Led by nationally and regionally renowned physicians and certified athletic trainers, the Niagara University sports medicine program bases its operation from the Ray Kist Memorial Athletic Training Room in the Kiernan Center.
Serving over 300 student-athletes each year, the mission of the sports medicine program at Niagara is the care of the student-athletes. This includes, but is not limited to, prevention, evaluation and rehabilitation of injuries of the student-athletes. The athletic trainers administer emergency care for acute sport injuries and rehabilitate chronic injuries.
In addition to the 1,936-square foot Ray Kist Memorial Athletic Training Room, Niagara student-athletes have access to the 400-square foot Gallagher Center training room and 285-square foot Dwyer Arena athletic training room.
The Purple Eagle athletic training staff is headed by John Munro, now in his 29th year at Niagara. Munro works with the men's basketball and baseball teams, and serves as the administrator for the baseball and volleyball programs. A graduate of Canisius College, Munro coordinates the athletics training staff and coverage for all 18 Division I sports at Niagara. He oversees a staff of four full-time athletic trainers, and two 10-month trainers.
Scott Mastrobattista is in his 19th year at Niagara as the associate athletic trainer and will work year-round with the men's hockey team as well as with the baseball team and the men's and women's golf teams. Mastrobattista graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1994 and earned his master's degree in school counseling from Niagara in 2000.
Dave Vasquez enters his 19th season at Niagara and will be working with women's lacrosse, men's soccer and the men's and women's tennis teams . Vasquez graduated from the University of Buffalo in 2004 with a bachelor's and master's degrees in exercise science.
Kara Spath is the primary athletic trainer for our women's cross country, men's cross country, women's track & field, and women's basketball teams. Kara graduated from SUNY Cortland in May 2025 with her master's in athletic training. She has worked across many settings while completing her schooling, including industrial, hospital, surgical, and D1 sports. While at Cortland, she was able to experience working with Cornell's football and wrestling teams, and helped lead Cornell wrestling to their 5th straight Ivy league title. Kara is a BOC certified athletic trainer as of August, 2025 and is CPR/AED certified. Kara is from outside of Binghamton, NY and now resides in Lewiston, NY.
Niagara has multiple physicians and a team dentist.
Dr. Michael Freitas also serves as a team physician and provides home game coverage for men's basketball.
Orthopaedi surgeons Dr. William Wind and Dr. Jesse Fodero with the Purple Eagles and provide home game coverage for men's basketball and men's hockey.
Dr. Mario Violante, Jr., works as a consultant with the Niagara sports medicine program. He also provides custom-fit mouth guards for the Purple Eagles for over 20 years.
