SLU AT Students Get an Interprofessional Summer Internship Experience

Summer Internship Blog Post - NutriFormance/Athletic Republic

By: Kayla Kelley and Ju Hyung Kim (MAT Class of 2015)

NutriFormance/Athletic Republic is a top-of-the-line workout facility located in Frontenac, MO. They offer a variety of fitness programs in addition to their general gym membership such as personal training, group training, spinning, physical therapy, massage therapy, and nutrition counseling.

Kayla Kelley, NutriFormance staff member Emily Grace ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2014) and Ju Kim 

This really makes NutriFormance unique with all the different healthcare professionals on staff. It is not unusual for these healthcare professionals to work together. For example, the personal trainer may be working with their client’s physical therapist to gauge the client’s progress and figure out what they need to focus on. They might also work with their client’s nutritionist, especially if the client is trying to lose weight or has a medical condition such as hypertension. It is essential for these healthcare providers to be on the same page when it comes to the overall health of their client. Each healthcare provider has a different scope of practice and work together to provide the best care possible for each individual client. This is interprofessional practice at work and guarantees the best care for the client. It has been an amazing opportunity to be a part of this team over the course of the summer. We will be able to take what we have learned about interprofessional practice and put it into good use as we continue our journey to becoming athletic trainers.

SLU AT students providing an in-service for NutriFormance staff.

As interns, we spent most of our time on the Athletic Republic floor assisting the coaches with the speed, agility, and functional strength classes. Our time here this summer has really opened our eyes to the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be an athlete. We have also gained a lot of insight on proper running mechanics and immensely improved our rehab skills. A huge part of Athletic Republic is geared towards bridging the gap between a doctor’s clearance and full sports participation. They begin with a digital video analysis (DVA) to determine what areas need improvement. A program is then tailored to their specific needs, and as they build up their strength and agility, they are gradually released to participate. In this way, the athletes are able to return to their sport in the healthiest way possible while minimizing the chance of re-injuring themselves or incurring a new injury.

We feel very fortunate to have been a part of the team at NutriFormance/Athletic Republic. We were able to improve upon our communication and rehab skills—skills that will continue to build and serve us well in our future career. But above all, we learned the importance of the individual. Every athlete is different and has varying levels of fitness and motivation. Therefore, while you may have two athletes with the same injury, their rehab and strengthening programs may be different based on their needs and how their body responds. 

We are thankful for the experience we have had at NutriFormance and we are blessed to have learned so many things that cannot be gained from a textbook.

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.