SLU AT Student Spends a Summer Learning in the Big Leagues

Summer Internship Blog Post - St. Louis Cardinals
By: Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015)

Since May 26, 2014 I have had the opportunity to work with a team of great athletic trainers and team doctors that work with the St. Louis Cardinals.  I was lucky to start with some advice from 2014 SLU MAT graduates Dan Herrin ATC and Kelley DeGreeff ATC who were able to work with the Cardinals in the 2013 season.  Even with the advice and assurance that I would learn more than I could imagine, I am still blown away by the information and skill sets that I have been able to observe and begin to apply on a daily basis.

Greg Hauck, Michael Aaron and Adam Olsen

Greg Hauck ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer for the Cardinals and is assisted by Chris Conroy ATC and Adam Olsen PT, ATC. These three have had a big impact on the way that I look at and will evaluate injuries in the future.  Their approach is much different than other athletic trainers that I have worked with and it’s easy to tell why players get back on the field in good shape when coming off injuries.  This isn’t just due to the athletic trainer’s efforts, but also the team doctors that put a lot of time and thought into each evaluation and rehab process.  They all take their jobs very seriously and have fun doing it, which makes an atmosphere that the athletes are more inclined to include themselves in on a daily basis for any work that they may need done.  Not only did they make the environment good for the athletes, but it was a good environment for me to learn, observe and ask questions for hours every day.

Chris Conroy and Michael Aaron

Some of my responsibilities for the summer included making lots of hydration drinks, keeping first aid items stocked, help taking inventory, packing for road trips, keeping things organized and clean, and trying to absorb as much information as possible.  These things may not sound like a lot of fun, but they are things that have to be done in order to keep the athletes on the field every day.

Overall, I was very pleased with my experience and I can’t thank Greg, Chris and Adam enough for the opportunity to watch and learn from them all summer.  It is an experience that will have a big impact on the rest of my career.

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.