March 30, 2015

One Outstanding Site Produces Two Great Clinical Experiences for SLU AT Students


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School
By: Demeisha Crawford and Dave O'Loughlin (MAT Class of 2016)

Webster Groves has been an awesome clinical site.  I could tell the first day I came in for observational hours last year.  Our preceptor, Sean Wright ATC, promotes such a learning environment with a hands-on approach.  We are given a high amount of privilege and responsibility, so we get a really good feel of life as an athletic trainer.  Usually, we get to assess the athletes first, and we have our chance to perform a full examination.  Afterwards, whether we know what the issue is or if we have questions, Sean comes over and either confirms our diagnosis or helps us out.  It is especially nice that our preceptor always goes the extra mile to ensure that we are very thorough. Every time I think I have come to a diagnosis and tell Sean, he always asks if I have cleared additional structures which I might not have thought to assess initially. 
- Dave O’Loughlin


My experience at Webster Groves High School with Sean Wright ATC has been both exciting and challenging.  I have been able to take the lead with evaluations, rehabilitation programs and documentation.  The initiative that I take each day when helping an athlete has increased my confidence as an athletic training student and has allowed me to build trust with the athletes in order to provide care for them.  Sean is always there to answer questions when I get hung up while treating an athlete but reminds me that I must use critical thinking to understand with I am doing and to explain what I will be doing with the athlete.  I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with Sean because it has been a dynamic experience and one full of growth.  I hope to continue to grow and improve as an athletic training student as I learn new techniques and skills each day. 
- Demeisha Crawford

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 Learns from an Outstanding Preceptor at Francis Howell HS


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Francis Howell High School
By: Brad Bunten (MAT Class of 2016)

Francis Howell High School has been the site of my spring semester clinical rotation, and my experience here has been nothing short of amazing.  I’ve been able to have countless positive interactions with all the athletes, coaches, and staff.  Since Francis Howell is such a large school with numerous sports and many athletes, there is rarely a dull moment.

Our day here starts at 2 p.m.  The work begins as we prepare the athletic training room for the day just twenty minutes before the athletes start coming in after school.  We generally have a steady stream of athletes each day going through rehabilitation exercises of which I get to be heavily involved with.  We’ll also see athletes that need to be evaluated from an injury that may be either lingering or acquired during the previous practice.  My preceptor has integrated me very well with all the rehabs going on to help me get more exposure.  She also allows me to be the first one to evaluate an injured athlete before she examines them and we compare our findings.  This has allowed me to gain immense knowledge in both the rehabilitation and assessment fields, and to gain more confidence in my skills.


The biggest thing that has made my time here at Francis Howell so great has been my preceptor Ruth Young, ATC.  She has been an extraordinary preceptor that is always willing to teach me new things and answer my questions, and she does so in such a thorough way that I feel like I’m learning what I wanted to and then some.  Not only does she teach me so many new things, but she encourages me to talk to her about what I’m learning in class so that maybe she can learn something new or pick up something she can use with her athletes.  Ruth and I work very well together which not only helps add to an already great learning environment for me, but helps things to run even more smoothly in the athletic training room.  She has been nothing short of incredible, and words cannot justify just how great and helpful she has been, or how thankful I have been to have her as my preceptor.  I have been very grateful for my time at Francis Howell High School this semester, and it has provided me with an excellent clinical experience this 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.

March 29, 2015

SLU AT Students Get a Busy NCAA Division I Clinical Site at SIU-Edwardsville


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
By: Kayla Kelley and Chris Miller (MAT Class of 2015); and Cara Bowton and Lauren Scalise (MAT Class of 2016)

Now that winter sports have drawn to a close, we are able to spend much more time outdoors. Spring sports include baseball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, track and field, volleyball, and tennis. We are rotating every two weeks to get a wide variety of experiences. Essentially we will have one rotation with almost every sport, giving us a sample of the main themes for each.

Gerry Schlemer ATC, Cara Bowton, Lauren Scalise
We are fortunate that the athletic training staff, student athletes, coaches, and administration have been so welcoming, providing us with a proper learning environment. We have also had the opportunity to experience Division I athletics, top notch athletic facilities, and a diverse population of athletes and staff members alike. While our time at SIUE is rapidly coming to an end, we know one thing for sure—it will always hold a special place in our hearts.

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.

Program Alum Provides a Special Experience for SLU AT Students at Westminster


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Westminster Christian Academy
By: Ju Kim (MAT Class of 2015) and Rachel Spika (MAT Class of 2016)

We are very fortunate to have been placed at Westminster Christian Academy for our spring clinical rotation. Our clinical education experience has been unique in that we have an all-SLU Athletic Training workforce. Ju is a PY2, Rachel is a PY1, and our preceptor, Hilary Orf MAT, ATC graduated from the SLU AT program in 2013. Having a preceptor who shares mutual experiences with her students has been extremely beneficial because she understands our course loads and how our classes are taught, and she is familiar with the program layout and its faculty. She is a great resource for questions not only about academic material but also about how best to prepare for the BOC exam and what to expect with graduating and the job search. If ever there is down time (which is rare) Hilary asks about what we are learning in class and she is extremely willing to explain concepts and help us practice evaluations and techniques on one another. This has provided us with many opportunities to learn from each other and keep our knowledge sharp.


The busy, fast-paced environment at Westminster never fails to keep us on our toes. Once the school bell rings at 3pm, we can expect to work up a sweat trying to keep up with the steady stream of students coming in and out of the athletic training room for taping, stretching, and rehab exercises. And just when it seems like there may be time to take a breather once practices get under way, more athletes come through the door in need of injury evaluations. Since the beginning of the spring sports season, we have been trying to get outside to enjoy the weather and make sure our athletes are staying healthy out on the fields. But we have been so busy caring for injured athletes in the athletic training room that this has proven difficult. Something is always going on, and there is always someone who needs something from one of us. This is not a problem, however, because days like those provide us with increased opportunities to practice and enhance our skills. Hilary fully involves us in the injury evaluation, rehab, and documentation processes. She often has us gather a history and take a look at an injury before she does, so that we can practice those skills as well as form a potential diagnosis to discuss.

Rachel Spika; Hilary Orf MAT, ATC and Ju Kim
With each athlete we see, we can feel our skills improving, and that can largely be credited to Hilary and the learning environment she creates at Westminster Christian Academy. Our questions often lead to lengthy discussions from which we all benefit. We are extremely thankful for our clinical experience at Westminster and we look forward to the upcoming games that will officially kick off our spring sports season.

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.

March 28, 2015

Multiple Preceptors with Billiken Athletics Create Varied Experiences for SLU AT students


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Saint Louis University Athletics
By: Dustin Jamboretz, Ryan Lily and Alissa Beeman (MAT Class of 2016)

In the spring of 2015, we were fortunate enough to have our spring clinical placement at Saint Louis University. This setting was unique in regards to how our rotations worked. Typically every two weeks, we would alternate preceptors. This meant that we were exposed to a variety of different sports, teaching styles, and treatment strategies. At the time of this blog post, we have worked closely with four different preceptors and have helped with treatments for athletes from the following teams at Saint Louis University: track and field, volleyball, tennis, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, field hockey, and currently baseball and softball. 


Last semester our clinical rotation was in a high school setting. We thought that there would be a really big transition from the high school level to this university setting. But surprisingly, we found that there is not that much of a difference in regards to how athletic training is practiced. Both settings have the same emphasis on professionalism, patient centered care, preventative measures, and rehabilitation protocol. But there is a difference that is blatantly evident. Obviously the budget at the university setting is much larger than that of a high school. This allows for the sports medicine department to have newer, more expensive modality machines, gadgets like a SwimEx, the use of expensive tape, and an easier ability to obtain imaging and doctors appointments. 

Dustin Jamboretz
By having the opportunity to work with multiple preceptors, we are constantly gaining new experiences. Every athletic trainer has developed their own way of doing things. One of the benefits of this is learning that there is always more than one way to reach the same result. It has allowed us to open our minds to different ideas and think outside of the box. We have widened our skill set this way, and look forward to further increasing our knowledge throughout the remainder of the semester. 

Kelley DeGreeff MAT, ATC, Alissa Beeman, Tori Lycett and Ryan Lilly
In regards to injuries, we have not had to provide any sort of emergency medical services yet. We have on the other hand been doing a lot of treatment for chronic, overuse injuries. Because we have started our first rehabilitation class this semester, it is interesting to apply what we have learned in class to a clinical setting. Thus, as a result of working with the sports medicine team at Saint Louis University, our knowledge and skills related to athletic training continue to increase tremendously. We are especially grateful to our preceptors who take the time out of their day to teach us new lessons. 

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.

Busy Site at Triad High School Provides SLU AT Student with a Great Learning Experience


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Triad High School
By: Josh Yanzer (MAT Class of 2016)

For my second semester of my first professional year in the Athletic Training Program at SLU I was placed at Triad High School.  I have been at Triad since January 8th and the first day I got there I was thrown right into a Varsity Wrestling Tournament.  I had been a wrestler in high school myself and never realized just how much blood we actually get on the mats during meets; thankfully I learned how to stop epistaxis quickly.  

The high school setting of Athletic Training is a lot faster pace than the college setting so there is a lot more excitement involved and always something to do.  I have worked with every winter and spring sport so far and I have enjoyed every one of them.  Working with all the different sports made me realize just how many different injuries ATs are exposed to and that my knowledge base about all these different injuries is a lot larger then I had originally thought.  


My preceptor at Triad, Jack Edgar ATC, is one of the most knowledgeable Athletic Trainers I have ever meet and I haven’t seen an injured individual that he couldn’t treat.  Jack has taught me so much outside of what I am just learning in class.  He understands and helps show me how injuries relate up or down the kinetic chain to the spine and hips.  He has also taught me many mobilizations in order to help correct the body mechanics of the hip and spine so that patients do not have recurrent injuries because the source of where their injuries are coming form is being corrected.  I feel like he has allowed me to do a lot more as an athletic training student than most.  He seems to very confident in my abilities and skill set so far as an athletic training student so he is not afraid to let me do my own evaluations or rehab plans as long as he is there to oversee them.  

I have had a lot of fun with my experience at Triad High School and I can’t wait until the Spring Sports really get into the competitive part of their seasons.  I am going to miss my time spent at Triad and am sad that I may not be around for the end of each of the Spring Sport 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.

March 27, 2015

JBS – A welcoming family to SLU AT Students!



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - John Burroughs School
By: Shannon Kane (MAT Class of 2015) and Andrea Strebler (MAT Class of 2016)

This semester at John Burroughs School has been awesome!  John Burroughs School is a private school located in Ladue, and it has grades 7-12.  The middle schoolers have PE, and all of the high schoolers are required to play a sport, so everyone is active, and there is a lot for us to do!


Dean Tiffany ATC is the athletic trainer, assistant athletic director and head wrestling coach at JBS. He wears many hats and somehow finds time to do everything!  This season we became very familiar with wrestling, and put in a lot of time at wresting practice, meets and tournaments.  Every year John Burroughs hosts two large wrestling tournaments.  We were lucking enough to have three direct observation students at one of the tournaments. They were very excited and enjoyed asking us questions to see what they have to look forward to the next two years.  Towards the end of the season one of our wrestlers sustained an elbow injury.  He would get it taped and we would use modalities to help alleviate his pain.  He worked to overcome the injury, and ended up getting 6th place at the state meet.  As he gets ready to play baseball, he is taking some time off to rehab his injury, and will be starting a throwing program with us soon.


Here at JBS, everyone is family.  Not only do we take care of our athletes, we have cared for fans and coaches as well.  One of the assistant wrestling coaches would come to us almost every day and let us work on his shoulders.  He knows that we are still learning and has had many students practice on him in the past.  He has gotten good at judging how well we are doing.  He gives us feedback in addition to what Dean tells us, so while we are helping him, he is helping us.


During a basketball game, a spectator seemed to not be doing well, and another spectator got our attention.  When we got to him, we could tell he was showing signs of a stroke, so we made sure his friends made sure he was comfortable while we activated our EAP.  And one of our coaches jumped down a flight of stairs to avoid falling, but landed too hard on his calcaneus and broke it.  He has been coming into the athletic training room to do some of his exercises and stretches now that he has had surgery.


The community at this institution is unreal.  Everyone is supportive of each other and their endeavors. If a teammate is hurt, the whole team is behind them and encourages them through their rehab.  If a game is going on, there are always students there watching, cheering on their friends.  We feel as if we have become a part of the family.  This is truly a great place to be.

Every day is a learning experience here at Burroughs.  We look forward to coming in every day, and seeing the athletes.  As winter sports are wrapping up, everyone is getting ready for the spring.  We are ready to warm up and watch soccer, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, and track.  It’s time to thaw out and enjoy the outdoors!  GO BOMBERS!

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.

March 05, 2015

SLU AT Students Host the Roosevelt AT Club On Campus for Learning and Basketball


The Roosevelt High School Athletic Training Club had their second meeting of the spring on the campus of Saint Louis University where they toured the facilities at Chaifetz Arena, learned about concussions, had dinner at Busch Student Center and attended the SLU Billikens Men's Basketball game vs St. Bonaventure.

SLU AT student Connor Doherty teaches about the Swim-Ex at Chaifetz Arena
The RHS AT Club is sponsored by the SLU AT Program and funded through an Ethnic Diversity Enhancement Grant from the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC).  In February, they began with a meeting at RHS and look to take trips to Rams Park and Busch Stadium later in the spring.


It is coordinated by Jose' Mendez (MAT Class of 2015), who is currently on a SLU Graduate Education Diversity Fellowship, and AT Program Director Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC who applied for and received the NATA EDAC Grant.  

SLU AT student Jose' Mendez leads a group discussion on concussion.
It utilizes a student mentor model where each SLU AT student involved works closely with 3 RHS students in hands-on learning designed to help inform the high school students about AT and nurture student interest in AT and other health professions.

SLU AT student Cara Bowton work with RHS students on using the SCAT 3 concussion  assessment.
SLU AT student Demeisha Crawford demonstrates balance testing for concussion.

March 01, 2015

SLU AT Faculty Participate in 2015 NATA Athletic Training Educators' Conference


Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program faculty members Dr. Anthony Breitbach, Dr. Timothy Howell and Dr. Kitty Newsham participated in the 2015 Athletic Training Educators' Conference at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Breitbach and Dr. Howell made a presentation: "Pedagogy Involved in Teaching Large Interprofessional Classes Strategies, Assessment and the Inevitable Evolution".


It was a great opportunity for program improvement and professional development for faculty!