About Me
Dr. Donita Valentine works as a contract Athletic Trainer @ KIPP DC Public Charter Schools and as a Functional 45 Fitness Coach in Columbia Heights, D.C., while operating her own Athletic Training Practice, The Function Junction Athletic Training, LLC. Previously, Dr.Valentine served as a MedStar Health Community Liaison Athletic Trainer and Head Athletic Trainer at the St. James Sports Complex. Dr. Valentine is also an Adjunct Health and Fitness and Clinical Kinesiology professor at the College of Southern Maryland. Donita was formerly the women's basketball athletic trainer for the Retrievers of UMBC in Baltimore County, Maryland. Before UMBC, Ms. Valentine was the athletic trainer for Coolidge High School and the surrounding feeder schools, including Whittier, Takoma, Riggs LaSalle, Ida B. Wells, and Brightwood Education Campuses in northwest Washington, D.C.
Donita is no stranger to the world of athletics; having led a very active childhood, her participation in various sports created an appreciation for an active lifestyle early in life. Her love of movement and fascination with science eventually led to a desire to study sports medicine.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Sport Science with a concentration in athletic training from Frostburg State University, Donita returned to Frostburg to receive a Master of Science Degree in Human Performance in 2006. Dr. Valentine completed her Doctor of Athletic Training Degree at A.T. Still University, where she researched and implemented movement assessment into the pre-participation physical exam. Ms. Valentine became interested in the biopsychosocial aspect of patient care, focusing on muscular dysfunction related to trauma and tension. Dr. Valentine’s active research focused on implementing a systematic process of movement screening into the pre-participation evaluation process.
Dr. Valentine is passionate about making quality health care available for all active individuals, especially adolescent athletes, and delivers quality athletic health care, preparing students for emotional and physical participation. Dr. Valentine also consults with Historically Black Universities to help build educational curricula to prepare students for matriculation into athletic training programs.
In her current role as the first Vice President-Elect for the Mid Atlantic Athletic Trainer’s Association, she heads up the Annual Meeting Committee; she is also an At Large Member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association ATs Care Commission. Before her At Large role with the ATs Care Commission, Dr. Valentine championed the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainer's Association in the National Athletic Trainer's Association's (NATA) ATs Care Initiative to provide peer-to-peer critical incident support for athletic trainers through the development and implementation of a critical incident and stress management team. Lastly, Dr. Valentine also serves as a committee member on the Board of Certification’s Standards Committee and serves as NATA's District 3 Director of Political Action Committee .
