He is also the Assistant Director of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory. Padua received his B.S. in Exercise and Nutritional Science with Emphasis in Athletic Training from San Diego State University (1996), his M.A. in Sports Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1998), and his PhD in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia (2001). Padua is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and the American College of Sports Medicine. He currently serves on the Journal of Athletic Training Editorial Board, the NATA Pronouncements Committee, the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association Convention Committee, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine Research Committee.