{"id":3985,"date":"2025-10-06T16:57:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T20:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3985"},"modified":"2026-02-01T14:24:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T19:24:28","slug":"amy-grover-focused-on-prevention-driven-by-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=3985","title":{"rendered":"Amy Grover: Focused on prevention, driven by purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lorna Oppedisano\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

On any given day, Amy Grover is likely juggling multiple worlds at once: checking in with athletic trainers stationed across local high schools, reviewing employee wellness initiatives for hundreds of coworkers, volunteering for a variety of nonprofits, and carving out time \u2013 before most people are awake \u2013 for her own health. It\u2019s a routine built on intention, one that mirrors both her professional training and her volunteer life. At its core is a simple philosophy: learn everything you can, then share it generously.<\/p>\n

Originally from Ithaca, Amy has lived in the Central New York area for the past 13 years, building a career that sits at the intersection of healthcare, education and prevention. At Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) she serves in a dual role of Sports Medicine Coordinator and employee Wellness Program Coordinator, while also dedicating countless volunteer hours to the American Heart Association and other community organizations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amy is an athletic trainer by profession \u2013 a role she is quick to\u00a0<\/span>define clearly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAthletic trainers are health care providers,\u201d she said. \u201cWe actually just got our licensure from New York State.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That licensure, she explained, provides long-overdue title protection for a field that has often been misunderstood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her path into athletic training began with her own participation in high school sports and a desire to work in health care. Athletic training offered what she describes as \u201ca perfect blend,\u201d combining hands-on medical care with fast-paced environments focused on injury prevention, recognition, treatment and rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

Because of the profession\u2019s name, athletic trainers are often confused with personal trainers, a distinction Amy is used to addressing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re much more similar to a PT than a personal trainer,\u201d she clarified.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Athletic trainers are required to earn a master\u2019s degree, pass a national exam and practice under physician supervision. The main difference lies in scope: athletic trainers focus primarily on athletic-related injuries, while physical therapists work across a broader patient population.<\/p>\n

Amy briefly explored physical therapy while in school, but the clinical setting wasn\u2019t the best fit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was too slow for me,\u201d she said. \u201cIt’s very predictable.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Athletic training, on the other hand, offered constant unpredictability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you’re on the sidelines of either a practice or a game, anything goes,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to be ready for literally everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

That responsibility extends far beyond emergency response. Amy said one of the most meaningful aspects of the profession is the relationships athletic trainers develop with athletes over time. Because athletic trainers are present day in and day out, they often become trusted adults \u2013 people athletes confide in when they\u2019re struggling physically or emotionally.<\/p>\n

Although Amy no longer works full-time in school settings, she oversees athletic trainers contracted out to schools through SOS. Many of them work with the same students for four years or more, watching them grow and recover from injuries that can sideline them for months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her current role at SOS is split between sports medicine operations and employee wellness. While sports medicine takes up most of her time, the wellness program has become one of her most meaningful projects.<\/p>\n

The program serves roughly 650 to 700 employees, with about a third participating. Employees earn \u201cwellness points\u201d for activities that support their health, which translate into financial incentives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Amy values most is the program\u2019s inclusivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I’m most proud of is that it’s always been very holistic,\u201d she said. \u201cThey can get the maximum number of wellness points and the maximum award without ever stepping foot into a gym.\u201d<\/p>\n

That focus on whole-person health introduced Amy to community health organizations, including the American Heart Association. Her initial involvement came through organizing a team for the association\u2019s Heart Walk. From there, she began implementing the Check It Challenge, a free blood pressure self-monitoring program, within SOS.<\/p>\n

Her work caught the attention of American Heart Association\u2019s staff, particularly then-Community Impact Director Lisa Neff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe loved how I was implementing it at SOS,\u201d Amy said. That led to invitations to share her experience with other organizations and eventually to join the organization\u2019s Community Action Committee. Soon after, she was asked to co-chair and then eventually join the board.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve always said, it’s been so easy to volunteer with the American Heart Association because of the staff,\u201d she said, explaining that their passion and support made saying yes feel natural.<\/p>\n

Today, Amy chairs the Leadership Development Committee, which supports campaign leaders for initiatives like the Heart Walk and Go Red for Women, while also focusing on board recruitment and development.<\/p>\n

While Amy does have a family history of heart disease \u2013 her maternal grandfather died of a heart attack at 49 \u2013 she shared that is not what drives her involvement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s genuinely not my why,\u201d she said. Instead, she is motivated by education and shared stories. \u201cI’ve always been someone who really, really, really, really loves learning and sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n

That passion is especially evident in her work around CPR education. Amy is a certified instructor who trains SOS staff, community members and the public.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Creating a Nation of Lifesavers\u2019 is one of the main things of the Heart Association,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Teaching CPR felt like an easy place to step in, allowing her to share skills she already used professionally with a broader audience.<\/p>\n

Amy has also become a dedicated advocate, traveling to Albany to meet with legislators both for her profession and for the American Heart Association.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love advocating,\u201d she said. \u201cYou’re their constituents. They want to talk to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For her, advocacy is about sharing stories and expertise, not confrontation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho doesn’t love talking about stuff that they love, right?\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Outside of the American Heart Association, Amy volunteers with United Way of Central New York\u2019s Women United Steering Committee, serves on the board of Syracuse Grows, is on the Governmental Affairs Committee for the New York State Athletic Trainers Association and is wrapping up a term with the Syracuse Onondaga Food System Alliance. She is also an alumna of Leadership Greater Syracuse and continues to serve on its interview committee.<\/p>\n

At home, Amy prioritizes her own health with the same intention she brings to her work. She exercises every morning, makes sure to get a good night\u2019s sleep, journals regularly, and focuses on strength training \u2013 a necessity as a mother of two, including a five-year-old daughter with Rett syndrome.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ve always prioritized taking care of myself, so that I’m able to give to others,\u201d she said. For Amy, that longevity is personal; it means being able to care for her daughter for as long as possible.<\/p>\n

When asked about her \u201cwhy,\u201d Amy returned to the idea of impacting others, explaining that she likes to share anything she herself absorbs. She sees that sharing as a way to create opportunity for others, in the same way mentors and colleagues once did for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want other people to know the opportunities for them,\u201d Amy said. \u201cAnd then that makes it fun to do all these things because the sharing is like giving back.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about the American Heart Association, visit heart.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Lorna Oppedisano\u00a0 On any given day, Amy Grover is likely juggling multiple worlds at once: checking in with athletic trainers stationed across local high schools, reviewing employee wellness initiatives for hundreds of coworkers, volunteering for a variety of nonprofits, and carving out time \u2013 before most people are awake \u2013 for her own health.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[100],"tags":[531,1536,747],"class_list":["post-3985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story","tag-american-heart-association","tag-amy-grover","tag-go-red-for-women"],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/web-cover-scaled.jpg?fit=1923%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1654,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1654","url_meta":{"origin":3985,"position":0},"title":"Amy Doyle","author":"Staff","date":"March 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Functional Food\u00a0 By Riley Bunch | Photography by Alice G. Patterson\u00a0 When Amy Doyle sits down with a patient, she not only wants to hear their symptoms, but their entire health story. She wants to know not only current and past health history, but how they\u2019re sleeping, their stress level\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=126"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/amy-doyle-white-stone-wellness-0001.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/amy-doyle-white-stone-wellness-0001.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/amy-doyle-white-stone-wellness-0001.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/amy-doyle-white-stone-wellness-0001.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/amy-doyle-white-stone-wellness-0001.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1763,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1763","url_meta":{"origin":3985,"position":1},"title":"Nappa Family","author":"Staff","date":"April 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"It Takes a Family\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson\u00a0 \u201cWhen you\u2019re a mom and you have kids with cystic fibrosis, you wake up in the morning and every day is unpredictable, because your day could change from minute to minute,\u201d Cindy Nappa said. Cindy\u2019s connection to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Tracy-Marino-cystic-fibrosis-org-syracuse-0011-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Tracy-Marino-cystic-fibrosis-org-syracuse-0011-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Tracy-Marino-cystic-fibrosis-org-syracuse-0011-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Tracy-Marino-cystic-fibrosis-org-syracuse-0011-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Tracy-Marino-cystic-fibrosis-org-syracuse-0011-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1896,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1896","url_meta":{"origin":3985,"position":2},"title":"The Health and Beauty Benefits of Grapes","author":"Staff","date":"June 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Power of Grapes\u00a0 By Susie Ippolito\u00a0 We are fortunate to live in Syracuse, where fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant, accessible and affordable. The lines at the farmer\u2019s markets prove the local popularity of produce. New York state is known for exceptional apples, dairy products and maple syrup, to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=126"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/syracuse-women-magazine-logo-jan-17-1-e1485623317278.jpg?fit=889%2C400&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":610,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=610","url_meta":{"origin":3985,"position":3},"title":"Being a Brand Ambassador","author":"Staff","date":"March 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Value of You By Ann Marie Stonecypher | Photography by Dan Doyle I\u2019ve said it before and I\u2019ll say it again: \u201cYou are your brand.\u201d How you dress is an absolute extension of that distinct brand. What are you projecting as your No. 1 Brand Ambassador \u2014 a mantle\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fashion"","block_context":{"text":"Fashion","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=103"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Fashion-forward_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C807&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Fashion-forward_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C807&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Fashion-forward_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C807&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Fashion-forward_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C807&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Z_Fashion-forward_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C807&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":700,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=700","url_meta":{"origin":3985,"position":4},"title":"Mary Michaels","author":"Staff","date":"April 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Team Tess' Tomorrows By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson In 1955, a group of parents got together. They had one thing in common: their young children had been diagnosed with a chronic, incurable disease \u2014 cystic fibrosis. The children weren\u2019t expected to live past elementary school. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Mary-Michaels-Cystic-Fibrosis-Research-Advocate-0007.jpg?fit=1200%2C802&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1282,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1282","url_meta":{"origin":3985,"position":5},"title":"Give to Others","author":"Staff","date":"December 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One Business\u2019 Trash, A Nonprofit Organization\u2019s Treasure By Amy Caputo | Photography by Amy Davis Have you ever had an idea you never imagined would turn into a reality? For myself and my family, one simple idea of giving snowballed into a positive experience and has had a strong impact\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Causes"","block_context":{"text":"Causes","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=104"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3985"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4017,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3985\/revisions\/4017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}