The Profession and Parenting: Strategies for Making it Work – Mayrena Isamar Hernandez
Mayrena Isamar Hernandez, PhD, MPH, LAT, ATC
As an Athletic Trainer (AT), balancing work and family life can be challenging due to the long hours and irregular schedules. In this series, we present stories about ATs who successfully juggle their professional and personal lives and feature real stories from AT parents who “make it work.”
Mayrena Isamar Hernandez, PhD, MPH, LAT, ATC is an Assistant Professor of the College of Health Sciences at Sam Houston State University. Hernandez became certified in May 2016 and has been practicing as an AT for nearly 10 years across clinical, academic and research settings.
Can you provide some details about your family life?
My husband, Thomas James Swain, LAT, ATC, is an AT at Texas Children’s Hospital – The Woodlands. We have one son, who is eight months old as of March 1.
Are you or your child involved in any sports or activities outside the home?
Our son is not involved in sports just yet, but he is already spending plenty of time at athletic events and at the gym with us. My husband is a competitive powerlifter, and I compete in IRONMAN® triathlons. I have completed six full IRONMAN® races and am currently training for my seventh at IRONMAN® Texas in The Woodlands. Sport and movement are truly part of our family culture.
Describe your typical day:
My days vary depending on the semester, but they usually begin early with either training for an upcoming triathlon or preparing for class. As an assistant professor, I teach athletic training courses, mentor graduate students, conduct research through the Healthy Activity toward Promoting Injury Reduction (HAPiR) Lab, and collaborate with community partners.
A typical day might include lecturing, supervising lab activities, meeting with students about research projects, reviewing manuscripts, working on grant proposals, or collecting data on athletic training research. In the evenings, I spend time with my family by eating dinner and watching our favorite shows. It’s a full schedule, but it’s incredibly rewarding.
What are some strategies you use to make your professional and personal life work?
Organization is key. I rely heavily on structured calendars, clear boundaries and intentional planning. My husband and I communicate constantly about our schedules and expectations for the week.
Equally important is giving myself grace. There will be seasons where work requires more focus and seasons where family takes priority. Recognizing that balance is dynamic, not static, has helped me tremendously.
How do you approach daily opportunities that arise as an Athletic Trainer and at home?
Athletic training teaches you to assess, adapt and respond quickly and academia is very similar. I try not to be rigid in my approach. Whether it’s an unexpected question from a student, a change in a research timeline or a curveball at home, flexibility is essential.
Being solution-oriented and staying grounded in my “why” serving students, advancing the profession and supporting my family helps me navigate each day with purpose.
What is your greatest achievement as an Athletic Trainer?
My greatest achievement is seeing my students graduate, pass the BOC exam and go on to serve their communities as confident, compassionate ATs. Knowing that I played a role in their professional journey is deeply meaningful.
What is the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is watching a concept truly click for my students when they move from memorizing information to applying it confidently in clinical reasoning. Seeing that growth and professionalism develop is incredibly fulfilling.
What advice would you give a fellow AT who might be struggling to balance their career and parenting?
First, know that you are not alone. Athletic training is demanding, and parenting adds another beautiful layer of responsibility. It’s okay to acknowledge that balancing both can feel overwhelming at times.
Second, redefine what “balance” means. Balance does not mean equal time—it means intentional presence. When you’re at work, be fully present. When you’re at home, give yourself permission to unplug and be present there, too.
Third, lean on your support system. Whether it’s a spouse, family member, colleague or childcare partner, no one succeeds alone.
Finally, remember that being both an AT and a parent can actually strengthen each role. The empathy, patience and resilience you develop in one area enhances the other. You are modeling dedication, compassion and work ethics not just for your patients and students, but for your children as well.
This article was originally published in the 2026 summer “Cert Update” newsletter.
