Jena Etnoyer-Slaski, M.S.ED, ATC
Director of Research & Innovation
Jena Slaski is the Director of Clinical Research and Innovation for the Kaizo Health brand of companies, including the Kaizo Health Clinical Research Foundation. As the Director of Clinical Research, she identifies funding opportunities, develops research initiatives, conducts research at all 4 Kaizo Health locations, and presents and publishes current research findings nationally and internationally. Her research areas include injury prevention, best practices, concussion evaluation and treatment, and effective treatment techniques including Biofreeze and Thera-Band products. The primary focus of her research has been to give clinicians the ability to provide treatment strategies based on evidence, allowing them to deliver the best care possible and make sound clinical decisions.
Mrs. Slaski is also a licensed athletic trainer with privileges in Virginia and Maryland and is an American Red Cross Instructor. She attended The Pennsylvania State University and completed her undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an Athletic Training emphasis. Upon graduating, she became a Board-Certified Athletic Trainer. Mrs. Slaski continued her education by attending Old Dominion University, where she earned a Master of Science in Education.
As an athletic trainer at Old Dominion University, Jena worked with nationally ranked NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer and Women’s Basketball; both teams were Conference champions and attended the Sweet 16 in their respective national playoff brackets. Mrs. Slaski also worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Lehigh University where she was the primary athletic trainer for Field Hockey, Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Rowing. Throughout her three years, Mrs. Slaski was a part of the Men’s Basketball 2009-20010 and 2011-2012 Patriot League Championships and First and Second Round NCAA appearances.
Mrs. Slaski’s experience as an athletic trainer observing mismanaged injuries and student-athletes who were not educated on risks of injury has helped to shape her interest in research. These experiences have led to Mrs. Slaski’s passion for educating the public on concussion management as well as injury prevention strategies. While at Old Dominion University she focused her research in ACL injury risk factors, lower body biomechanics, and prevention programs. Mrs. Slaski also assisted with multiple research projects with different branches of the military, including US Navy Special Forces. She was able to continue her interests in research while at Lehigh University, where Mrs. Slaski was the Research Coordinator for a Philadelphia based company evaluating brainwaves in concussed Division I student-athletes.
Personal experiences have led Mrs. Slaski to passionately support charities like the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world raising funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer, and Relay For Life, raising money for the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Slaski lives in the Maryland with her husband and German Shepherd, Tonka. She enjoys reading mystery novels, true-crime TV podcasts, yoga, and anything related to Penn State.