The Distinguished Lecture Series in Sports Medicine at Hope College will feature the address "Integrating Evidence-Based Principle in Clinical Practice" by Dr. Luzita Vela of West Chester University on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. in the Maas Center.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the integration of the most clinically relevant research into daily practice. Vela's talk will focus on how athletic trainers can employ EBP, with special attention on clinical outcomes, levels of research evidence, critical appraisal and the current state of EBP in athletic training.

Vela is an assistant professor of sports medicine at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, where she has taught since the fall of 2005. She is active professionally and has several publications and presentations to her credit.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology from Texas Women's University in 1998, her Master of Science in athletic training at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., in 2000 and her doctorate in kinesiology with a specialization in athletic training at Pennsylvania State University in 2005. She was a member of the Hope kinesiology faculty and was an assistant athletic trainer at the college from 2000 to 2002, when she left to pursue her doctorate.

The Distinguished Lecture Series in Sports Medicine, which features a variety of topics, is designed for health care professionals with an interest in physically active patients, and is intended for students, educators and clinicians alike. It is co-sponsored by Shoreline Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Associates of Grand Rapids, GRSportsCenter and the college.

All lectures in the series begin at 7 p.m. and will be presented either at the college or at Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids.

The Maas Center is located on Columbia Avenue at 11th Street.