Piedmont Athletic Training Grad Finds Work-Life Balance, Satisfaction in Her Job

When she decided to major in athletic training, Logan Ruck Johnson envisioned herself working on the sidelines, helping players recover from injuries and perform to their peak ability.

Instead, her career led her to a factory, to a position that fits her life perfectly, and to work that carries deeper meaning than she could have ever imagined.

“I get to bond with the people I treat, and I get to help them return to work so they can provide for their families. It means a lot to me,” Ruck Johnson said.

A lifelong athlete herself, Ruck Johnson came to Piedmont to play lacrosse. The Athletic Training program complemented her interests, and by her junior year, she’d hung up her cleats to focus on her studies.

After graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training in 2018, she earned a master’s degree in Health and Human Performance from Georgia College & State University.

Today, she works for Pivot Onsite Innovations, a provider of workplace health solutions. She is based at a manufacturing facility in Perry.

“I help the employees with any injuries that happen at work. We have a clinic right here at the plant,” Ruck Johnson said.

A few examples of the injuries Ruck Johnson encounters in her work: muscle strains, lacerations, contusions, fractures, and aggravations to existing conditions, such as arthritis.

“If an injury is out of my scope of practice, I refer the patient to an orthopedic doctor,” Ruck Johnson said.

“But many times, I’m able to diagnose and treat the patients, which might mean modifying their job while they’re in treatment.”

When she enrolled in Piedmont’s Athletic Training program, Ruck Johnson had no idea that a position like hers was a possibility, but as she learned more about the field, she grew excited about the numerous options it offered.

Now, as a wife and mother of a 2-year-old child, she is grateful she chose a career path that allows her to strike a balance between work and life.

“I work a 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule four days a week. I’m able to be with my daughter, which is helpful right now while my husband is deployed,” she said.

While fulfilling her personal responsibilities, Ruck Johnson is still able to experience the satisfaction of helping others. She recalled an employee who came to her after suffering a deep cut to his thumb.

“It was cut down to the bone,” she said. “I helped clean it up and then helped get him to the ER. After his surgery, I worked to help him regain his full range of motion and return to full duty on his job. We formed a bond. Seeing how much he appreciated what I was doing for him was really satisfying.”

Ruck Johnson added that she appreciated the relationships and one-on-one instruction she received from Piedmont, as well as the preparation it provided for her career.

“This is a great field. The opportunities are unlimited. You can work in an orthopedic setting, a doctor’s office, in the military or industrial settings,” she said. “The opportunities are so broad. I definitely recommend it.”

Piedmont University now offers a 3+2 program that allows students to earn an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science while simultaneously working toward a master’s degree in Athletic Training. Learn more at piedmont.edu/program/athletic-training.