Kristin Miller, an athletic trainer for the University of Arizona School of Dance and Campus Health, works to keep student dancers healthy and performing at their best.
Her interest in athletic training began as a high school athlete, dancer and college track runner after experiencing firsthand the support an athletic trainer can provide.
“It was working closely with my athletic trainer who was able to best assist with the injuries that I was trying to recover from. And that’s really what got me interested in that,” she said.
While earning a degree in physical education with an emphasis in athletic training from the University of La Verne, Miller worked as an intern with performers in Las Vegas. There, she gained experience in a field that wasn’t common in the early 90s.
“I was fortunate to be in an environment where there were a lot of performers needing specialized care,” she said.
Kristin Miller, an athletic trainer at the University of Arizona, works with a dancer at barre at the dance athletic training room in the Ina. E. Gittings Building on March 5, 2025.
She received her certification in athletic training in 1998 and has been licensed in the state of Arizona since 2001.
In 2016, she joined the UA. Her approach focuses on injury prevention, particularly in the context of dance.
“What we see in the dance world is repetitive stress injuries. So if we can get our dancers to continue to move, but in a different pattern, they are developing strength,” she said.
By encouraging cross-training and strength training, Miller aims to prevent injuries before they happen, she said.
Dancers also move their bodies in ways that are often distinct from other athletes and require specialized care, she said. Through advanced training in postural restoration techniques, she corrects asymmetries and postural imbalances in the body to reduce pain and improve movement.
“Dancers move into end ranges that are different than what we typically see in an athletic setting,” she said. “We work in an externally rotated or turned out position versus a parallel position.”
The University of Arizona School of Dance offers access to the dance athletic training room with a licensed athletic trainer in the Ina. E. Gittings Building.
Maizie Baker, a senior dance major, has worked closely with Miller through injuries and for preventative care.
In Fall 2024, Baker tore ligaments in her ankle. She turned to Miller for support.
“I came into her clinic sobbing, and even though she had two other patients at the time, she was like, ‘Okay, yes, I’m gonna get you what you need, I’m gonna make you feel better,’” Baker said. “She’s always there. She’s always willing to help with whatever she can.”
Miller also provides mentorship for students like Baker, who are considering healthcare careers, too. Baker hopes to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
“She’s helped a lot with my future career, helping me find internships and different places I can volunteer at,” she said. “She’s always willing to teach and guide us.”
Many people mistakenly think athletic trainers are the same as personal trainers, but Miller said there are differences.
“We are allied healthcare professionals with a healthcare license and national certification,” she said.
Miller’s job is to keep UA dancers and Campus Health patients healthy by preventing injuries and offering support when they happen. Her work helps students stay in class and on stage instead of missing important performances due to preventable injuries.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
