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Chris O’Brien recently joined the Athletic Training Education Faculty in July 2007. He comes to Stony Brook after serving 7 years as the Program Director of the CAATE-accredited Athletic Training Education Program and as an Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. O’Brien also has previous work experience at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Armstrong County Memorial Hospital in Western Pennsylvania.

O’Brien is a native of Central Pennsylvania. He has a B.S. in Health Sciences from Lock Haven University of PA and an M.S. in Athletic Training from California University of PA. Chris is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Human Development – Higher Education Administration at Marywood University. Mr. O’Brien’s excellence in his doctoral studies has been recognized professionally on a national level. He is the 2006 Sayers "Bud" Miller Memorial Scholarship Award recipient from the NATA Research and Education Foundation. In January 2007, Chris was honored as the EATA Francis J. George Scholarship Award Winner and Postgraduate Grant recipient.

Chris has been active both professionally and in the communities in which he has lived. He was a moderator at the 2007 Athletic Training Educators’ Conference in Dallas, Texas. Mr. O’Brien was a founding member of the NEPA Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society Student Scholarship Committee. He has been a presenter at several local and regional conferences and workshops. Chris was a participant in a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Grant: Effective and Promising Practice to Reduce High Risk Drinking: A Curriculum Infusion Approach and a co-investigator in the Phase III Multicenter Study to Demonstrate the Sensitivity and Specificity of Aridol (Mannitol) Challenge to prevent Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness… While at Marywood University, he was a member of the schools’ Speakers’ Bureau and would often do interviews with local television and media outlets. Additionally, Chris is an expert reviewer for several textbook publishers. Clinically, Chris was the Head Athletic Trainer for the Worthington Scranton Campus of Penn State University and Pocono Cup Soccer while living in Scranton.

Mr. O’Brien is also passionate about serving the community. He has traveled twice to the Gulf Coast (New Orleans and Gulfport/Biloxi) on Hurricane Katrina relief trips. He has been a local chapter president and statewide program director with the Junior Chamber (Jaycees). Chris is also fervent about his volunteerism with the American Cancer Society. He has been a Community Ambassador since the program’s inception in 2002 and served as a legislative liaison for the ACS with state and national elected officials in regard to cancer issues. He also has been a committee member for Relay For Life events.

In his free time Chris enjoys running, finishing his first marathon in 2004, as well as most outdoor recreational and sport activities. He is also an accomplished amateur concert violinist.