April 30, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Taisei Chiba chose the Arnold School’s M.S. in Athletic Training program because of the diversity of perspectives and opportunities it offered, but the international student found himself struggling to adjust to the new culture when he first made the move to the United States. He says the support he received from the Gamecock Athletic Training community changed that.

“People treated me like family, and one phrase a second-year student shared really stuck with me: ‘Always remember your why,” Chiba says. “That simple piece of advice became a guiding light for me. It reminded me not to pursue simply success but to appreciate every moment as a meaningful part of my journey. Each experience is a dot that will eventually connect to my "’why.’”

Chiba’s why first began in Hiroshima, Japan, where he was inspired to pursue a career in health care after watching his mother and grandmother dedicate their lives to nursing, particularly his mother’s work providing in-home care to older adults with limited access to medical services. He discovered that becoming an athletic trainer allowed him to combine his passion for health care with his love of sports, and he studied sport science at Waseda University in Tokyo.

During his master’s program, Chiba gained clinical experiences at local high schools and clinics, USC (Track and Field, Women’s and Men’s Basketball, Football), and professional organizations (Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Miami Dolphins). In addition to leading the South Carolina Athletic Training Student Association as president, Chiba is the winner of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Research Poster Competition, the NATA Free Communications Award, and his program’s Outstanding Leadership Award as well as a member of the quiz bowl team that won the state championship in 2024.

He found mentors in the post-professional students, doctoral students, preceptors, and faculty like Jim Mensch, Dawn Emerson, Amy Fraley, Zachary Winkelmann, Susan Yeargin, and Toni Torres-McGehee.

“Their willingness to sit down, listen, and support us like a family meant so much to me,” Chiba says. “They not only guided us through clinical and academic challenges but also encouraged us to think critically and grow as future leaders. Watching their leadership and contributions to the athletic training profession has inspired me to think bigger and aim higher in my own career path.”

Through his educational and clinical experiences – as well as his upbringing – Chiba has adopted a holistic approach to patient care – which he will begin applying after graduating in May when he rejoins the Miami Dolphins as an athletic trainer. He believes that athletic trainers are uniquely positioned to stay close to patients, where they are able to identify and treat the various types of stress (e.g., emotional, physical, social) they encounter.

“This allows us to support them not only during injury rehabilitation but also in prevention, even when no immediate issues are present,” he says. “I believe our ability to bridge gaps in health care and positively impact patients’ lives has universal value and with continued growth, athletic training can lead the way in patient-centered care worldwide.”

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