SLU AT Student Appreciates Immersive Experience with Pediatric Patients at Mercy Orthopedics

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Mercy Orthopedics, St. Louis
By: Sydney Nash (MAT Class of 2022)

For my summer field experience I am at Mercy Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery. My preceptor Nadia Melton ATC, LAT has been an athletic trainer in Dr. Anderson's office for four years. In this clinic they work a lot with pediatric patients who have club foot, cerebral palsy, or hip dysplasia to name a few. During this clinical experience I have learned a lot about treatments for disorders I would not commonly encounter in your average athletic training setting.

While in clinic we see a variety of patients for pre-op, post-op, new patient, as well as casting. I have been able to experience observing cast removal as well as casting for club foot. I have also been gaining experience in taking a history on patients as well as interacting with different younger kids! Working with younger kids is very different than working with high schoolers and college athletes which I have had to adjust to, but I think it will allow me to communicate with patients better!

This has been an amazing experience so far and am excited to see what comes. I am learning so much from all the team members at the clinic and enjoy being able to see the changes in kids as we see them, most come weekly. This summer I have been able to intern with an amazing staff and amazing patients and want to thank everyone who has made it that way!

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.

SLU AT Student Learns New Skills in Regenerative Therapy at Bluetail Medical Group

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Bluetail Medical Group

By: Amra Kardasevic (MAT Class of 2022)

I am currently in the middle of my summer field experience at Bluetail Medical Group and I am loving it! My preceptor, Devon Guckes, ATC, works an athletic trainer with physician Matthew Bayes MD. Dr. Bayes specializes in sports medicine injuries and non-operative treatments including regenerative therapies. He utilizes ultrasound to guide his treatments and aid in confirming diagnoses. 

Devon’s role consists of performing initial evaluations on new patients, doing follow-up interviews on patients that have been recently treated, preparing equipment for procedures and injections, and many other things. The regenerative treatments that they do are mostly for patients with arthritis. The stem cells help to regenerate cartilage and give those people around 5-7 years of relief before it starts deteriorating again. They are also used for muscle tears and partial ligament and tendon tears, to help rebuild them more quickly and decrease the chance of reinjury. It has been very cool to see patients come back for a follow up and be doing a lot better because of these treatments.

This summer at Bluetail I have had the opportunity to see patients and complete their history and evaluations on my own. After doing this, I am able to go in with Dr. Bayes and assist with the ultrasound and observe him doing his evaluation and giving recommendations for treatment. I have also been able to assist him with some procedures and injections, which has been a very unique experience that I have not gotten to have before. We have seen patients with lots of different musculoskeletal injuries, along with a good amount of concussions so I am getting a lot of exposure to pretty much everything. It is also a different patient population than I am used to, with a wide range of ages and activity levels that we see.

I am really enjoying my time at Bluetail and am learning so much from Devon and Dr. Bayes and his medical assistant. Everyone is very dedicated to giving their patients the best care possible which is very refreshing to see. I am enjoying the clinical setting because I like seeing how helping manage other medical conditions can also help with musculoskeletal injuries. 

I am looking forward to continuing my experience and everything that I will learn in the upcoming weeks!

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.

SLU AT Student Enjoys Clinical Experience with Collaborative Team in a Highly Competitive Setting at Ole Miss

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - University of Mississippi Athletics
By: Maddie Cavanaugh (MAT Class of 2022)

This summer, I have had the opportunity to gain experience at Ole Miss with the football team. I was thrilled to be able to learn and enhance my skills at a NCAA Division I, Power-Five university for a full summer conditioning and fall camp season. Getting experience in the setting that I want to pursue has been phenomenal. My preceptor, Kevin Keys, MS, ATC, LAT, PES, has helped me integrate into the program and has given me unique opportunities to enhance my skills early on. I also have the ability to learn under Ole Miss Football Head Athletic Trainer, Pat Jernigan, MS, ATC, LAT, PES, and Assistant Athletic Trainers Damian Willis, MBA, LAT, ATC, CSCS, and Mitchell Mazur, M.Ed, LAT, ATC. Each of the athletic trainers that I am learning with provide a unique skillset that I am able to learn from.

One of the new techniques that I have been able to utilize during my time so far is Blood Flow Restriction. They are able to use BFR during many phases of the rehabilitation process to produce fatigued results with using very little weight and ensuring a lesser risk of injury during rehabilitation.

During my time here, I’ve also been able to experience the interprofessional relationships that the Ole Miss Health and Sports Performance staff has created. There is a very close relationship with the athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and the sports nutritionist to be able to ensure the health of the athletes is always coming first.

I am excited to spend the remainder of the summer down in Oxford, MS and I can not wait to continue to grow my skillset with Division I athletes.

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.

2021 SLU AT Graduate Develops Infographic on "Adapting to a New Normal" with the COVID-19 Pandemic

As a part of her Capstone Project, Saint Louis University 2021 Master of Athletic Training Graduate Iris Herrera MAT, ATC (pending) developed an infographic: "Adapting to a New Normal - considerations for athletic trainers during COVID-19 pandemic".  SLU MAT students complete a Capstone Project, which serves as a culminating experience as they complete the professional phase of the program. 

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Iris Herrera learned through the pandemic year in a clinical practicum with preceptor Sean Wright ATC at Webster Groves High School.

PDF version available through this link

Infographic can be shared with appropriate credit.

REFERENCES

• Adams WM, Périard JD. Returning to Sport Following COVID-19: Considerations for Heat Acclimatization in Secondary School Athletics. Sports Med. 2020;50(9): 1555-1557. doi:10.1007/s40279-020-01301-z 
• Amundson L. Athletic trainers playing a critical role in getting sports back safely during the pandemic. Kivitv.com. https://www.kivitv.com/news/athletic-trainers- playing-a-critical-role-in-getting-sports-back-safely-during-the-pandemic. Published 2021. Accessed April 13, 2021. 
• Caterisano, Anthony Co-Chair1; Decker, Donald Co-Chair2; Snyder, Ben Co-Chair1; Feigenbaum, Matt1; Glass, Rob3; House, Paul4; Sharp, Carwyn5; Waller, Michael6; Witherspoon, Zach2 CSCCa and NSCA Joint Consensus Guidelines for Transition Periods: Safe Return to Training Following Inactivity, Strength and Conditioning Journal: June 2019 - Volume 41 - Issue 3 - p 1-23. doi: 10.1519/SSC. 0000000000000477 
• Conley KM, Bolin DJ, Carek PJ, Konin JG, Neal TL, Violette D. National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: Preparticipation physical examinations and disqualifying conditions [published correction appears in J Athl Train. 2014 Mar-Apr; 49(2):284]. J Athl Train. 2014;49(1):102-120. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-48.6.05 
• COVID-19 Return-To-Sport Considerations For Secondary School Athletic Trainers.; 2020. https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/covid_19_return-to- sport_considerations_for_secondary_school_ats_1.pdf. 
• Elliott N, Martin R, Heron N, et al Infographic. Graduated return to play guidance following COVID-19 infection British Journal of Sports Medicine 2020;54:1174-1175. 
• Güner R, Hasanoğlu I, Aktaş F. COVID-19: Prevention and control measures in community. Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50(SI-1):571-577. Published 2020 Apr 21. doi: 10.3906/sag-2004-146. 
• Mulcahey MK, Gianakos AL, Mercurio A, Rodeo S, Sutton KM. Sports Medicine Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;49(2):512-521. doi:10.1177/0363546520975186 
• Statement On PPE And Athletic Participation: Ramifications Of The COVID-19 Pandemic.; 2020. https://www.nfhs.org/media/3812225/nfhs-smac-statement-on- ppe-and-athletic-participation-final-april-2020.pdf. 
• Youth Return To Sports Recommendations. St. Louis; 2020. https://www.mercy.net/ content/dam/mercy/en/pdf/return-to-sports-recommendations.pdf.