Arthur Poitras, M. Ed, LATC, enters his 38th year at UMass Lowell and his 20th year as the head of the Athletic Healthcare department. He oversees seven athletic health care staff, which serves more than 400 River Hawk student-athletes. A native of Dracut, Mass., Poitras was named Head Athletic Trainer for the River Hawks in the fall of 1999 and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day health care needs of the UMass Lowell Hockey and the Cross country/Track and Field team.
In addition to standard athletic training duties, Poitras handles the administration of athletic insurance and budget issues and is a staff liaison with outside medical providers. He serves on the America East Health and Safety Committee, as well as the America East Mental Health working group. Poitras also serves at the chair of the Hockey East Sports Medicine Committee.
Prior, he served as the representative to the College/University Athletic Trainer's Committee, dealing with issues surrounding college athletic trainers around the country. In 2005, Poitras received the Marc Connelly Award, given annually to a non-player who made a significant positive impact on the River Hawk hockey program.
Poitras recieved the 2010 Bill Bulloch Unsung Hero Award from District 1 (Northeast) from the NATA at the NATA National Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa. He is also a frequent contributor to local media outlets regarding sports health care issues.
A 1981 graduate of Springfield College, Poitras earned his degree in Physical Education and received his NATA certificate in 1982. Poitras joined the athletic training staff at UMass Lowell as a graduate assistant in 1981 before becoming a full-time assistant in 1983. In 1989, he earned his National Strength and Conditioning Association certification and completed his master's degree in Education Administration at UMass Lowell in 1995.
Poitras, who has missed one game since UMass Lowell's entry into Division I in 1983-84, resides in Dracut, Mass., with his wife, Leslie, and son Tim, a 2018 graduate of UMass Lowell who competed on the River Hawk Cross Country/Track and Field team.
