Abstract
The Dissertation of Clinical Practice Improvement (DoCPI) highlights the Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) student’s journey through evidence of quality improvements and scholarly advancement. The Plan of Advanced Practice (PoAP) provides the structure and builds the foundation for the DAT student to identify strengths, weaknesses, and barriers while evaluating his or her growth as a clinician. As the student evolves, depth of his or her knowledge base is attained as professional goals and objectives are successfully completed through patient centered care, outcome measures, evidence-based practice, practice-based evidence, and action research. Clinical growth occurs through critical self-reflection of clinical decision-making processes, patient outcomes, focus on a priori research, and advanced practice expertise. Finally, in an effort to improve patient care, an exploratory analysis of a treatment-based classification algorithm for treating tendinopathy patients is presented. A thorough literature review on tendon pain coupled with forthcoming manuscripts provides evidence of scholarly advancement and clinical development.