June 26, 2018

SLU AT Student Grows Professionally Through Experience with the Saint Louis Football Club

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Saint Louis Football Club
By: Cody Hutson (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

This summer I have had the honor of working with Saint Louis’ professional soccer team, Saint Louis Football Club (STLFC). I have always wanted to have my career to be focused on soccer and this is the perfect opportunity for me to peek into what that world would be like. I am stationed at Toyota Stadium in Fenton and help treat and maintain the health and fitness of the professional athletes. 


I have the pleasure to learn from the STLFC Head Athletic Trainer Mr. Brian Bounds MPT, ATC, LAT, CSCS. We spend a lot of time working with athletes to both rehabilitate and loosen them up before practice and games. This has made it so that the experience is far different from what I have experienced before. I used to depend on primarily tape and doing exams on athletes with modalities as a main treatment option. After working with Mr. Bounds for a while I can say with confidence that I understand the importance of using your hands to release muscles and deep tissue. It is something I don’t think I would have experienced anywhere else and is something I am looking forward to applying myself once I am a certified Athletic Trainer. 

Aside from manual techniques I am also learning the importance of being professional in both appearance and in action. One quote that I will always carry with me is “Your Athletic Training room and your environment are a direct reflection of yourself, and are important in your appearance as a professional.” 

I have already gotten more than half of my requirements finished at this site, but I don’t plan on leaving until the very last second so that I may continue to learn and develop from what I believe is my dream clinical site.

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.

June 25, 2018

SLU AT Student Appreciates Interprofessional Approach at Olympia Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Olympia Chiropractic and Physical Therapy, Elmhurst, Illinois
By: Danielle Jabcyznski (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

My time at Olympia Chiropractic and Physical Therapy has been very different from any other clinical rotation I have done so far. The clinic has chiropractors, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists and rehab aides, making for a unique interprofessional work environment. 

My preceptor, Amanda Antos ATC, has helped make my transition into the clinic setting go very smooth. She allowed me to take the lead on some of her patients as soon as I was oriented to the clinic and comfortable with Olympia’s rehabilitation protocols. 
I have had the opportunity to care for patients of all ages with a variety of cases. We work with patients to try to avoid surgery, but we also work with post-operative patients as well. I have enjoyed learning about the outreach aspect of athletic training and how the athletic trainers balance their clinic and outreach schedules. I have also learned new rehabilitation exercises and program progressions, since we focus mostly on the rehab aspect when in the clinic. 

I look forward to spending the next few weeks at Olympia continuing to establish relationships with the healthcare team and patients. I am excited to continuing learning from Amanda before returning to St. Louis in the fall. 

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.

June 24, 2018

SLU AT Student Enjoys Transformative Clinical Experience in Ireland at Athlone Institute of Technology

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Athlone Institute of Technology - Ireland
By: Chris Mecherle (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Spending the summer as a student at AIT has been one of the best decisions of my college career. With the guidance and assistance of Michael Donohoe M. Sc, ARTC, I have had a very fulfilling educational experience in Ireland. Out in the field, I also have the pleasure of working with Alan Camon ATC, who has been an extremely vital mentor for providing care to the local hurling and Gaelic football teams. With those two as my mentors, adjusting to life in Ireland has been a smooth transition, and I have certainly learned a great deal from their mentoring.
The weeks I have spent in Ireland have consisted of helping care for the Westmeath hurling and Caulry Gaelic football games and practices. There are also days that are with Michael Donohoe, partaking in workshops covering skills used in Ireland that are not used as much in the states. We also spend time with rugby players with post-surgical conditions, evaluating and determining their rehabilitation programs based on their progress. The hurling and football teams have been a very unique experience. I’ve personally never done so much soft tissue work before in such a short amount of time. It’s the main method for players to get ready before matches and practices, giving me the opportunity to obtain plenty of practice with myofascial release. During practices, we assist the players returning from hamstring injuries with their rehabilitation, and then during the games we do our best to keep the players in top form.
It has certainly been a wonderful time here in Ireland for professional growth. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that my perspectives on athletic healthcare are broadening, as well as the fact I am gaining a brand new cultural experience. The opportunity to learn in Ireland will, without a doubt, be one of the most cherished parts of my growth as an athletic training student.

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.

June 14, 2018

SLU AT Students and Faculty Team Up at Nike Basketball Camp

Saint Louis University's Simon Recreation Center serves as the host site for one of the nation's top basketball events each June.  
Nike invites some of the country's top high school freshmen and sophomore basketball players to the Elite 100 Basketball Camp to help them develop their skills on and off the court.  Many of the top players currently in the NBA participated in this event over the years.

Once again this year, on June 7-10, 2018, SLU Athletic Training Program faculty and students worked side by side to provide medical care for the camp.  

This provides a great clinical connection for our program, and has emerged into a tradition and gives them a common experience over the years.

We appreciate this opportunity each year to empower our students in a fun and exciting clinical environment.