Lutheran South High School – Home of the Lancers!
By: Kathleen McGovern (MAT Class of 2015)
This fall semester, I have had the privilege of being the sole SLU student at Lutheran South High School for my first PY1 clinical rotation. My preceptor was Mary Finkenkeller ATC, a graduate from SLU’s MAT class of 2013. Mary works for Monroe County Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine and is contracted as South's athletic trainer.
We covered 10 sports this fall including soccer, field hockey, softball, volleyball, and football. The busy atmosphere forced me to adjust quickly and completely immerse myself in the athletic training experience. Mary was very approachable and always encouraged questions. Having been through SLU’s athletic training program herself, it was very clear that Mary wanted to give me the best clinical experience she could. She communicated high expectations, always challenged me, and constantly gave me constructive feedback.
The students at South were very respectful and understanding of my role as a student. They often agreed to help me practice special tests, tape jobs, spine boarding, etc. I had a lot of fun getting to know them over the course of the semester. The football team always kept us on our feet giving me great exposure to immediate care, on-field assessments, and clinical decision-making. The sidelines were an exciting place to be. Even during games when our athletes stayed healthy, the sidelines were never boring.
Mary and I did a lot of laughing, and I’ll walk away from this clinical rotation with fond memories. Our football team made it to the second round of playoffs, and the volleyball team won 4th in state. I am very grateful I had the opportunity to apply and develop the skills and knowledge learned in class at South this semester. I can’t believe the growth I was able to achieve in just one semester. I am eager to apply what I learned at South to my next clinical rotation and continue this learning experience.
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.
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