Athletic Training Program

Get back in the game

Sports Medicine is a unique discipline, designed for amateur and competitive athletes, as well as weekend warriors. Our collaborative team provides progressive orthopedic services and comprehensive care for athletes of all ages. We are committed to patient care, education, community service and research.

Our Athletic Training staff are medical professionals who work hand-in-hand with physicians in a variety of settings, from ballfields to hospitals and clinics. We offer:

• Preventative services
• Emergency care
• Clinical diagnosis
• Therapeutic intervention
• Rehabilitation for injuries and medical conditions

Our Staff

Cesar Nava, ATC
Manager, Rochester Regional Health Athletic Training Program

Cesar has a wealth of experience as an athletic trainer and manager of athletic training services.  He earned his BS in Athletic Training from Temple University and worked with the collegiate athletic teams there before moving on to Drexel University. Cesar then joined Brownstone Physical Therapy as the Director of Athletic Training Services, where he managed a five-person department that covered seven area high schools.

Cesar helped spearhead the development of Rochester Regional's Athletic Training Program in 2016, and he currently manages the program. Under his direction, the program has grown to encompass four full-time employees and five area schools. In addition to directing the program, he also provides medical coverage for the athletic teams at Victor Central School District.

Ian Hurlburt, MS, ATC, CES, CSCS
Athletic Trainer

Ian holds a BS in Athletic Training from the State University of New York at Cortland as well as a Master's Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania. Ian has experience in a variety of settings and holds multiple certifications, including a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and a Level 1 Certification for Functional Movement Systems (FMS). He has helped patients of all ages and skill levels to reach their goals, including high school and college athletes. He has worked on athletic fields, in clinical settings and as part of strength and conditioning programs. In addition to serving the schools within our Athletic Training Program, Ian also provides medical coverage to the 14 NJCAA Division 3 athletic teams at Finger Lakes Community College.

Melissa Wassink, MS, ATC
Athletic Trainer

Melissa grew up in Chili, NY and earned her BS in Athletic Training and BS in Kinesiology from The College at Brockport, State University of New York. While there, Melissa gained experience working with collegiate athletes from both Brockport and the University of Rochester. She completed a season-long internship with the Western New York Flash, a women's professional soccer team. Melissa went on to Indiana State University, where she was awarded a graduate assistant position. She gained experience working as a Certified Athletic Trainer at West Vigo High School, while earning her MS in Athletic Training. She had her Master's Thesis published, and also became certified in the Graston Technique, an innovative form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. Melissa has more than five years of experience as an Athletic Trainer. She provides coverage for both Marcus Whitman and Waterloo High Schools. Melissa is also in her second season with the Rochester Ridgemen, a New York Collegiate Baseball League team.

Jeffrey Zink, MS, ATC, CSCS
Athletic Trainer

With over 15 years of experience as an athletic trainer, Jeffery has experience at all levels of competition, from high school to college Division 1 and even professional athletics. He graduated with a BS in Exercise Physiology from the University at Buffalo and went on to pursue his Master's degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he worked with their Division 1 ice hockey program. Jeffrey is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and has worked with athletes of all ages in clinical settings.currently works with athletes at Hilton Central School District, providing acute care on sidelines, preventative care before games and rehabilitative care for injured athletes. He works hand-in-hand with our team of orthopedic physicians.