SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Washington University

Washington University, Home of the Bears

By: Vince Di Renzo, Bridget Quirk and Ryan Vallo, SLU MAT Class of 2013

After a busy and exciting fall at Washington University, we’re back for another semester as we complete our final clinical rotation. Wash U is a NCAA Division III University known for its competitive athletics and prestigious academics. Wash U has four full time athletic trainers on staff who oversee our clinical experience: Rick Larsen, ATC, Jim Anderson, ATC, Mary Tarzon, ATC, and Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program alum, Jacob Blasingame, ATC. We are currently helping out with men and women’s basketball as both teams wrap up a great season.

Vince Di Renzo, Jim Anderson ATC, Bridget Quirk and Ryan Vallo

Wash U head athletic trainer Rick Larsen has a lot in store for us this spring. He has set up mini rotations to enhance our clinical experience. One mini rotation will be athletic training administration. We will have the opportunity to manage inventory of athletic training room supplies and assist in filing insurance claims. Another rotation will be with the Wash U team physicians. We will observe sports medicine physicians Dr. Mark Halstead and Dr. Matt Matava as they further evaluate our injured athletes. Lastly, we will be out on the field with baseball and softball attending to injuries when needed. We are really looking forward to refining our clinical skills set while learning new skills in these rotations.

Recently we implemented Functional Movement Screening (FMS) into our off-season conditioning program for football.  Within the next few weeks, we hope to screen all major sports that we feel can benefit from FMS.   FMS is designed to bring to light any asymmetries between limbs and identify any dysfunctional movement patterns that may increase the risk of injury.  We hope to solidify our athletes’ movement patterns as the foundation for further performance gains and the reduction of injury.

A Washington University football player preforming the hurdle test, one of seven tests administered during functional movement screening.

We feel over the past year that Wash U has been tremendous in helping us grow as future athletic trainers.  It has been a great environment for learning and our preceptors continue to encourage active learning.  As the end of the semester approaches, we hope to continue to build on the knowledge we've gained and continue to be advocates for the athletic training profession.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.