Cynthia "Sam" Booth

Cynthia "Sam" Booth was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. She was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 2017.

A native of Oak Hill, W.Va., Booth earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in athletic training from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of North Dakota.

Booth began her career as an athletic trainer and educator, teaching athletic training courses and mentoring students for more than two decades. She taught at Minnesota State University Moorhead, where she also served as head athletic trainer and directed athletic medical services for more than a dozen intercollegiate athletic teams. In 1999, she transitioned into health care administration, serving as a manager at MeritCare Health System, practice manager at Rochester General Hospital, and program coordinator and visiting assistant professor in health care administration at The College at Brockport, State University of New York. She later became administrator for the Division of Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, retiring in 2018.

Throughout her career, Booth was active at the state, district, and national levels of the athletic training profession. She was the first woman to serve as District IV director on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Directors and later served as NATA secretary/treasurer and chair of the NATA Finance Committee. She presented extensively on athletic training topics at professional symposia across the country.

Booth has been recognized with induction into multiple halls of fame, including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, Minnesota State University Moorhead Athletic Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association Golden Pinnacle Award (District Hall of Fame), Minnesota Athletic Trainers’ Hall of Fame, and Oak Hill High School Athletic Hall of Fame.