Her Story
About Jocelyn
Jocelyn Cook-Cox is a Certified Athletic Trainer based in Spokane, Washington, with over four years of experience in athletic training and sports medicine. Currently contracted through Shriners Children's Hospital to Mead High School, she manages a dual role as both an athletic trainer and sports medicine instructor — providing comprehensive athlete care across all seasons while simultaneously shaping the next generation of sports medicine professionals. Her path into the field was deeply personal; as a multi-sport collegiate athlete at North Idaho College and the College of Idaho, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Human and Health Performance, she spent considerable time navigating training rooms and rehabilitation environments. That firsthand experience as an injured athlete ignited her passion for the profession, ultimately leading her to pursue a Master of Science in Athletic Training from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
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In her role at Mead High School, Jocelyn oversees the full spectrum of athlete care, from pre-practice treatment sessions and sideline coverage to injury prevention protocols and emergency preparedness. Among her most significant professional accomplishments is spearheading her school's achievement of NATA Safe School recognition — a rigorous, year-and-a-half-long process ensuring that athletes, coaches, and administrators are fully equipped to respond to any emergency situation. Beyond the walls of her school, she has taken on informal leadership within the Spokane athletic training community, advocating for improved postseason compensation and better working conditions for her peers. She is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), the Washington State Athletic Trainers Association (WSATA), and the Northwest Athletic Trainers Association (NWATA), reflecting her ongoing commitment to elevating the profession at both a local and national level.
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Jocelyn's approach to her work is defined by perseverance, community, and a willingness to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth. She is a firm believer that the most meaningful professional development happens when practitioners step into unfamiliar territory rather than avoid it — a philosophy she both preaches and practices. Equally passionate about changing public perception of athletic training, she views every opportunity to educate athletes, families, and administrators about the true breadth of the profession as a chance to build lasting advocates for the field. Driven by a stubborn dedication to her athletes and an unwavering love for what she does, Jocelyn Cook-Cox continues to raise the standard of athletic healthcare in her community and beyond.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jocelyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my stubbornness — and I say that in the best possible way. When I am passionate about something, that stubbornness fuels me to make it happen, even when others suggest it might be difficult or out of reach. I see it as a challenge and commit to proving that I can follow through on what I set out to do. Combined with a strong competitive drive and a deep, genuine love for this profession, that persistence is what keeps me pushing forward and delivering results.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to build a community around yourself. Athletic training can be an isolating profession — you are near the sports, near the programs, but not always fully part of them. Having a support system of fellow athletic trainers whom you can turn to, whether to debrief after a hard day, talk through professional challenges, or simply disconnect from work for a while, is invaluable. Knowing that you are not alone in your field makes all the difference, both professionally and personally.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to lean into the things that make you anxious or nervous, because those are precisely the moments where your greatest growth happens. Early in my career, I was not very comfortable working around wrestling because I had limited exposure to it during my education. Instead of avoiding it, I made a deliberate choice to put myself in that uncomfortable space. Over time, wrestling became a sport I am now truly passionate about. That experience taught me that stepping outside your comfort zone is not just beneficial — it is essential to becoming the best healthcare provider you can be.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge we face as athletic trainers is the widespread lack of public understanding of what our profession actually entails. On a daily basis, we are educating people — athletes, coaches, administrators, and parents — about the true scope of our work. While some of my colleagues find that frustrating, I view every one of those moments as an opportunity. You never know who might become your strongest advocate once they truly understand what we do. We are not just taping ankles or handing out water. We provide comprehensive injury prevention, injury management, emergency care, and so much more. We are truly a jack-of-all-trades in healthcare, and getting the broader population to recognize and value that is both our greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me most are commitment, community, perseverance, and passion. In my work, I am deeply committed to providing the highest level of care and emergency preparedness for every athlete I serve. I believe strongly in building community — both within my school and among my fellow athletic trainers — because none of us should have to navigate this profession alone. Perseverance is something I live by; if I believe in something, I will see it through no matter how long it takes. And above all, I am driven by a genuine passion for this field, which is ultimately what makes every challenge worth facing.
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