SLU AT Student Finds "New Normal" Provides Opportunity to Build Relationships at Bishop DuBourg HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Bishop DuBourg High School

By: Mason Cotterel (MAT Class of 2022)

Coming back to Bishop DuBourg High School for my second semester was something I was very much looking forward to and very rewarding. Not only was I already accustomed to the school, my preceptor, and the athletic culture, but with public health guidelines being well established, we were able to get used to a “new normal”. This new normal allowed all spring sports to start on schedule and gave me a plethora of new and returning athletes to help. From a much larger load of evaluations, rehabs, return to play protocols, and functional progressions to help with I feel like I was finally able to put into practice things I have been learning in courses. All the amazing and fun things that made me fall in love with the Athletic Training profession I was finally able to start doing to some extent. 

One very memorable experience I will never forget is the relationship I developed with the Boys’ Volleyball team. My preceptor, SSM Health/Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Nathan Jarman MAT, ATC, was instrumental in making happen, as when we would cover boys’ volleyball, he allowed me the opportunity to be the first response if any player had concerns or might have an injury. Nate allowed for me to have more autonomy when it came to helping this team, allowing me to take a much more active role in all aspects surrounding their care. 

This very exciting, and sometimes challenging experience allowed for me to better understand what providing coverage for an athletic team looks like.  It got to a point in the season where if someone on the volleyball team had a problem and saw Nate, they would ask where I was as they trusted me and wanted me to help address their concerns. The patient-athletic training student relationships I formed with this team  is something I will never forget. 

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.