The BOC Mourns the Passing of Bradley J Sherman
It is with great sadness that the Board of Certification (BOC) announces the passing of Bradley J. Sherman.
Brad was a lifelong servant to the athletic training profession. As a member of the BOC Board of Directors from 1986-1997 Sherman served as the president of the organization from 1995-1997, as well as serving on the BOC’s Athletic Trainer Regulatory Conference Advisory Panel from 2004–2009.
“Brad will be missed by many,” said Anne Minton, CEO of the BOC. “He was a longtime friend and mentor to the BOC staff and was a driving factor in our first BOC state regulatory conference.”
In addition to being active with the BOC, Sherman served as one of the charter members and founders of the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association (WATA) serving on numerous state committees and as a state representative to District 4 of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). He received the WATA Distinguished Service Award in 1987 and was a member of the NATA since 1993. Brad served from 1982 to 1988 on the NATA Research and Injury Committee and as the general chairperson for the NATA District 4 Annual Symposium in 1989 and 1996. Brad was inducted into the WATA Hall of Fame in 1997 and served as a member of the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers Affiliated Credentialing Board from 2001-2005.
Brad received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1966 and earned his master’s degree at UW-Stevens Point. After teaching and coaching for five years, Brad was hired as an assistant athletic trainer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1978, Brad decided he wanted to see athletic training services provided to high school athletes and returned to teaching and coaching, this time at Lakeland High School in Minocqua, Wis.
In 1981, Brad returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to assist Dr. William Clancy in starting the UW Hospital’s Sportsmedicine Program, becoming the director of the UW Hospital Sportsmedicine Center in 1984. Along with Dr. William Clancy, administrators Gordon Derzon and Gordon Ridley, and a dedicated staff of wonderful, passionate professionals, Brad and his colleagues transformed a fledging program of two orthopedists, a physical therapist and an athletic trainer into one of the top sports medicine programs in the country. In 1995, the program moved into a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary facility that included sports medicine, spine, and family medicine clinics and cardiac rehabilitation, fitness, and aquatic centers.
Brad’s interest in athletic training and continuing education led to the inception and development of annual WIAA injury workshops for coaches and the Annual UW Sportsmedicine Symposium for medical professionals. He also served as medical coordinator for the Badger State Summer Games from 1984-88.
In addition to his many friends and mentees in the profession, Brad is survived by his wife Jean, siblings, children and grandchildren. Sherman’s obituary and information about funeral services can be found HERE.
