Eric Pitkanen is in his 11th year as a member of the Pacific athletic training program. He was promoted to head athletic trainer in July 2013.
Pitkanen joined the Pacific staff in 2010 as the department moved to four full-time trainers with the addition of the university’s football program. Pitkanen has worked primarily with the football program, but also works closely with a number of other sports programs during the winter and spring.
Prior to his arrival in Forest Grove, Pitkanen served as an athletic training intern at Vanderbilt. He worked with the Commodores’ football program and managed athletic training needs for the school’s summer camp program. His experience also includes six months as a training intern with Denver Broncos during the 2009 season.
Pitkanen began his training career at Portland State, where he was a graduate assistant trainer from 2007 to 2009. He served as the primary trainer for the women’s soccer program and worked closely with the football, wrestling, men’s and women’s basketball and tennis programs.
Pitkanen earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from Oregon State in 2007 and earned a Master’s degree in community health from Portland State in 2009. He earned his professional certification from National Athletic Trainers Association in 2007. He gained additional certification in 2008 in the use of Kinesio taping.
