SLU AT Students Conduct Learning Activities and Advocate for the AT Profession at Healthfest

HealthFest, presented this year by Coventry Health Care, is an annual event held in November at the Saint Louis Science Center.  Established in 2003, it is a one-day event featuring educational booths from a variety of area health professionals and health-related organizations.  They offer free information, health screenings for all ages, giveaways, and more!  HealthFest's mission is to provide education to visitors/families about current issues and research, information about services available to the community, and introductions to careers in health-related fields. - See more at: http://www.slsc.org/healthfest#sthash.ozAbWjaj.dpuf

2014 is the 4th straight year that the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society (SLATS), the SLU AT Student Association, sponsored and staffed a booth at Healthfest.  

This year's topic was "Wound Care" where the ALU AT Students taught children and their families about universal precautions, bandaging and the AT profession in general.

Special thanks to the following SLU AT Students that participated in Healthfest:

Brandi Burgett

Jose Mendez

Collin Peterson

Brittany Koops

Haylie Dehm

Andrew Gomez

Kayla Kelley

Amelia Meigs

Brad Bunten

Rachel Spika

Alissa Beeman

Krystin Haas

Dave O'Loughlin

Raquel Roberts-Hamilton

Ellie Collett

Demeisha Crawford

SLU AT Students Find Excellent Preceptors and a Flexible Clinical Site at Fontbonne University

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Fontbonne University

Andrea Strebler (MAT Class of 2016)

I was assigned to Fontbonne University for my Fall 2014 clinical practicum experience.  It has only been two and a half months and I feel as if I’ve learned a years’ worth or more of material. My clinical experience so far has been extremely helpful in the classroom. At Fontbonne I have the ability to connection the material in class and apply the knowledge on the field. Fontbonne has four very passionate Athletic Trainers that I have the opportunity to work with. 

Andrea Lindquist ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer and my main preceptor at Fontbonne University.  She is extremely knowledgeable and is very supportive of me to take the risk of being wrong to be able to learn through experience.  Ann Schmerbach ATC, 2011 alum of SLU’s AT Program, is brilliant at testing my past knowledge and teaching about various rehabs on injuries. Jaci Clauson ATC a Grad Assistant ATC has been tremendous at connecting her recent graduation experience to get me excited for my future success. Brooklyn Dunihoo, ATC pushes me to show what I’ve learned and teach ways for me to better improve those skills.

Being a NCAA Division I soccer athlete at SLU I can really connect with as well as appreciate many of the injuries and particular aspects for Fontbonne’s NCAA Division III soccer teams. I have been working with women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and cross-country. I have learned a great deal so far and am really looking forward to upcoming men’s and women’s basketball in winter.

Andrea Lindquist ATC, Ann Schmerbauch ATC, Andrea Strebler, Brooklyn Dunihoo ATC, Jaci Clauson ATC

Brittany Koops (MAT Class of 2015)

Beginning my second year of clinical, and my second and final year of SLU I didn’t know what to expect. I was excited and nervous; I was happy and sad, and confused but confident. My emotions were mixed and so were my thoughts about my new clinical assignment at Fontbonne University. I am naturally a shy and awkward person. I was afraid I wouldn’t fit in, or that I would feel overpowered or overshadowed by the people I’d met briefly at the end of the spring semester. Gladly all my fears of me being awkward and quiet were false. The open and outgoing personalties of my preceptors at Fontbonne have helped me feel comfortable and be able to become more and more myself with each day. I feel that I was able to open up quicker, and feel less timid about being me and fitting in and being accepted. I knew from the start that I was welcomed by both my preceptors and the students.

This welcoming feeling and being able to break out of my shell has begun to help, and will continue to help me in my future and throughout the rest of the year. I am more willing to ask questions, speak out, and don’t try to slide by unnoticed. It has helped me gain more confidence in myself as a student, and as a person.

Not only am I welcomed, but my busy schedule is accepted. They work hard to make sure that I am able to still make my hours, even if it means coming in early in the morning before school so I can work one of my two jobs late at night. Balancing school full time, on top of working 40 or more hours a week and clinicals, has been challenging, but my preceptors at Fontbonne have been there as support through personal stress, as well as help with school stress. They are open to explaining and answering my questions, and that has done a great deal to help relieve some pressure of my classes, when I feel like I have nowhere to turn.

Lastly, so far this semester I feel that the exposure to a range of sports has really helped me. Not only do I have more opportunities to practice the skills I’ve learned and potentially see different injuries, but I also get to learn more about the dynamics of athletic training and how they can differ from sport to sport. I get to see the athletes during season, preseason and postseason, which is also a different experience compared to last year, when I only worked with the sports in season.

Not only to I get to work with a variety of sports, but this year I am also fortunate enough to get to work with a PY1 student. Last, year I never had a rotation with a PY2 student, and I am excited to get to experience the dynamics of being able to learn from and teach a fellow student. This past month at Fontbonne has exceeded my expectations, and I can only expect that it will continue to do so.

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.

SLU AT Students Get Purple Pride from Cougar Nation at Affton High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Affton High School
By: Eldon Reid (MAT Class of 2015) and Haylie Dehm (MAT Class of 2016)

This semester has been a whirlwind of excitement! When we first came into the Athletic Training Room at Affton High School, you could tell that this was going to be an amazing experience. All the coaches were friendly and welcoming and the student athletes had a spunk of their own. We have had the chance to work with football, girls’ volleyball, boys’ soccer, co-ed cross country, boys’ swimming/diving, and the spirit teams. We have never seen a school so full of team spirit, or in this case, Purple Pride. It has been an interesting ride, this semester, as we have been relatively calm down in our cozy little Athletic Training Room. Besides the standard muscle strains and joint sprains that accompany being an athlete we have had experienced two broken fibulas and a fractured humerus.

Eldon Reid, Becky Stigen ATC and Haylie Dehm

From talking to past AT students that had a clinical rotations at Affton, we were prepared for an okay football season as in the past few years they have not been that great with records like 0-10, 1-9, and 5-6. Our preceptor, Becky Stigen ATC, even said that we’d be lucky to see a 5-5 season, based on the more recent history with the football team. Our football team made it to the MSHSAA Quarterfinals with an 11-1 record!

Haylie Dehm, observing a shoulder evaluation being performed by Eldon Reid

Cougar Nation is out with a vengeance this season and it has been amazing to be a part of it! We may freeze at some of the games with our Extreme Extremity Polar Challenge that was created at the MoATA Secondary Schools level, but the winning streak makes all the Goosebumps and shivering worth it! Affton is such a special place and we could not have asked for a better placement!

Homecoming game in the rain! We're still rocking the shorts!

We cannot wait to see what the winter sports at Affton will bring. Here’s hoping the rest of the sports can follow in the football team’s steps and have amazing and unexpected seasons!

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.

SLU AT Students Grow Professionally With Experienced Mentor at Triad High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Triad High School

By: Candie Hill and Jack Dunlap (MAT Class of 2016)

When we started this semester we had no clue what we were getting ourselves into.  We was starting our first professional year in the SLU Athletic Training program and were worried about our first clinical rotation.  We were assigned to Triad High School in Troy, Illinois.  Jack Edgar ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer at Triad and he has taught us a lot about the Athletic Training profession.  He is knowledgeable and enthusiastic when it comes to the athletes that he treats and the students that he teaches. We have come a long way from the first weeks of my rotation when we were hesitant to help treat patients because we were afraid that we were going fail if we tried something difficult.  Now we have become much more confident in everything that we do in the athletic training room. 

Candie Hill, Jack Dunlap and Jack Edgar ATC

While at Triad HS, we have learned how to evaluate various injuries relating to the foot, ankle, knee, and shoulder. Concussions are also a major concern in contact sports and occur frequently here. Rehabilitation and treatment techniques are especially important. We have learned new and unique ways to treat hip and knee issues that are seen daily. Working with such a large school also requires the ability to appropriately care for all of the athletes in a timely manner. 

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.

First and Second Year SLU AT Students Share Clinical Experience at Missouri Baptist University

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Missouri Baptist University

Josh Harris (MAT Class of 2015)

The Missouri Baptist University Spartans, founded in 1964, reside in what is commonly referred to as “West County” in St. Louis, Missouri. The Spartans compete in the American Midwest Conference, part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). There are a total of eight ATCs at Missouri Baptist, five of which are full time athletic trainers for the school and three that are graduate assistants. PY2, Josh Harris, and PY1s, Brad Bunten, Brandi Burgett, Rachel Spika, and Erika Cook share athletic training clinical experience primarily with four of the eight ATCs at Missouri Baptist, which is commonly referred to as MoBap for short.

Josh Harris (center) with Demeisha Crawford and Josh Yanzer at MoBap vs Lindenwood-Belleville Soccer game.

For this fall semester, Josh Harris has been working with Assistant Athletic Trainer Jamie Herron, MS, ATC and the men’s and women’s soccer teams. All of the PY1s have been working with the newly formed football team this fall and work with Head Athletic Trainer Meredith Dill ATC; Assistant Athletic Trainers Craig Zurliene, ATC and Ashley Broughton, ATC; as well as graduate assistant athletic trainer Emily Lawrence, ATC. 

Our time at MoBap has been an excellent learning experience for all of us, regardless of where we stand as a PY student. The athletic trainers at this university have been outstanding in helping all of us further ourselves as independent, future practitioners. 

All of us are excited to learn much more as the fall semester progresses – Go Spartans!


Brad Bunten, Brandi Burgett, Erika Cook and Rachel Spika (MAT Class of 2016)

We were not exactly sure what to expect when we arrived at Missouri Baptist University for our first day of clinical rotations.  Being PY1s and having never been out on clinical rotations before, this was going to be a new experience for all of us.  Our preceptors, Craig Zurliene ATC and Ashley Broughton ATC, quickly got us acclimated to the daily rigors of what it is like for an NAIA football team going through their first ever football season.

While it can be a struggle working with a team that does not even have their own field, we have gained an immense understanding of the fact that athletic trainers always need to be the ones that are organized and able to adapt to changing situations.

Ashley Broughton ATC, Erika Cook, Rachel Spika, Brad Bunten, Brandi Burgett, Emily Lawrence ATC and Craig Zurliene ATC

Our days start bright and early at 4:00 a.m. when we arrive at MoBap.  Before the athletes start coming in for morning treatment and prep for practice, we prepare the athletic training room for the day and get all the coolers, injury ice, and other practice necessities ready. After taping the athletes and going through any morning rehabs or treatments, we head over to our temporary field next door at CBC High School for 6:00 a.m. practice.  It is somewhat of an adventure being a team without our own field.  Recently it has actually served as an awesome opportunity for us, because we now have the privilege of practicing at Rams Park – the training facility of the St. Louis Rams – twice a week.

The first ever season of Spartan football has been nothing shy of action-packed for us as athletic training students.  So far we have seen everything from shoulder injuries to foot fractures, knee sprains to dislocated fingers, and the ever-classic ankle sprain. This being our first year in the professional phase of the program, we are lacking in some of the skills required to evaluate and treat these injuries when they occur.  But as of now, it has been extremely beneficial for our learning to simply be surrounded by all of these different types of injuries.

Additionally, our preceptors are great at answering any questions we may have, and they are always willing to provide us with supervised instruction. Overall, our experience at Missouri Baptist University has been a positive one and has been very beneficial in our development as athletic training students.

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.

SLU Alum and Community at Althoff Catholic Create a Great Learning Experience for AT Student

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Althoff Catholic High School

By: Andrew Gomez (MAT Class of 2016)

Just 15 miles southeast into Illinois sits my home for this fall semester. Althoff Catholic High school in Belleville, Illinois is home to the Fighting Crusaders. This private catholic school is home to around 600 students, but what makes this high school special is that it’s made up of people from surrounding areas. Some students make commutes up to 45 minutes just to attend this school. One thing that I really value from being here is the tightness of this community. From the students to coaches to faculty, there is such a great family bond. I have grown to like this setting because they have taken me in as one of them, especially the students.

This semester we have had men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, cross country, and football. It has been an interesting year so far trying to cover as many games/matches since it’s just my preceptor and I. There are some days where we won’t be able to make it to a practice or game just because it can get very hectic at times helping the athletes get ready for their games and practices. I am enjoying this site with the hands on experience and being able to learn and grow daily, although it has been a very interesting year with some very interesting and puzzling injuries. My skills develop daily from taping to doing special tests and even working on evaluations on the athletes. 

Andrew Gomez and Meghan Gehrs ATC

My preceptor is Meghan Gehrs MAT, ATC, a graduate from the SLU MAT class of 2011, and also a graduate from Althoff Catholic High School. I have learned so much from her this far, from how to run the AT room to individual care of an athlete. She shows dedication and care for the students by coming in early, staying late, keeping up with them and showing individual attention to each one while maintaining professionalism. I am very lucky to have been placed at ACHS with Meghan. I have learned so much thus far, and look forward to the rest of the semester.

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.

SLU AT Student Gets Real-time Practice at Parkway Central High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School

By: C.J. Spink (MAT Class of 2016)

Parkway Central High School has given me the opportunity to witness and assess injuries of athletes whose level of physical development varies as individuals mature substantially from the moment they walk through the doors their freshmen year. This experience has allowed me to interact with student-athletes whose level of familiarity with injury or cooperation with a health care provider ranges from unknowing and apprehensive to experienced and cooperative. Having this difference in the athletes’ comfort level has required me to use stronger communication skills in order to explain the problems that an inexperienced individual may be facing as well as describing the severity of an injury to an older athlete. 

C.J. Spink and Matt Markelz ATC

Matt Markelz ATC, the AT at Parkway Central through PRORehab, has been a great preceptor and mentor. He has been the Athletic Trainer at Parkway Central for about ten years and interned with the Chicago Bears prior to making his way to St. Louis County. Matt has shared his experiences with me in both settings and has given me insight on the daily tasks associated with both the professional and high school levels. This information has influenced my thoughts on where my professional future will lead me following the completion of my program. 

Aside from improving communication skills and pondering my future career path, the injuries that I have encountered at Parkway Central have varied from cuts, muscle contusions, ankle sprains, concussions, an ACL tear and even a mid-shaft femoral fracture. Rehabilitation of the mid-shaft femoral fracture and ACL tear have been educational in how the process of providing rehabilitation for extreme injuries works, but observing and treating the everyday bumps and bruises has shown to be more commonly the task that is required in the every day job of an athletic trainer. My clinical experience has allowed me to perform muscle and joint tests under the supervision of an AT and has shown me that an athlete who has been hurt may not necessarily be injured. It has proved that assessing history and mechanism of injury is crucial in the process of diagnosing injuries and providing the student-athlete with the proper information concerning their health. Thus, allowing them to return to the field of play as quickly as possible. 

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.

SLU AT Student Finds a Rewarding Experience at Francis Howell High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Francis Howell High School

By: Krystin Haas (MAT Class of 2016)

This semester I have been at Francis Howell High School. I was a little apprehensive going into it at first because I didn’t know what to expect and wasn’t sure that I would like the high school atmosphere. For being my first clinical experience, it has been a great one. Ruth Young ATC is my preceptor and she has been wonderful. We have had an eventful first semester so far. I have learned what it would be like to work in a high school setting and I have to say, I am a fan.  

Ruth Young ATC and Krystin Haas

We have had many injuries that I have got to see in my short time there. I think the injury that stuck out to me most, was the terrible triad and then some. One of the athletes dislocated his patella, tore his ACL, tore his medial meniscus, tore his MCL, and had a medial ankle sprain. This was one of the craziest things that I had seen. Even my preceptor was a little flabbergasted. Just shows that no matter how long you are doing something, you can always see new things. Seeing how this injury was managed was interesting because I wouldn’t have even known which one to start with. I wish that I was going to be there to see the rehab process of it all, but I have to move on to new things. 

I have learned that working in a high school is a very high demand atmosphere and definitely rewarding. Being able to cover every sport gives you a wide array of injuries and lets me use many of things that we are covering in class first hand. This new experience has helped me decide somewhat where I want to go with my athletic training career in the long run. Getting to interact with the athletes and see their appreciation when you help them is always a good feeling. I can’t wait for my next clinical 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.

Clinical Experience at Lutheran South Enhances SLU Student's Motivation for AT Profession

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lutheran High School South

By: Eugene Jeun (MAT Class of 2016) 

During my PY1 fall semester, I had the privilege to work with Mary Finkenkeller, ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2013), at Lutheran High School South. I had previous athletic training experience from shadowing ATs; however, it was here that I fully grasped what it means to be an athletic trainer. I got to work with the football, soccer, softball, field hockey, and volleyball team. It was a great learning experience, since I got to cover a variety of different sports. A typical day would consist of setting up water, treating athletes, and attending practice/games. Since there was only one ATC on site, it was important that there was an effective communication system between the coaches and us. We never seemed to be able to stay on one place. Aside from the daily duties, Mary has created a great learning environment for me. She always updated me with injury reports and athletes’ progress.  Also, I was given many opportunities to practice the knowledge I learned in class. 

Eugene Jeun and Mary Finkenkeller ATC

From typical ankle sprain to torn ACL, I’ve been able to witness a wide range of injuries. In the beginning, I was only focused on the injury aspect of my clinical experience. I completely overlooked one of the reasons why I chose to become an athletic trainer. The best part about being an athletic trainer is getting to know the athletes. It’s been a great pleasure getting to know the school staff, coaches, and athletes. During my time at LHSS, I’ve become a fan of these athletes. From athletes pursuing a college career to athletes playing for recreational activity, it’s exciting to watch every one of them play. It’s been rewarding helping these athletes recover from injury and returning to play, as well as interacting with them on a daily basis. 

It’s only been about 3 months since I’ve started my pursuit for a career as an athletic trainer; however, I’ve learned a lot here at LHSS. It has only increased my passion and drive towards athletic training and sports. It has also given me a different perspective that we shouldn’t only focus on an athlete’s injury, but rather the athlete himself or herself.

Every athlete is different. For instance, some treatments may be suitable for some, but not for others. It’s an athletic trainer’s job to know his or her athletes, and determine the best treatment. 

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.

Preceptor Creates a Great Experience for SLU AT Students at Webster Groves High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School

By: Cara Bowton and Mark Pais (MAT Class of 2016)

Life as students in the first professional year of the SLU Athletic Training program comes with a plethora of experiences, demands, and challenges. Fresh off of a rigorous summer of gross anatomy and MAT 501, we are now armed with a foundation of information that is critical for our success as athletic training students. Most of us entered our first week of clinical rotations with some trepidation due to the fact that we lacked experience in the field that we all hope to soon be certified in. For the two of us, any feelings of uneasiness were quickly quelled as soon as we stepped foot on campus at Webster Groves High School. Our clinical site preceptor, Sean Wright ATC, immediately made us feel welcomed and comfortable with our new second home. He made it clear that he did not want us to be put into situations that we were uncomfortable in handling, but he did (and continues to) encourage us to challenge ourselves and our knowledge. Sean is always willing to answer a question, elaborate on treatment/procedure rationale, or demonstrate a technique in order to facilitate our learning. This strong relationship with Sean has been the driving force in our positive experience so far at Webster Groves.

Mark Pais, Sean Wright ATC and Cara Bowton

The clinical rotation at Webster Groves allows for PY1 students like ourselves to garner a wide variety of experiences valuable to our growth. We have been exposed to all levels (Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity) of a wide variety of sports, with our priorities lying mainly with high contact sports. However, that is not to say that we have not seen our fair share (as most everyone probably has) of cross country self-diagnosed “shin splints.” In our daily routine, we see some regular faces of those who need taping and treatment prior to practice and games, and then we get to work with the rehabbers who are coming off of injury. As our time has progressed, Sean has given us more freedom to develop and carry out the rehab programs. This gives us a chance to work exclusively with athletes and to develop strong relationships with them, as well as giving us a better understanding of the rehabilitation process. Once 4:00 hits, we are out to the fields to monitor the home games for that day. The coaches and athletes always acknowledge us with a smile and a kind word, which is a testament to the relationship that Sean has built during his time there. His decisions are respected and never questioned due to his professionalism and expertise as an athletic trainer. Sean exemplifies the importance of staff collaboration and how it is imperative for smooth functioning of an athletic department.

Our clinical rotation at Webster Groves has already provided us with memorable experiences that we will not soon forget. Seeing an injured athlete, who has worked hard day after day in rehab, return to play is a very rewarding moment. One of the football athletes sustained a sprained MCL during a game and required significant rehab before he could return to play. He worked with us for two weeks doing countless monster walks, terminal knee extensions, and rounds of the “VMO special” in order to be fit to return to play. After his dedicated effort in rehabilitation, he was back on the field and playing at a high level, and that was a very rewarding moment for us as students. It this sort of impact that we can have on an athlete’s life that drives our desire to be athletic trainers. Being at Webster Groves has offered us an experience that reinforces our decision to become athletic training students. All of the time and effort required to help things run smoothly is incomparable to the feeling of gratification when we can help athletes return to a high level of performance for the sport that they love. We feel incredibly fortunate for our opportunity to work with Sean and Webster Groves and we look forward to what the next two months bring!

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.

SLU AT Students Get a Wide Variety of Experiences at Lindenwood-Belleville

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindenwood University-Belleville

Stuart Plamp and Tony Mosello (MAT Class of 2015)

This school year we are fortunate enough to have our clinical rotations at Lindenwood University Belleville (LUB).  This fall we are lucky enough to be helping keep the LUB football team healthy alongside Head Athletic Trainer Bill Dill ATC, graduate assistants Billy Netzhammer ATC, Jessie Zehner ATC, Nichelle Harrison ATC, and the athletic training students of LUB.

The 11 of us have been working almost every day since early August to ensure that the football team stays as competitive and healthy as possible.  Days usually start with pre-practice treatments and rehab in LUB’s wonderful athletic training facilities along with pre-practice taping.  Practice time is spent managing any new injuries that may occur during practice and ensuring all athletes and coaches are properly hydrated.  The days are finished back in the athletic training room where we perform post-practice treatments and further evaluate injuries as needed.

Football season at Lindenwood is a crazy time and we are glad we are a part of it.  From practices, to away games, to all the on-football players who still come in for treatment, there always seems to be something to do at Lindenwood.  And when there is not, the coaches, staff, and players are always great people to talk to and be around. 

Although there is still a lot of football season left, We are already excited to see what the rest of our year at LUB brings us. After football, Tony will be working with the Men’s Hockey team in the winter and either men’s or women’s lacrosse in the spring, and Stuart will be working with men’s basketball in the winter and the lacrosse opposite of Tony’s.

Stuart Plamp (far left back) and Tony Mosello (far right back) with Lindenwood-Belleville Football AT staff.

Demeisha Crawford (MAT Class of 2016)

For my PY1 fall clinical rotation I’ve had the opportunity to work with women’s soccer at Lindenwood University in Belleville, IL with athletic trainer Emily Kaindl, ATC. So far I have gained many skills both interpersonal and medical that have helped in my growth as a future certified athletic trainer. Working with the women soccer team, I have learned that building trust is an important factor when establishing relationships with athletes. In addition to the great relationships established, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in concussion assessment using the SCAT3 test and the IMPACT test to monitor symptoms in the return to play protocol. I have also been fortunate to assist in evaluation of many orthopedic injuries. To aid in the healing process of injuries, Lindenwood University has multiple modalities including Gameready, Ultrasound and E-Stimulation that I have become familiar and proficient in during rehab and treatments. I will continue to be fully involved to learn and improve as an athletic training student at Lindenwood University being sure to keep the athletes first. 

In all, I have gained many skills that will contribute to the successful athletic trainer that I aspire to be once I am certified. I am thankful for the time well spent at Lindenwood University so far and I plan to continue to grow as a professional and work to improve the care of the athletes for the remainder of my clinical experience. 

Josh Yanzer, Emily Kaindl, ATC and Demeisha Crawford.

Josh Yanzer (MAT Class of 2016)

For my first semester of clinicals in Saint Louis University’s Athletic Training Program I was very happy to be placed at Lindenwood University in Belleville Illinois.  I am very grateful to be placed here because it allowed me to experience and learn many different modalities such as Ultrasound, E-Stim, and Gameready right away that other clinical sites, like some high schools, don’t have the budget for.  Being able to spend a lot of time around all the different modalities right away and being at a clinical site with a lot of funding makes the clinical experience much more exciting and easy to get into.  

On top of the availability of modalities at Lindenwood University in Belleville there is also a wide range of sports there and over ten ATC’s to help me excel my skills as an athletic training student.  I was placed with women’s soccer and once that is over I will be going to men’s and women’s hockey.  

This was great for me because I am not familiar with either sport at all so having so many sports to choose from helped widen my range of learning different injuries associated with different types of sports.  It is also the first time I have been around one team so for long helping them out so I learned how to get to know my athletes and earn their trust when accessing their injuries, taping their ankles, or applying certain modalities on them.

Having Emily Kaindl, ATC as my preceptor for the women’s soccer team has been a very interesting experience.  She is similar in age to me and also going further in her education even though she is already certified which makes it more fun because we are both still learning so much about injuries on our way to becoming better athletic trainers.  We both learned a lot about concussions and how to manage them since we had so many people with them this year so now I really know how to distribute SCAT 3 exams.  Overall my experience has been amazing being under Emily as my preceptor at Lindenwood University Belleville.

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.