August 08, 2017

SLU AT Student Experiences Patient-Centered Care Both In the Clinic and On the Sideline at Athletico


SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Athletico
By: Wyatt Whitegoat (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

When it came to finding a summer field experience I knew that I wanted an opportunity that emphasized on two aspects I enjoy: injury evaluation and rehabilitation. At Athletico, my preceptors, Mathew Peterson, ATC, and Courtney Martin, DPT, made the opportunity available to me. My experience at Athletico varies throughout the week; some days I am on the sideline with Mathew assessing and taping football injuries and on other days I am in the clinic with Courtney observing and assisting a diverse group of patients with rehab exercises. Mathew and Courtney’s willingness to instruct and apply various techniques for preventing, assessing, and rehabilitating injuries has been phenomenon and a great component to my learning experience.

Throughout my summer field experience, I gained a lot of confidence and exposure of lectured-based components to a clinical setting, especially with evaluation skills. Both Mathew and Courtney are hands-on, well-rounded, and interactive preceptors that made the exploration of assessment and treatment a remarkable experience. Through observation, discussion, and application of assessments, I have adopted and incorporated numerous skills that I will use as a future clinician.

Moreover, through observation and their interaction with patients, Mathew and Courtney displayed the importance of patient-centered care. It was remarkable to witness the level of dedication and passion that Mathew and Courtney established with their patient because it made the environment informative, inspiring, and meaningful for both me and the patient. 

At Athletico, I learned a vast amount of knowledge and inspiration that I hope to carry forward in my educational career and as a future athletic trainer. I am very grateful for the experience I gained from two incredible preceptors and a diverse patient population. 

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

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