R. Mark Laursen, MS, ATC, was selected as Boston University's Director of Athletic Training Services in June 2008. At that time, he also was named a Clinical Associate Professor of Athletic Training in BU's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
No stranger to BU, Laursen has served in numerous capacities at the University since 1983, when he first joined the Department of Athletics as an assistant soccer coach for two seasons. He has worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Athletic Training, an Athletic Trainer with the men's basketball and wrestling programs, an Assistant Athletic Trainer, an Interim Head Athletic Trainer, an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, an Adjunct Instructor, a Resident Asisstant, a Faculty in Residence in Office of Residence Life, and the On- and Off-Campus Coordinator of Clinical Education.
From July 2007 to May 2008, he was a clinical instructor at the University of South Carolina. As a member of its graduate faculty, he coordinated all graduate clinical education and taught six courses. He also was worked in athletic training or clinical instruction roles at Washington College, Salisbury State University and the University of Maryland at Baltimore County .
Laursen has contributed to several publications, has made more than 40 presentations, and currently is both a member of the Review Committee of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) and a reviewer for Athletic Therapy Today. He has visited over 20 schools' athletic training programs as an Evaluation Team Member or Team Chair for NATA's Professional Education Committee, CAAHEP and CAATE, .
Laursen has volunteered as an Athletic Trainer at numerous sporting events including the Boston Marathon, NCAA championships for men's basketball, men's ice hockey and wrestling, and U.S. Figure Skating Challenges.
A 1983 graduate of Appalachian State University with a bachelor of science degree, Laursen majored in Health Education and minored in Athletic Training. He earned his master of science degree in 1986 from Canisius College.
