KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year recognizes an athletic trainer at an NAIA institution who has distinguished themselves as a model of the profession in personal conduct and professional service to NAIA student-athletes. IU South Bend's own Lauren Burish has been named the 2022-2023 recipient for NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year.

Burish is known for her aptitude for research, enabling her to lead several task forces for the Beacon Health System and the "go-to person" for IU-South Bend during the pandemic including service on the university's Restart Athletics Committee. She is a key contributor for the NAIA ATA Research & Education Committee, and the university's Emergency Planning Committee. The NAIA National Administrative Council has enacted several healthcare-related policies that directly relied on Burish's research. Burish also serves on the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association's scholarship committee, creating opportunities to grow the profession.

Burish has been recognized for her great work previously by the National Association of Athletic Trainers by being named 2021 Intercollegiate Council of Sports Medicine Staff Athletic Trainer of the Year. She was the first NAIA athletic trainer to receive this award which recognizes one individual (from all collegiate divisions) each year for exceptional performance as a member of an athletic training staff. She was also a finalist in 2022 Henry Schein Rising Star award. 

Burish was also named the 2022-2023 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year prior to her NAIA national honors.