Mariah Bernanke, director of sports medicine for Chattanooga Football Club, who graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy from UD in 2024, poses inside Inter Miami Football Club’s Chase Stadium, where the team met for a regular season game.

Game changer

Article by Amy Cherry Photos courtesy of Mariah Bernanke March 05, 2025

UD physical therapy alumna lands dream role in professional soccer

Mariah Bernanke played competitive soccer on an elite travel team in high school. She dreamed of working in professional soccer, and the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences encouraged her to follow that dream.

“Physical Therapy Professor Karin Grävare Silbernagel always told me, ‘You can do it.’ But I knew it wouldn’t be easy. She helped me game plan and network with past UDPT alumni in pro sports, which was so helpful.”

Bernanke, who graduated from UD’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program in January of 2024, saw her dreams realized. Immediately after graduation, she took a position with Major League Soccer (MLS) NEXT Pro’s Chattanooga Football Club (FC).

“It’s been awesome,” Bernanke said. “It’s exactly what I was hoping for in terms of a job.”

The experience has been particularly gratifying as this marks Chattanooga FC’s introduction into the MLS NEXT Pro league. Bernanke’s title recently changed from head athletic trainer and physical therapist to director of sports medicine — a recognition of her growing workload.

“I’ve done a lot of work around ensuring policies are league-compliant,” she said. “I’ve also created a medical program that fits the league's needs.”

While she was hired to work exclusively for the men’s soccer team, she’s since added responsibilities overseeing the women’s team and budding elite youth teams.

Mariah Bernanke, director of sports medicine for Chattanooga Football Club, carries water onto the field at Finley Stadium, where Chattanooga plays home games.

The road to UDPT

Bernanke obtained her undergraduate degree in athletic training in 2017 from the University of South Carolina. Shortly after, she took a job working with performing arts athletes for an off-Broadway production.

“After graduation, I was ready to go; I knew I wanted to make the calls one day,” she said. “In pro sports, I knew I would have to climb the ladder a bit before I could reach that point.”

That first job in theater allowed her to grow.

“Sports medicine is up and coming in the performing arts world, and there’s such a need for it,” she said. “This job allowed me to act as the sole medical provider for the performers, where I helped to advance the medical program.”

As she developed as a clinician, Bernanke knew her skills would translate to pro sports. However, working solo helped her realize she needed more knowledge.

“I love the hands-on care I give patients; I love seeing them progress from injury and rehabilitation to getting back to performance,” she said. “So I wanted to figure out how to continue my education but still get that fulfillment.”

During COVID, all theatrical productions were halted, and Bernanke seized the opportunity to return to school. She determined physical therapy (PT) was the best option.

“PT would open more doors of opportunity and fill in the knowledge gaps I experienced on the job as an athletic trainer,” Bernanke said.

She landed on UDPT after a thorough interview process.

“It was such a thoughtful and well-constructed process,” she recalled. “They took the time to match me with Airelle Giordano, who had professional gymnastics experience, which tied in well to my performing arts background. I didn’t get that experience anywhere else.”

Mariah Bernanke uses a diagnostic ultrasound machine while a DPT student. She called the diagnostic ultrasound machine course taught by Megan Sions, associate professor of physical therapy, and Karin Grävare Silbernagel, professor and associate chair of the PT Department, valuable to her career in professional soccer.

At UDPT, Bernanke developed a holistic approach and refined her skills.

“I feel much stronger conducting spine evaluations and evaluating nerve pathologies,” she said. “I’m also better with advanced technology, including isokinetic testing, handheld dynamometry and diagnostic ultrasound. I’ve pushed to implement this technology at Chattanooga FC and more advanced baseline testing to track athletes’ progression in rehab.”

Her clinical rotation at the University of Notre Dame was also pivotal to her success in her current role. There, she worked alongside UD alumna Mandy Merritt, senior associate athletic trainer and physical therapist for the men’s lacrosse team. Merritt graduated from UD with her bachelor’s in athletic training in 2001 and her doctorate in physical therapy in 2005. She also previously worked at UD in a dual position with the Physical Therapy Clinic and Athletics.

“Mandy merged the qualities of an AT/PT to make a well-rounded practitioner — the kind of clinician I strive to be,” she said. “I learned so much from her about creating rehabs, how she did her baseline testing, and even how she effectively communicated with her athletes.”

That experience also prepared her to expand Chattanooga FC’s medical program with confidence.

“Developing a program wasn’t something I thought I’d do my first year after graduating from UDPT,” she said. “But it’s been neat to pull from all my experiences at UD, my clinical rotations, and my past as an athletic trainer and use my creativity and versatility to lead sports medicine for our professional soccer club.”

Bernanke encouraged current UDPT students to find what makes them happy.

“UDPT will prepare you for whatever you want to do, and if that’s working in athletics, make sure you shadow ATs and PTs out on the sports field to ensure it’s what you want,” she said. “Working in pro sports takes a lot of time and dedication, and sometimes it gets glorified. But it also allows you to know your patients in ways that differ from working in an outpatient clinic or an inpatient hospital job.”

She’s also proud to join a growing roster of Blue Hens working in professional sports.

“To me, being a Blue Hen means holding a standard of excellence for myself and my work. I got that from UDPT and all the tools and more that I could need to be successful in my job,” Bernanke said. “I’ve also learned that there is a huge connection and network of Blue Hen alumni across the U.S. who are always willing to help.”