SLU AT Student Appreciates Experience with SLU Alum/Preceptor at Parkway Central HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School

By: Sarah Haenchen (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

This year I am at Parkway Central High School working with Michael Aaron, ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2015). I have been very fortunate to continue working with Mercy Sports Medicine and at another Parkway school. I am also lucky to work with another Saint Louis University Athletic Training alum. Michael also helps Dr. Kitty Newsham teach the PY1 students in musculoskeletal assessment lab at SLU. When we reflect back to our time as a PY1 student, it amazes us on how much we learned. I enjoy and am thankful for the challenges and opportunities that Michael provides me in order for me to become a better clinician.

My time at the Mercy Sports Medicine clinic over the summer has helped me become confident in evaluating and rehabbing dysfunctional movement patterns. I am able to use those skills at PCH. While time is limited at the high school setting, Michael and I take advantage when we have down time to go through Selective Functional Movement Assessments (SFMA) on athletes who could benefit from this assessment. It is also helpful that I know what goes on in the clinic especially if we have to refer an athlete for additional therapy. This helps with collaborating care and making sure the athlete is getting quality care.

Parkway Central is a great place for my clinical experience as it is the setting I want to work in after I graduate. I enjoy the challenges of working at a large school with a variety of sports. This setting provides me with several opportunities to practice my skills of emergency care, evaluation and treatment, injury prevention and administration. The PCH community has been very welcoming, and there is a lot of team spirit during game days. I always look forward to going to PCH to provide the best care to the athletes and growing as a professional. I am excited for the winter sports season to start up and hope that our fall sports do well with the rest of their season. Go Colts!

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.