SLU AT Student Makes a Run at the Fall Classic with the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals Internship
By: Dan Herrin (SLU MAT Class of 2014)

I was fortunate enough to have recently had the opportunity to spend an extended internship period with the sports medicine staff of the St. Louis Cardinals. My primary preceptor was team head athletic trainer Greg Hauck, ATC, and I also interacted with assistant athletic trainer Chris Conroy ATC, head of rehabilitation programming Adam Olsen, PT, ATC, as well as the numerous members of the teams’ staff including physicians, chiropractors, paramedics and so on. To be completely honest, growing up a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals I was ecstatic once I found out I was accepted for the position, but I had little idea of the experience that lay ahead and the profound positive impact it would have on me.

SLU AT student Dan Herrin with Cardinals Head Athletic Trainer Greg Hauck ATC and SLU AT Program Director Tony Breitbach ATC

The staff provided the highest level of care for their athletes every single day I was there, and as we liked to say, we did it with attitude! There was never a moment that wasn’t upbeat and energetic, and in the realm of a long baseball season, that makes the athletic training room an enjoyable place to be. The staff opened their doors to me; always answering any question I had and always including me in any process they felt would help me grow as an athletic training student. I learned an extensive amount in regards to the overall approach to athlete care and the kinetic chain as one functioning unit. I learned the value of an effective team approach to health care, and the positive impact it can have on everyday processes.

Finally, everyone with the St. Louis Cardinals staff, whether that includes sports medicine, athletes, coaches, clubhouse workers etc., all exemplified the character required of a person who wishes to succeed at the highest level, no matter what your profession. Often used in the media, a phrase “The Cardinal Way” is thrown around a lot, which is a way of describing how the organization does things the right way. This goes beyond the baseball team I have come to find, and it has been an experience that I will never forget.

Students in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program have a required internship in the summer between their two professional years in the program.  This blog post details a student's reflection on their internship experience.