WASHINGTON - Georgetown University Assistant Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Health & Wellness Shawn Hendi was named to the Intercollegiate Council of Sports Medicine (ICSM) by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).

In January 2017, the NATA Board of Directors approved a proposal to restructure and expand the NATA College/University Athletics Trainers' Committee and the ICSM to address the varying needs of athletic trainers working in this diverse setting.

Athletic trainers working at the collegiate level include a wide variety of levels and governing bodies ââ'¬" from larger Division I institutions to the junior college level ââ'¬" and the ICSM will help to bridge the gap between the different groups within collegiate athletics, forming a broad, ongoing conversation in which athletic trainers from all backgrounds have a voice.

"This is a great honor for Shawn and a tremendous recognition of the work he has done at Georgetown," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed said. "Shawn is one of the leaders in his field and a strong voice for his colleagues and I think he will be will be a great representative for Georgetown and the BIG EAST Conference."

ICSM's unique composition was specifically designed to encourage collaboration between all levels and conferences within collegiate sports. It starts with an executive council of representatives for NCAA Divisions I, II and III, and NJCAA/NAIA. Each of those representatives will chair a committee dedicated to its specific level. The group will serve as a resource for the NCAA and other governing bodies who establish best practices for the health care of collegiate student-athletes based on the clinical practice of the athletic trainers who work with student-athletes and coaches on a daily basis.

"I am very excited for this opportunity and it is very rewarding to me to be an advocate for my colleagues at the collegiate level," Hendi said. "The ICSM provides the opportunity for voices to be heard on every level and this will only help in providing the best care for our student-athletes."

Hendi was named the head athletic trainer at Georgetown in August 2008 and promoted to his current position during the summer of 2013. The primary trainer for men's basketball, Hendi is the president of the BIG EAST Sports Medicine Society.

ICSM begins its work during NATA 2017 in June.