Contact Information

Biography

Dr. Erica Beidler joined the Department of Athletic Training as an Assistant Professor in July 2016. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training from Mercyhurst University (2011), and her Master of Education degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine at the University of Virginia (2012). Dr. Beidler completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Training and Sport Psychology at Michigan State University (2016).

Dr. Beidler is a licensed athletic trainer through the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, and a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association, and the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society. She also serves on the Exam Development Committee for the Board of Certification (BOC), which is the national agency that establishes both the standards for the practice of athletic training and the continuing education requirements for BOC Certified Athletic Trainers, and is a member of the Digital Media Committee for the Journal of Athletic Training.

Education

  • Ph.D., Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 2016
  • M.Ed., Kinesiology, University of Virginia, 2012
  • B.S., Athletic Training, Mercyhurst University, 2011

Research Interests or Expertise

Dr. Beidler's research focuses on the challenges surrounding sport-related concussion education and management. Sport-related concussions are traumatic brain injuries that occur during athletic participation and cause short-lived impairments of neurological function that typically resolve within 10-14 days. Concussive injuries account for approximately 5% of all sport injuries, and the number of diagnosed sport-related concussions is on the rise due to advancements in diagnostic techniques and public awareness. Although there is a tremendous amount of sport-related concussion information currently available, researchers are just starting to scratch the surface of what there is to learn about this invisible injury. Each injury occurrence presents with its own unique set of signs and symptoms and pairing that with the previous medical history of the concussed individual creates a challenging healthcare environment for sports medicine clinicians and neuropsychologists.

Dr. Beidler is the faculty mentor for the Brain Busters Sport-Related Concussion Research Lab. This research group is open to any undergraduate or graduate student at Duquesne University who is pursuing a career in a health-related field, interested in gaining experience conducting research with human subjects, and willing to learn more about sport-related concussions.

  • Sport-related concussion
  • Psychology of injury
  • Health behaviors
  • Manual therapy.

School

About

Dr. Beidler has 6 years of higher education teaching experience. Her teaching objective is to send competent athletic trainers out into the job market who are capable of earning respect through their knowledge and actions. She does this by preparing students to engage in the evidence-based practice model that requires them to integrate clinical expertise, research evidence, and patient values to help make informed healthcare decisions. In addition to her instruction in the classroom, Dr. Beidler also serves as a preceptor to students completing clinical rotations at Avonworth High School where she volunteers as athletic trainer during the fall sport season.

Duquesne University Courses:
  • ATHT 315: Athletic Training Practicum I
  • ATHT 401: Nutrition and Weight Management
  • ATHT 404: Health & Medicine I
  • ATHT 406: Psychosocial Issues of Healthcare
  • ATHT 421: Applied Therapeutic Exercise
  • HLTS 430: Principles of Research

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
- Nelson Mandela

  • Beidler E, Bretzin Aǂ, Hanock C*, Covassin T. Sport-related concussion knowledge and reporting behaviors of collegiate club sport athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2017 acceptance; In Press.
  • Wallace J, Beidler E, Covassin T. Assessment and management of sport-related concussion education teaching trends in athletic training programs. Athletic Training Education Journal. 2018;13(2): 112-119.
  • Beidler E, Donnellan MB, Covassin T, Phelps A, Kontos A. The association between personality traits and sport-related concussion history in collegiate student-athletes. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 2017;6(3): 252-261.
  • Covassin T, Elbin RJ, Beidler E, LaFevor M, Kontos A. A review of psychological issues that may be associated with a sport-related concussion in youth and collegiate athletes. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. 2017;6(3): 220-229.
  • Wallace J, Covassin T, Beidler E. Sex differences in knowledge of concussion and reporting behaviors among high school student athletes. Journal of Athletic Training. 2017;52(7): 682-688.
  • Covassin T, Beidler E, Ostrowski J, Wallace J. Psychosocial aspects of rehabilitation in sports. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2015;34(2): 199-212.
  • Beidler E, McAllister-Deitrick J, Wallace J, Anderson M. Predictors of sport-related concussion injury perception in collegiate student-athletes. National Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Conference and Symposia - Rapid Fire Oral Presentation. New Orleans, LA; June 2018. Journal of Athletic Training, 53(6), S33.
  • Beidler E, McAllister-Deitrick J, Wallace J, Anderson M, Griger C, Schmitt A. Predictors of sport-related concussion nondisclosure in collegiate student-athletes. Sport Neuropsychology Society Concussion Symposium - Poster Presentation. Washington DC; May 2018.
  • Griger C, Beidler E, Schmitt A, McAllister-Deitrick J. Concussion diagnosis and underreporting behavior of ADHD collegiate student-athletes. Sport Neuropsychology Society Concussion Symposium - Poster Presentation. Washington DC; May 2018.
  • Wallace J, Covassin T, Beidler E. Assessment of an active learning approach to concussion education with urban high school athletes. Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Meeting - Poster Presentation. Wheeling, IL; March 2018.
  • Anderson M, Beidler E, Wallace J, McAllister-Deitrick J. The relationship between the number of non-disclosed sport-related concussions and pressure form external sources while playing collegiate athletics. Big Sky Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Conference - Poster Presentation. Big Sky, MT; February 2018.
  • Beidler E, Donnellan MB, Covassin T. No personality trait differences between collegiate student-athletes with and without a history of sport-related concussion. National Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Conference and Symposia - Rapid Fire Oral Presentation. Houston, TX; June 2017. Journal of Athletic Training, 52(6), S198-S199.
  • Bretzin AC, Beidler E, Hanock C, Covassin T. Sport-related concussion knowledge and reporting behaviors among collegiate club sport athletes. National Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Conference and Symposia - Poster Presentation. Houston, TX; June 2017. Journal of Athletic Training, 52(6), S232
  • Wallace J, Beidler E, Covassin T. Assessment and management of sport-related concussion education teaching trends in athletic training programs. Athletic Training Educators' Conference - Poster Presentation. Dallas, TX; February 2017.
  • Beidler E, Wallace J, Covassin T. Sport-related concussion visual assessment teaching trends in athletic training programs. Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Meeting - Poster Presentation. Philadelphia, PA; January 2017.
  • Beidler E, Covassin T, Donnellan MB, Nogle S, Pontifex MB, Kontos AP. Higher risk-taking behaviors and sensation seeking needs in collegiate student-athletes with a history of multiple sport-related concussions. 5th International Conference on Concussion in Sport - Poster Presentation. Berlin, Germany; October 2016. Br J Sports Med, 51(11), A66-A66