The St. Francis High School Athletic Training department is responsible for delivering high quality medical care to over 1,000 Lancer student-athletes in 26 athletic programs. We are dedicated to the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries using evidence-based techniques in order to return our student-athletes safely back to competition. In caring for our student-athletes, we strictly abide by rules and regulations set forth by California Interscholastic Federation, the National Athletic Trainers Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The purpose of our program is 4 fold:
- Integrate athletic injury education to student-athletes and parents.
- Allow for easy access to medical services.
- Encourage a philosophy within the coaching staff that values proper care of injured athletes
- Return student-athletes to competition when medically safe to do so.
As an active member of the St. Francis community, we strive to follow the vision of using athletic participation as an integral part of the educational process. While working through injuries, students learn the value of hard work, achieving a goal, and overcoming adversity.
Role of the Athletic Trainer
Athletic Training is an allied health profession dedicated to providing health care to physically active individuals. It has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) since 1990. In addition, the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine all recognize and support the use of the athletic trainers. St. Francis High School employs two full-time and one part-time certified athletic trainer (ATC). Certified athletic trainers specialize in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic related injuries and illnesses. In an effort to provide the best quality health care to the individuals they serve, certified athletic trainers perform a wide array of duties & responsibilities. The primary duties of the certified athletic trainer revolve around the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic related injuries. These include coordination of pre-participation physical exams, selection of protective equipment, daily coverage of practices and games, application of various therapeutic modalities, and designing & implementing injury-specific rehabilitation programs.
Certified athletic trainers must obtain a bachelor's of science degree from an approved and accredited athletic training curriculum program. This degree includes courses in human anatomy, exercise physiology, first aid, biomechanics, and nutrition, as well as more specialized courses in injury prevention & management, injury evaluation & assessment, pharmacology, risk management, and therapeutic modalities. In order to be able to practice as certified athletic trainers, these individuals must sit for the certification exam after completing their degree. This exam is administered by the Board of Certification. Once they pass the exam, they are allowed to use the ATC credential, which signifies them as a certified athletic trainer. Currently, 49 out of 50 states (with California the exception) also require licensure through the state before they can practice as a certified athletic trainer.
Sports Medicine Resources
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Policies & Procedures
General Injury prevention/rehabilitation exercises for athletes to try before referral to SportsMed
Meet the Sports Medicine Staff
Head Athletic Trainer
Scott Heinrichson
Scott Heinrichson is in his 10th year as Head Athletic Trainer for St. Francis. Prior to St. Francis, Scott spent 15 years at Santa Clara University as the Assistant Director of Sports Medicine. During his tenure at SCU, Scott worked primarily with the Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Baseball, and Women's Volleyball programs. Scott also worked as the lead clinical preceptor for the San Jose State Athletic Training Education Program for all athletic training clinical students at Santa Clara.
Scott received his undergraduate degree in athletic training with a minor in psychology from San Diego State University in 1995. He received his masters degree in Sports Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1997, where he also served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. A native of Martinez, California, Scott currently resides in Scotts Valley with his family.
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Athletic Trainer
Lara Acedillo
Lara Acedillo has been an Athletic Trainer at Saint Francis since 2017. Before joining the Saint Francis Sports Medicine team, Lara worked with a physical therapy clinic which allowed her to provide outreach services to Lincoln High School, Santa Clara University Health Center and Los Gatos High School.Â
Lara received her undergraduate degree in athletic training with a minor in psychology from Chapman University and received her masters degree in Rehabilitation Science from Lasell College. She pursued her higher education in Rehabilitation Science because of her passion for working with athletes on returning from injury. She extended this work to the students of Saint Francis by creating and moderating the SportsMed club, which gives students interested in the healthcare field, handson experience working directly with athletes in the afternoons. Her undergraduate and graduate research also focused heavily on concussion management, and she continues to learn and engage in the conversation on proper treatment and management of sport-related concussions.Â
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Athletic Trainer
Salma Gilliard
Salma Gilliard started working at Saint Francis in March of 2025. Before working here she worked at Palm Bay Magnet High School in Melbourne, FL. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training and a minor in Fitness Training. During her 10 years at PBMHS she added a teaching credential, a medical administrative assistant certification and a real estate license to her resume. She taught the exercise science academy, was the athletic trainer and ran the student athletic training program there for many years. She is excited to join the Lancer Sports Medicine team and to see all of our teams compete at their highest level!
Team Physician
Dr. Kier Ecklund
Dr. Nick Todd
Dr. Larry Oloff
Dr. Rebecca Fazilat
