SLU AT Student Experiences "Game Day" Every Day at EXOS in Phoenix

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - EXOS, Phoenix, Arizona

By: Demeisha Crawford (SLU MAT Class of 2016)

I’ve had the opportunity to complete my summer internship in Phoenix at EXOS, formerly known as Athletes’ Performance. The mission of EXOS is “To provide the finest systems, specialists and facilities, seamlessly integrated to efficiently and ethically enhance our athletes’ performance.”

EXOS aims to provide high quality, individualized physical therapy, nutrition and training for elite athletes. Since I have been a part of the EXOS team, I have seen this mission played out in each aspect of the athletes’ experience. I am thankful to have been part of a team that provides exceptional care to athletes. 

Each week I have learned something new about their methodology to improve an athlete’s performance and how to incorporate that into a physical therapy program. In addition to weekly education, I have had hands on experience. I have been introduced to cupping, dry needling and soft tissue mobilization to name a few. Each of the new techniques that I have been exposed to have allowed me to work with patients independently and receive feedback to improve my skills. 

I continue to improve each day by being challenged by my preceptor and the other physical therapist at EXOS. Each contributes different styles of teaching and point of views to enhance my learning experience. I have also continued to improve my patient interactions by receiving continuous feedback from them . The importance of documentation has also been stressed. Each day I enter new patients into the online patient database. I have also been taught how to document in the form of a SOAP note after initial evaluations and daily notes after treatments. 

I have been encouraged to research new techniques to be used in the clinic to enhance patient care. The environment at EXOS promotes continuing education to improve patient care and I have had the opportunity to implement new techniques into patient programs. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to advance and improve as an athletic training student. I am thankful for the great opportunity to work with Tony Mikla, DPT, Kara Shull, DPT and my preceptor Ashley Rice, ATC.

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