Glen Barker started the first SMED program in California at Northgate High School thirty-three years ago in 1990. The program consists of an in-depth study of human anatomy, taping of athletes, training in emergency medical care and evaluating athletic injuries at all home games. SMED students are trained to be able to promptly address severe injuries including dislocated limbs and head injuries across all sports. In these types of situations, the trainers do everything they can to alleviate immediate pain and to keep the athletes calm until an ambulance or further help arrives. Current junior Srishti Palbakar states, “The class is a lot of work because it is so anatomy based- we have to know every single muscle and bone in the human body. It took a lot of time for me to get the hang of all the terms. Now that I know them like the back of my hand, I can apply them to almost any real game situation.”
In addition to providing support for Northgate athletes, Glen has another goal: to prepare his students for high level medical careers and “to see students come to me for the first time as sophomores develop their knowledge in anatomy and medicine over the three years I have them.” Glen has proved to be successful in his goal as numerous former SMED students have greatly benefited from the program and have gone on to become successful surgeons, physicians, and physical therapists. Dr. Jaimie Hearn, NHS Class of 2012, says, “Glen was the most instrumental mentor I’ve had to date – he knew just how to push you while creating a supportive and fun learning environment. I still use the knowledge and skills I learned in his program to take care of my patients’ today!” Another former student, Lauren Curry, Registered Nurse and Functional Nutritionist, NHS Class of 2009, adds “ Sports medicine was one of the few high school classes that provided so much hands-on learning. I was fascinated by the anatomy and physiology of the human body and am so grateful for the practical knowledge I gained from this class. Glen inspired me to pursue medicine and turn my passion for health into a career.”
Prior to working fulltime as an athletic director at Northgate High, Glen was a clinical therapist. When Glen is not at Northgate teaching, working football games and changing lives, he enjoys various forms of exercise including Bikram yoga and cycling around his home in Healdsburg near Sonoma around twice a week. He moves back to Canada during the summer where he bikes almost every day.
By Erin Kim, Northgate HS student