Steven Jurch, MA, ATC, LMT

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
Trident Technical College, Charleston, South Carolina

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/0073510939/585997/JurchMug.jpg','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (27.0K)</a>Steve has been involved in the health care industry for the past 15years in numerous capacities ranging from a practitioner to a program director. Originally from Brandon, Florida, Steve began his education at Florida State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Fitness. Along the way, he developed an interest in massage therapy after encountering some therapists working with athletes at a triathlon. After he completed his studies at Florida State, he attended Suncoast School of Massage Therapy in Tampa, Florida, and specialized in Sports Massage. Enjoying his work with athletes, Steve entered a 2-year internship program at the University of Tampa to receive his certification as an Athletic Trainer. During this time he was able to put his massage therapy skills into practice on a daily basis with the athletes as part of their rehabilitation
programs. While he was at the university, he was chosen to work as an athletic-trainer intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and eventually became the massage therapist for the team. To further his education in sports medicine, Steve went to Murray State University and worked as a graduate assistant for the football, women’s basketball, and baseball teams while receiving his master’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, with an emphasis in Human Performance. Once he completed his degree,
he took the position of head football trainer at Wingate University, where he also taught courses and supervised student athletic trainers.

Given an opportunity to move to Charleston, South Carolina, Steve took a job with a physical therapy group before beginning to teach at Trident Technical College in the Massage Therapy program. He took over the program as its coordinator in the first few months. Rewriting the entire curriculum, Steve spent 8 years as the coordinator before stepping down to pursue other opportunities. He still remains on staff as an adjunct instructor and also is an adjunct faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina, teaching in its doctorate-level Physical Therapy and master’s-level Occupational Therapy programs.

In addition to his teaching, Steve is the founder of the Wellness Education and Research Alliance and the owner of the Center for Therapeutic Massage. His years of education and experience working with college, professional, and international athletes both as a massage therapist and as an athletic trainer give him a unique perspective in the profession. Throughout his career, Steve has had the opportunity to work in exciting and challenging settings. In addition to working with the Buccaneers, he acted as the massage therapist for the Tampa Bay Rowdies professional soccer team and was involved in arena football, jai alai, professional ballet, and college athletics. Since his relocation, Steve has become a pioneer in the massage therapy field in Charleston. His approach to massage has provided unique opportunities for him and his business. The Center for Therapeutic Massage is the official massage therapy provider for the College of Charleston athletic teams and continues to work with U.S. Soccer to provide massage and athletic training coverage for its national soccer teams. Numerous local and visiting teams have utilized its services such as the NY Red Bulls and DC United of the MLS, the NBA Washington Wizards, and the players of the WTA at the Family Circle Cup Tournament. Steve, his wife Jennifer, and their two children Owen and Molly enjoy the wonderful lifestyle of the Lowcountry, and through all of his efforts, Steve hopes to continuously enrich the profession of massage therapy.