Blaine Birtzer joined the Hamline Sports Medicine staff in October 2020 and works primarily with the men’s and women’s soccer, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swim and dive, and baseball teams.
In his role as an athletic trainer, Birtzer provides acute and long-term healthcare to student-athletes, focusing specifically on injury prevention programs reducing the long-term impact of acute injury.
Birtzer earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Athletic Training and Kinesiology from the University of North Dakota in 2017. From there, he pursued his Doctorate of Athletic Training at Indiana State University, graduating in 2019.
Prior to working at HU, Birtzer worked for Holy Family Memorial and Roncalli High School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, providing athletic training and clinic services. While earning his doctoral degree he also gained experience working for Franciscan Health and Indiana State University, providing clinical services to rural Indiana high schools and assisting in ISU’s clinical research.
Birtzer comes to Hamline with additional experience from his time as a clinical intern at Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine where he worked in 2016. He also worked as a medical aide at the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championship.
Outside of work, Birtzer enjoys backpacking, snowboarding, being outside, and cooking in his free time.
