The official passing down of the fancy desk chair has occurred Xavier Thompson 😭 Next I have to pass on the bag of old Fitbits that sat at my desk for maybe 2 years because I forgot about them 😬

Please help me finish this dissertation🙏🏽 I need 10 Black new graduates (1 year or less of BOC certification) to participate in an interview regarding factors that helped them succeed in their Professional AT programs.

I’m continuing my tradition of doing an open mic in each city I travel to for academic conferences…tomorrow night! Previous cities: Denver, Indianapolis, New Orleans, and now Atlanta, which are all very different places 😅

It’s fun to log out of the social media accounts after 2-ish years & finally have other people post a picture of me 🤣 It’s even more fun to have graduated! By far the most difficult but rewarding 4 years of my life - and I can finally and hilariously be Dr. Xu/Shoe 😀

Had a great time at my poster session earlier today - it was a great turnout for the Friday afternoon session 😅 I also got my fancy award paper, & got to watch 2 wonderful undergrad students present posters at their first ACSM/conference in general! 🥹 #acsm2025

I’m so excited to present my learning lab at NATA this year! Come see me Wednesday morning at 10am! 🦶🏼 It’s a fully interactive 2-hour lecture - lots of room for discussion & learning from everyone around you, not just me 😊

Thank you so much to everyone who came to my learning lab!! I had so much fun. My videos stopped working halfway through so I just demonstrated the exercises instead. Thankfully as an AT & researcher I know how to pivot 🤣 Most importantly I did not fall off the table! 😃

Quick helpful tip: using a microphone when you ask a question during a conference / in a talk is important. Don’t just say you have a loud voice or that you’ll speak loudly. Everyone deserves to hear everything that is happening. Don’t be afraid to lean into the mic either! 😊

Stop by the Free Communications poster session today at NATA! 10:25-11:20! Learn about some of the newest & most exciting sports medicine research 😃 it’s at the back of the expo hall so take a quick break from the vendors! (I’m at 114 - come talk to me about minimalist shoes!😀)

My favorite thing at conferences is looking at shoes under the poster boards & thinking about the lack of minimalist ones 😃 But in all seriousness I did really appreciate being able to share my research while wearing the comfiest dressy minimalist shoes 🤣

What an adventure for my last trip with UVA! Flight changes —> delay —> cancellation —> driving from Charlotte to Charlottesville with probably one of the last one-way rental cars available & arriving home at 4am 👍🏼 Can’t wait to fall asleep to the birds chirping! 😁

I spent most of my day cutting 3,000 words out of my first dissertation manuscript so I can submit it for publication…only about 700 words left! It’ll be fine! 😃 (I did make it much better + more direct + clear but I’m tired 😅)

#NewProfilePic

If I ever write a book (idk why I would, but IF), I’ll call it “Death by Measuring Ultrasound Images of the Intrinsic Foot Muscles”. It IS a very mentally-stimulating activity though - problem-solving, confidence-building, decision-making…parents, get your kids into this ASAP.

Life lately: the many faces of the Raven.

🌟 Join the NATA Foundation Ambassador Team! 💙 We’re looking for passionate advocates to spread awareness, inspire involvement & support the future of athletic training. 🙌 👉 Apply today: natafoundation.org/wp-content/upl… #NATAFoundation #SupportATs #AmbassadorProgram