“Educating and effectively communicating with my patients empowers them to not only achieve full recovery, but also reach their peak performance levels.”
Upon graduation from the Medical College of Georgia, Mario worked in outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine rehabilitation settings for a number of years. In 2013, he became a Board-Certified Sports Specialist through the ABPTS. The same year, Mario went to work at the collegiate level when he became the director of rehabilitation services for Tennessee Tech University. His duties included the provision of rehabilitation services for the university’s student athletes and the coordination of care for strength and conditioning while the athletes were transitioning from their injuries to full participation and directed the return to play procedures. At the university, Mario cared for athletes competing in all of the sports, with the main focus working during the regular season with the football and soccer teams.
In 2016, he transitioned from the university to the professional soccer level. Mario worked with the Chicago Fire FC as the head athletic trainer and physical therapist before making the move back to Atlanta in 2017 to become the head athletic trainer and physical therapist for Atlanta United FC of the MLS ahead of their inaugural season. His primary responsibilities with Atlanta United included overseeing and directing all aspects of the medical care, including injury prevention, emergency management and field/match coverage while traveling domestically and internationally, treatment and rehabilitation, and the overall well-being of all the players with the first team. While working with Atlanta United, Mario got to be part of the winning squads earning championship titles of the 2018 MLS Cup, 2019 Open Cup, and 2019 Campeones Cup, and the squads that competed internationally in CONCACAF Champions League. Additionally, Mario as part of the medical staff of the team, got to host and provided medical care for the 2018 MLS All Star game, and has attended multiple MLS All-Star games throughout the years to provide medical care for players selected to participate.
Throughout his many years of experience, he has devoted time and has developed a passion for working with high performing athletes. Mario covers the full spectrum – starting with implementing methods for injury prevention, through the management of acute stages of orthopedic and sports medicine pathology, all the way to providing current evidence-based practices for the successful return-to-sport. He has extensive experience treating competitive athletes participating in various sports at the professional, semi professional, college, and high school level. Mario has expertise in both conservative and surgical rehabilitation as well as advanced training in Dry Needling, Blood Flow Restriction, manual therapy, injury prevention, and reintegration and return-to-sport participation.
Outside of work, Mario loves spending time and traveling with his wife Katherine and his sons Colin and Colby, working out, playing soccer, and listening to Spanish Rock.
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