athlete or the school's athletic director, I hold my breath, hoping it's not about an athlete who has tested positive for COVID-19, but I know the possibility exists every time," she said.
"I believe that these athletic modifications will be put in place for the next several years," Shore said. "I think athletic trainers will have to perform daily COVID screenings and checking temperatures for a while. Student athletes will also have to continue to report illnesses and symptoms more frequently. The biggest change for me has been understanding that an athlete may come into the training room feeling great one day and not the next. Physically, mentally or emotionally. I have to understand and take into consideration that they are struggling with their own stress of adapting to a new normal. Athletic trainers have been forced to change our practice, but in my experience it has helped me become a better clinician, learning to adapt to unexpected situations."