In
the
dry
air
of
Goodyear,
Arizona,
BW
alumnus
Brad
Epstein
'05
begins
his
first
season
as
the
director
of
physical
therapy
and
rehabilitation
for
Major
League
Baseball's
Cincinnati
Reds.
Prior
to
Epstein's
recent
promotion
he
served
as
the
minor
league
rehab
coordinator
for
the
Reds
farm
system.
An
athletic
training
and
pre-physical
therapy
major
at
BW,
Epstein
credits
his
education,
filled
with
hands-on
experience,
for
propelling
his
advancement.
"Through
my
time
learning
from
various
mentors
at
BW,
Columbia
University
and
within
professional
baseball,
I
have
been
driven
towards
my
lifelong
goal,"
Epstein
says.
Blessing
in
Disguise
Epstein
arrived
at
BW
as
a
member
of
the
baseball
team,
but
a
shoulder
surgery
as
a
freshman
and
a
stress
fracture
in
his
back
as
a
sophomore
turned
all
of
Epstein's
focus
to
his
studies
in
athletic
training.
"My
injuries
were
a
blessing
in
disguise
as
I
spent
more
time
rehabbing
and
learning
about
my
injuries
and
how
a
player
experiences
the
rehab
process,"
Epstein
said.
"This
molded
the
early
part
of
my
career
and
helped
me
to
overcome
my
disappointment
of
not
playing
anymore."
Practicing
and
Networking
to
the
Top
The
end
of
his
own
career
as
a
college
athlete
also
made
time
for
an
athletic
training
internship
with
the
Cleveland
Indians
where
he
found
a
mentor
in
another
BW
grad,
Rick
Jameyson
'92.
"Through
my
relationship
with
[BW
head
athletic
trainer]
Garry
Miller
and
the
relationship
we
created
with
the
Cleveland
Indians,
I
was
able
to
establish
an
internship
that
lasted
my
sophomore
and
junior
years.
I
was
also
able
to
establish
a
spring
training
internship
with
another
[BW]
graduate,
George
Poulis,
and
the
Toronto
Blue
Jays"
where
Poulis
'88
is
now
starting
his
15th
season
as
head
athletic
trainer.
"I
had
confidence
and
success
instilled
upon
me
by
the
great
faculty
at
BW
including
Garry
Miller,
Karen
Gentile
and
Joe
Haren,"
Epstein
adds.
"Their
in-class
teaching
carried
over
to
enhance
my
skills
both
in
the
athletic
training
room
and
on
the
sidelines
of
various
sports
which
I
covered
during
my
time
at
BW."
Returning
Reds
to
Optimal
Health
Those
are
now
skills
the
Reds
will
be
counting
on
to
lead
injured
players
back
to
good
health
in
the
long
MLB
season
ahead.
Based
out
of
the
Reds'
Player
Development
Complex
in
Goodyear,
Epstein
now
oversees
the
team's
rehabilitation
programs
from
the
major
league
level
all
the
way
down
through
the
organization's
Dominican
Republic
team.
Along
with
a
team
of
two
physical
therapists,
Epstein
spends
his
time
in
Arizona
working
with
players
on
long
term
rehab
programs.
He
also
travels
to
the
affiliate
clubs
throughout
the
year
to
work
with
injured
players.
