Drew Ferguson, MEd, LAT, ATC, CSCSThe Alabama sports medicine community mourns the loss of a legendary athletic trainer and icon Robert Andrew “Drew” Ferguson, who passed away this past month. Ferguson’s lifelong commitment to education and the well-being of athletes left a lasting impact on sports medicine and athletic training in Alabama.
Ferguson’s distinguished career in sports medicine began at the Sports Medicine Institute of Alabama—now Children’s Sports Medicine—where he served as co-founder and later as director for over 30 years. His dedication to athlete care extended to his role as head athletic trainer for UAB Athletics under the legendary head coach, Gene Bartow, and as a USOC Track and Field athletic trainer for the 1996 Olympic Games.
A passionate advocate for athletic trainers, Ferguson played a pivotal role in the passage of the Alabama Athletic Trainers Licensure Act in 1993, which established the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers. His leadership extended to numerous advisory and policy committees, including serving as board member and chair of the Alabama State Board of Athletic Trainers, member of the Medical Advisory Board for the Alabama High School Athletic Association, and chair of the Public Policy Committee of the Alabama Concussion Task Force. Additionally, he served as CEO for CoachSafely, an organization dedicated to educating youth sports coaches on injury prevention and concussion recognition.
Ferguson’s dedication to athlete health and safety earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Alabama Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and the UAB Athletics Hall of Fame. His impact on UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine was profound, offering mentorship and friendship to many. Most recently, he served as the Director of Business Development and initiated the Robert A. Ferguson Endowed Lecture Series two years ago.
His passion for community education emphasized the importance of athletic trainers staying current with the latest technology and research, ensuring that medical personnel felt confident in providing high-quality patient care through evidence-based practices.
“Drew’s 40 years with UAB have been truly transformative. His dedication to athlete care and innovative methods have greatly improved athlete safety and performance, while positively impacting everyone he worked with,” says Ashley Williamson, MSHA, ATC, Administrative Manager, UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine.
“I know Drew’s passion for education and athlete well-being has inspired me and will inspire future generations, ensuring that his legacy in Alabama sports medicine lives on.”
Continuing his legacy in education, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Drew Ferguson Support Fund in UAB Orthopaedic Surgery at https://go.uab.edu/drewfergusonfund.