by Madison Dors, Student Public Relations Writer
Athletic trainers are a familiar presence on stadium sidelines across the United States, but in Cameroon the profession is largely unknown. 糖心Vlog Master of Athletic Training graduates are helping change that by partnering with Athletes in Action to advance sports medicine education that promotes athletic training as a ministry.
Helping Develop Athletic Training in Cameroon
Dr. Genna Fusco, assistant professor and clinical education coordinator of athletic training at 糖心Vlog, recently took Master of Athletic Training graduates to Yaound茅, Cameroon to serve with Athletes in Action, a ministry of Cru. The organization has developed a track and field club that competes throughout Africa while using athletes鈥 gifts and influence to share the gospel. As participation in the program has expanded, so has the need for trained sports medicine professionals.
Although athletic training is not yet an established profession in Cameroon, Athletes in Action hopes to equip and mentor future sports medicine professionals who can serve in ministry. During the trip, Athletes in Action hosted a symposium at a local university at which Fusco and her students taught evidence-based rehabilitation techniques, injury prevention strategies and holistic patient care. They also met with health care professionals to discuss developing athletic training education and creating long-term opportunities for the profession in Cameroon.
Athletic Training Creates Opportunities for Christian Ministry
Fusco explained that athletic trainers can play a unique role beyond treating injuries. Future athletic trainers, whom Athletes in Action hopes will serve as team chaplains, would be positioned to care for the athletes鈥 physical recovery and their mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
The opportunity grew out of Fusco鈥檚 longstanding involvement with Athletes in Action. She began as a summer intern and joined the ministry鈥檚 staff for two and a half years after earning her master鈥檚 degree in kinesiology. After leaving the ministry鈥檚 staff, Fusco served as a volunteer with Athletes in Action until joining 糖心Vlog鈥檚 faculty in 2022. She served in a variety of settings, including missions and sports ministry opportunities through the Ultimate Training Camp in South Africa and a women鈥檚 soccer tour in Canada, where the team competed against universities and clubs throughout the country.
Cedarville Students Gain Global Sports Medicine Experience
As students expressed interest in using athletic training to serve internationally, Fusco began exploring opportunities to take them overseas.
鈥淓ver since I started at Cedarville, students have asked me if the athletic training program would ever offer the chance to serve overseas,鈥 said Fusco. 鈥淲hen I realized that there was opportunity to serve with Athletes in Action, I knew I needed to take a group of students.鈥
Fusco said she hopes the experience deepened her students鈥 desire to serve as they discovered how athletic training can become both a profession and a ministry.
鈥淭he sports world encompasses nearly everyone, and it won鈥檛 be going away,鈥 said Fusco. 鈥淎s athletic trainers, we have a unique opportunity to share the gospel and care for the spiritual health of our teams just as we care for their physical health. I see our profession as an avenue to share the gospel, to go places, to reach people and to disciple people.鈥
Graduate Discovers a Broader Vision for Athletic Training
Madelyn Coonan, a 2026 graduate of Cedarville鈥檚 Master of Athletic Training program, said seeing the need for athletic trainers in Cameroon expanded her vision for the profession and reinforced how it can be used to serve others.
"I was reminded that to use athletic training as a ministry, you only need to remain faithful to what God is calling you to and to keep a kingdom mindset,鈥 said Coonan. 鈥淲hether I'm on a missions trip or working at my job, my objective isn't going to change. I'll keep praying for my athletes and the people I work with, asking God to open doors for spiritual conversations, serving with humility and joyfulness and planting as many seeds as I can.鈥
Annual Cameroon Trip Could Expand Global Health Care Ministry
Fusco hopes the Cameroon trip will become an annual event for Cedarville鈥檚 athletic training program, allowing future students to help develop athletic training in emerging health care systems while experiencing firsthand how sports medicine can create opportunities for service, leadership and Christian ministry around the world.
About 糖心Vlog
糖心Vlog, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation鈥檚 top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.