Athletic Trainer, Amanda Nefstead, L.A.T.
Get to know Amanda Nefstead. She is an Athletic Trainer at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists, a service of Alomere Health.
Where did you grow up?
Spearfish, South Dakota.
Why did you choose to become an Athletic Trainer?
Growing up I played a variety of sports and grew to love volleyball and basketball the most. In high school, I played these sports and sustained my fair share of injuries. We were lucky to have an Athletic Trainer at our school, so I spent a lot of time with them doing rehab and got to know all the stuff they would do for athletes and the school. I became very interested in Athletic Training and eventually started to help them prepare and helping during sporting event and loved it. I loved seeing how they helped athletes get back to play. So, a career as an Athletic Trainer was an easy choice: get paid to watch sports and help people, heck yes!
Amanda Nefstead (far right) with Athletic Trainers, Anna Uphus and Joe Solberg.
Why did you choose to work at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists?
I was living in Grand Forks at the time as my husband was going to school there. I was looking for a different work setting, and my husband is from Minnesota so we started looking there. I saw the listing for an opening at Heartland Orthopedics in Alexandria, MN. Never heard of this place so we wanted to check it out. We came down for the day to check out the clinic and the town. I fell in love with the multiple roles they had athletic trainers involved in, the teamwork/support system they displayed for their employees, and the relationships they had developed with multiple communities to help provide the best care for athletes. I was excited to start this new adventure and it’s been great ever since. I love the people I’ve met while working in the Alexandria and nearby communities. We are also thankful for the friendships/family we have developed in the time we have been here.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
The relationships I have developed with my co-workers. We are like family and everyone is always willing to help each other out. The relationships I developed with Hancock High School and community while being their Athletic Trainer. Helping those athletes with an injury and return to play is a feeling like nothing else. So thankful for the trust they put in me and Heartland Orthopedics.
The Heartland Orthopedic Specialists team.
Heartland is hiring. Join the region’s leading Sports Medicine team. Check out the open Athletic Trainer positions at Heartland today!
