The College of Staten Island Athletics Department has announced the hire of Alyson Ocasio as its newest Head Athletic Trainer, effective immediately, Ocasio, a Staten Island native who comes to the Dolphins by way of Miami, Florida, replaces Joe Abruzzo, who resigned from his position to accept a similar position with the National Hockey League.
“I’m very pleased to welcome Alyson to the CSI Athletics family. She brings a great deal of experience to the position and was highly recommended by her peers in the field,” said CSI Director of Athletics Charles Gomes. “Our athletic training program has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years and I’m confident that Alyson will continue that trend going forward.”
Not new to the athletic training circuit, Ocasio was a Certified Athletic Trainer and Physician Extender at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Baptist Health in Miami, Florida, prior to her arrival on the CSI campus. There, Ocasio assisted physicians with clinical workflow, to include physical examinations, patient documentation and organizational outreach with organizations such as the Miami Dolphin Outreach Events, the Miami Dade Public School system and the Miami Xtreme Football League. Alongside her position at MOSMI, she was also a part-time certified athletic trainer at Johnson & Wales University in North Miami.
“I was very excited when I heard of the opening at the College of Staten Island and once I was offered the position I knew instantaneously that it was something I wanted,” Ocasio said. “It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to work for a home-based school that has developed as much as CSI has. I am very proud to see what the College has done for the Island and to be a part of the staff here.”
Despite transplanting from the sunshine state, Ocasio has a long history with the Staten Island area. She served as Head Athletic Trainer for Moore Catholic High School in 2014-15, and worked in the same capacity and as a Rehabilitation Trainer at One-on-One Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation in New York City beginning in 2012 through 2015. She carries a long list of certifications as well. Alongside her athletic training certification, she is a Certified Functional Movement Specialist, is Graston Technique Certified, CRR/First Aid Certified, and is a certified Oxygen Administrator and First Responder. She plans to use her expertise in training and rehabilitation to assist CSI student-athletes reach their top performance levels.
“I have been fortunate enough to obtain experiences in multiple aspects of athletic training and it’s helped me feel well-prepared for this venture,” Ocasio noted. “Being able to work most recently with well-known doctors in Miami has expanded my knowledge and my evaluations better than any study or seminar I could have attended and I plan to use that here at CSI. I feel like the last few years have really done well to make me a good fit for the College during this transition and I hope to use it to my advantage.”
Ocasio will begin her tenure at CSI immediately, and will also oversee CSI Athletics’ Strength & Conditioning program, established officially in 2016. Never one to shy away from other ventures, Ocasio has also volunteered her time with organizations such as ASA College Football, All Pro Athletic Training PC, and the Public School Athletic League.
