Athletic training
Columbus Community Hospital provides athletic training services to the three Columbus high schools, and outreach services for athletic departments at Central Community College and several high schools in the surrounding area.
Click here to view the map of schools included in our service area.
From game coverage to injury assessment and management to return to play, our experienced, professional staff of full-time, certified athletic trainers and physical therapists at Premier Physical Therapy are able to meet the needs of area athletes and their families.
Our goal is to keep you safe and ready for competition in the most efficient manner possible.
We are very proud of the work our athletic trainers complete for our community each year. Please review the major accomplishments from 2021-22 in our latest
annual report.
Our services
CCH’s athletic trainers have Athletic Training Certification (ATC).
Our staff of full-time athletic trainers also provide XLNTbrain, a neurocognitive test for concussions. Through the XLNTbrain program, our athletic trainers, sports medicine staff and Concussion Management Clinic staff have access to an online platform and mobile app that includes concussion education, baseline testing, sideline assessment and recovery care plans.
XLNTbrain was developed by neurologist Harry Kerasidis, MD, who specializes in cognitive performance and concussions, and has spent more than 25 years studying the brain’s physiology. The program provides an in-depth platform to help all medical professionals involved with the care of a concussed athlete. It is the gold standard for return to play procedures.
For more information on the concussion treatment programs at CCH, visit our
Concussion Management Clinic page.
Our staff
CCH’s full-time athletic training staff includes Brooke Hughes, ATC; Mike Sloup, MHA, ATC; Rob Marshall, ATC; Denise Marshall, MA, ATC, Andrew Sheridan, ATC; Melissa Bulin, ATC; Jordan Stithem, MA Ed., ATC; and Whitney Vessar, ATC.
Our physical therapists, Randy Perault, MSPT, Cert. MDT, ATC; Pam Perault, MS, PT, ATC and Jon Brezenski, PT, DPT, ATC, are also athletic trainers with coaching experience who provide local sports coverage.
Melissa Bulin, MS, ATC
Melissa has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since 2019. Her athletic training services take her to Schuyler Central High School.
Before coming to CCH, she was an assistant athletic trainer at Bethany College. She is a 2010 graduate of Thayer Central High School in Hebron. She continued her education at Central Community College in Columbus, where she received an associate degree in science. She later received a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Wayne State College before receiving a Master of Science degree in athletic training from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma in 2018.
Melissa is involved in the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association, the Mid American Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Open Window
Brooke Hughes, ATC
Brooke has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since 2014. Her athletic training skills take her to Columbus High School, as well as Columbus Middle School. Before coming to Columbus High, Brooke worked for Norfolk High School and Scotus Central Catholic High School.
She is a 2008 graduate of Columbus Lakeview High School. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where she received a bachelor’s degree in athletic training.
Brooke serves as the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association Public Relations Chair and is an active member with the Mid American Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Open Window
Andrew Sheridan, ATC
Andrew has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since 2018. His athletic training skills take him to Scotus Central Catholic High School.
Before coming to CCH, Andrew worked for Nebraska Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine in Lincoln and provided full-time health care services to Norris High School.
He is a 2011 graduate of Sutton Public High School in Sutton, Nebraska. He continued his education at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he received a bachelor’s degree in athletic training.
Through his education and professional experiences, he has worked with athletes from nearly every level of competition: youth sports, high school, collegiate and professional/Olympic.
Andrew is involved in the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association, the Mid American Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Open Window
Denise Marshall, MA, ATC
Denise has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since 2007. She provides athletic training services to area and local high schools, as well as Central Community College-Columbus.
She is a 2001 graduate of Ord High School, and graduated from Hastings College with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in 2005. She then received her master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2007.
Denise currently serves as the Vice President of the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association and is an active member of the Mid America Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Open Window
Mike Sloup, MHA, ATC
Mike has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since 2003. He provides athletic training services to Columbus Lakeview High School, as well as outreach coverage to Schuyler.
Mike received his bachelor’s degree in physical education with a concentration in athletic training from Midland Lutheran College in 1999. He completed his master’s degree in health care administration from Bellevue University in 2006. Mike previously worked at Omaha Benson High School and Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, SD, where he worked with the hockey team.
Mike is currently serving his second term as President of the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association. He is also serving as vice president of the Mid America Athletic Trainers Association.
Open Window
Rob Marshall, ATC
Rob Marshall, ATC, is a 1989 graduate of St. Edward High School. Rob continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated in 1995. He has worked as an athletic trainer in the Columbus area since 1995. Rob is the program director for athletic training with Columbus Community Hospital. He has worked with several outpatient physical therapy clinics, providing athletic training services for local and area high schools. Rob is currently serving on the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Board of Directors.
He has helped develop concussion legislation in the state of Nebraska to make sure the health care of student-athletes in Columbus, the surrounding area, and the state of Nebraska, is the best that it can be. Rob was influential in helping Columbus High School become the first high school in the state of Nebraska to receive the honor of the Safe Sports Schools Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association. The Safe Sports School Award recognizes secondary schools that take the crucial steps to keep their athletes free from injuries. In addition to his duties at Columbus Community Hospital, Rob also serves as the director of athletic training services for the Columbus Area Youth Football League and Nebraska USA Wrestling.
Rob is involved in the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association, the Mid America Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association. He also is a member of the United Way Big Pals/Little Pals in Columbus.
Open Window
Jordan Stithem, MA Ed., ATC
Jordan Stithem has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since August 2021. His athletic training skills take him to Shelby–Rising City Public Schools.
Before coming to Columbus, Jordan worked at CHI Health St. Elizabeth/Nebraska Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine, PC, in Lincoln for seven years. In this position, he served as the primary athletic trainer for Aurora Public Schools and outreach athletic trainer for six other area schools.
He is a 2005 graduate of Stockton High School in Stockton, Kansas, and received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training with a minor in kinesiology from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Jordan earned a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, while acting as the graduate assistant athletic trainer for the UNK football, track and baseball teams.
Jordan is involved in the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association and the National Athletic Trainers Association. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Megan, and their kids and family, and participating in outdoor activities.
Open WindowWhitney Vessar, ATC
Whitney Vessar has been a certified athletic trainer for Columbus Community Hospital since June 2021. Her athletic training skills take her to Twin River High School in Genoa, Nebraska.
Before coming to Columbus, Whitney worked at CHI Health, where she provided outreach services to Elkhorn High School, and at Makovicka Physical Therapy, where she provided outreach services to Elkhorn South High School.
She is a 2002 graduate of Maysville High School in Maysville, Missouri, and received her bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. She earned a master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Whitney is a member of the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association.
Open Window
Contact us
For more information about CCH’s athletic training services or XLNTbrain concussion testing, please call our professional training staff at 402-562-7346.
Premier Physical Therapy
3100 23rd St., Suite 15
Columbus, NE 68601
402-562-7346
Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday. (Noon appointments are also available on Saturday.)