For more than 20 years, Jenn Winningham has dedicated her career to helping student-athletes stay healthy. But one of her most meaningful acts of care happened far away from the sidelines.
Winningham, Tennessee Tech's head Athletic Trainer and director of sports medicine, oversees the health and wellness of more than 400 student-athletes. While she says building relationships is the best part of the job, one friendship ultimately changed two lives.
"The relationships," Winningham said. "I always say that anytime anyone asks that question. It's just the relationships. I get to meet students from all over the country."
One of those relationships was with longtime friend Jason Dunavant, an Athletic Trainer at ULM who was battling kidney failure.
"It wasn't if he was going to need a kidney, it was when he was going to need a kidney," Winningham said.
When Dunavant's need became urgent, Winningham completed the testing process and discovered she was a match.
"And then the time came and I went through the process and we were a match," she said. "To me, I truly believe that was a gift. That was the Lord bringing us together 15 years ago for this moment to happen."
One year ago, Winningham donated one of her kidneys to Dunavant.
"When she called me, I was sitting at this desk, and I could do nothing but cry," Dunavant said.
Today, Dunavant is thriving and preparing to be inducted into the Louisiana Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame.
"People ask me, how come you're never home?" he said. "I'm like, I've been home. I don't want to be home anymore. I want to move. I want to be out there. I want to live again."
Winningham's service extends beyond healthcare. She and her family also established the Winningham Family Scholarship at Tennessee Tech to honor her father, former educator and state legislator Les Winningham.
Whether helping student-athletes, supporting public education, or giving a friend a second chance at life, Winningham continues to embody the spirit of service that defines so many Athletic Trainers. Check out the full news story here!
Athletic Trainers work closely with student-athletes every day, often building long-term relationships that extend beyond injuries and athletics.
Many Athletic Trainers serve their communities through education, mentorship, public health initiatives, and volunteer efforts beyond their athletic responsibilities.
Mentorship helps develop future professionals, build stronger support networks, and create lasting connections that benefit both students and colleagues.
Athletic Trainers often support schools, hospitals, and local organizations by promoting wellness, preventing injuries, and advocating for long-term health.
Athletic Trainers • Sports Medicine • Community Health • Mentorship • Student-Athlete Wellness • Athletic Training Education • Organ Donation • Higher Education • Public Health
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