Eleni Diakogeorgiou
Associate Professor-in-Residence
Titles
Program Director, Masters in Athletic Training Program
Associate Professor in Residence
Academic Degrees
Ph.D. Concordia University-Chicago, Leadership, Health and Human Performance, 2018
M.B.A. Sacred Heart University, Healthcare Concentration, 2006
B.S. The University of Connecticut, Athletic Training, 2004
Areas of Expertise
CPR/Basic Life Support
Athletic Training Administration
Health Care Legislation
Biography
Dr. Diakogeorgiou serves as the Program Director for the Masters of Science in Athletic Training and a core faculty member of the program at The University of Connecticut. She received her BS in athletic training from UConn in 2004. During her time at UConn as an undergraduate student she served on the Student Athletic Training Organization as the Vice President and President of the UConn Hellenic Society. She worked with an array of teams including the UConn Women’s Basketball team and UConn Football Team and participated in multiple research studies as an undergraduate research assistant. After finishing her degree, she pursued her Masters of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University with a concentration in healthcare in order to help the profession of Athletic Training grow in the healthcare field. At Sacred Heart she served as a graduate assistant and worked with the Women’s Ice Hockey, Men’s Soccer and Softball teams. Before graduating she was awarded the outstanding contribution award for the Athletic Training Education Program for her dedication to the students while serving as a preceptor.
Dr. Diakogeorgiou then moved onto working for Select Physical Therapy where she began as the Head Athletic Trainer for Berlin High School where she developed policies and procedures, emergency action plans and grew the athletic training program at the school being the first full time athletic trainer at Berlin High School. Dr. Diakogeorgiou was promoted to Sports Medicine Director where she launched the Mobile Sports Medicine Center, 24-hour Injury Hotline and developed many relationships and sponsorships with large athletic organizations. She was then promoted to Center Manger where she managed three physical therapy clinics.
After 7 years at Select, Dr. Diakogeorgiou returned to Sacred Heart as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the athletic training program and later became the Clinical Education Coordinator where she played a vital role in developing the programs clinical education sites, assisting the program through the accreditation process and starting the first Masters in Athletic Training program in CT. During this time Dr. Diakogeorgiou also served as a faculty mentor for the Digital Institute, served as one of the primary investigators on multiple concussion-related research studies, and completed her Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University – Chicago. Her dissertation focused on the use of airway adjunct devices in the equipment-laden athlete with the use of a high-fidelity simulator. Dr. Diakogeorgiou then served as the Clinical Education Coordinator at Southern CT State University for 1 year. She was very excited to return to her alma amateur and presently serves as the Program Director of the Athletic Training Education Program at the University of Connecticut.
Dr. Diakogeorgiou also serves as the Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association Governmental Affairs Committee Co-Chair where she played an integral role in updating the CT Athletic Trainers’ Scope of Practice and Licensure laws. Dr. Diakogeorgiou was awarded Athletic Trainer of the Year for the state of CT in 2014. She was recently elected to the Board of Education in her town and owns and operates a small family-run CPR company with her husband, Vasilios.
Her previous research includes the perception of healthcare professionals regarding athletic trainers’ roles and responsibilities, prehospital care of the athlete, and concussion baseline testing. Connecticut has always been her home and she enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children.
Selected Publications
Diakogeorgiou, E., & Miyashita, T (2018). Effect of head impact exposures on changes in cognitive testing. Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 6(3), doi:10.1177/2325967118761031
Miyashita, T. L., Diakogeorgiou, E., & Marrie, K. (2018). The role of subconcussive impacts on sway velocities in Division I men’s lacrosse players. Sports Biomechanics, 1-9. doi: 10.1080/14763141.2018.1458892
Diakogeorgiou, E., Cotter, J. J., Clines, S. H., & Jusino, D. L. (2017). Emergency medical services personnel’s perceptions of the roles and responsibilities of athletic trainers during on-field Injury management. Athletic Training and Sports Health Care. Available On Line.
Miyashita, T. L., Diakogeorgiou, E., & Marrie, K. (2017). Correlation of head impacts to change in balance error scoring system scores in division I men’s lacrosse players. Sports Health, doi. 10.1177/194173816685306. Available On Line.
Miyashita, T., Diakogeorgiou, E., Marrie, K., & Danaher, R. (2016). Frequency and location of head impacts in division I men’s lacrosse players. Athletic Training and Sports Health Care, 8(5), 202-208.
Miyashita, T. L., Diakogeorgiou, E., & VanderVegt, C. (2016). Gender differences in concussion reporting among high school athletes. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, 8(4), 359-363.
Miyashita, T. L., Diakogeorgiou, E., Hellstrom, B., Kuchwara, N., Tafoya, E., & Young, L. (2014). High school athletes’ perceptions of concussion. Orthopaedic Journal of sports medicine, 2(11), 2325967114554549.
Honors and Awards
Daniel L Campbell Legislative Award June 2018
Presented to CATA Governmental Affairs Committee
By the National Athletic Trainers’ Association
Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Jan 2017
Frank George Graduate Scholarship
Thomas J. Pike Athletic Training Alumni of the Year
UConn June 2014
Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association May 2014
Athletic Trainer of the Year
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association August 2013
Daughters of Penelope Graduate Scholarship
Select Physical Therapy Jan 2008
Hard Hat Award
Sacred Heart University May 2006
Outstanding Contribution Award
Hans Carson Hercule Memorial Scholarship June 2004
Douglas J. Casa Athletic Training Research Award June 2004
Associations/Committees/Outreach
Chair, Third Party Reimbursement Task Force. 2019-Present, Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Member, Town of North Haven, Board of Education – November 2019-present
Co-chair, Governmental Affairs Committee, 2016-Present, Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Member, CT Department of Public Health Scope of Practice Review Committee for athletic trainers. December 2016.
Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee, 2013-16, Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Co-chair, Governmental Affairs Committee, 2011-13, Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association.
Member, Committee on Practice Advancement Web Group, 2011-Present, National Athletic Trainer’s Association.
Chair, Committee on Revenue, 2006 – present, Connecticut Athletic Trainers Association.
Board of Directors, 2005 – 2007, Connecticut Athletic Trainers Association.
