Athletic training in Africa

BOWLING GREEN, O.—It’s a country that has suffered through genocide, civil war and famine. Now the government of Rwanda is turning its attention to sport in an effort to build strong communities.

Dr. Matthew Kutz, clinical education coordinator of athletic training at Bowling Green State University, will be helping to achieve that goal. Kutz will leave in January 2013 to lecture at the Kigali Health Institute in Rwanda as part of a six-month Fulbright Scholar grant.

“Rwanda really needs an infrastructure in sports medicine,” Kutz explained. “The Fulbright at the Kigali Institute involves training their physical therapists on exercise and how to manage health-based clients. I’ll be teaching an exercise science course as well as what we call therapeutic exercise – rehab for active people – more strength and conditioning techniques. I’ll also get into health management courses as well.”

Kutz plans to bring with him exercise balls and other equipment readily available in the United States but nonexistent in Rwanda.

“They’ve never seen that stuff and used it. I’m really looking forward to the cultural experience and the different perspective. It will be challenging, but fun and will definitely impact the students here. I’ll be able to provide an entirely different paradigm of health care and show them creative options for teaching patients.”

Kutz is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in 2012-13. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

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(Posted July 30, 2012 )