Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program

SLU AT Faculty Member Presents at PT Combined Sections Meeting

2012-02-12T14:06:00.000-06:00

Dr. Jason Bennett demonstrating a technique in SLU AT lab.

On February 11, 2012, Dr. Jason Bennett, a faculty member in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program, presented at the Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.. His presentation was titled: "The Relationship Between Isotonic Plantar Flexor Endurance, Navicular Drop, and Exercise-Related Leg Pain in a Cohort of Collegiate Cross-Country Runners." Dr. Bennett is the course coordinator for MAT 524 & 525, Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management I & II, in the SLU AT Education Program.

SLU AT Faculty Member Presents at Educators Conference

2012-02-03T09:19:00.000-06:00

On February 3, 2012 Dr. Tim Howell, Clinical Education Coordinator for the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program, presented at the Southeastern Athletic Trainers Association Educators Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The title of his presentation was: "Teaching on Tilt: Utilizing Lecture Capture to Enhance AT Student Learning in a MP3 World". The SEATA Educators Conference included about 150 educators and was held in conjunction with a student conference with over 800 students.

Guest Speakers Help SLU AT Students Learn About Career Planning

2012-01-27T05:38:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday January 24, 2012, Mike Overturf ATC and Tony Garofalo ATC from Athletico made a presentation to Athletic Training Students at Saint Louis University. The presentation, "The Business of Athletic Training" helped the students better understand how to search for employment and how companies that hire athletic trainers work. Based in Oak Park, Illinois, Athletico is the largest employer of athletic trainers in the US, with over 170 athletic trainers on staff. Mr. Overturf is a Manager of Athletic Training Services for Athletico and coordinates staff recruitment for the company. Mr Garofalo is the former Head Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Cubs, after previously working at Saint Louis University and the St. Louis Cardinals, he currently is a Regional Athletic Training Coordinator for Athletico.

www.athletico.com

Doisy College of Health Sciences Hosts Trivia Night

2012-01-19T16:36:00.003-06:00

Doisy College of Health Sciences Trivia Night

Head back to school and test your knowledge at the DoisyCollege of Health Sciences Trivia Night. The night will include trivia games,door prizes, a silent auction, and a cash prize for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placetables in our trivia competition. Complimentary beer, wine, soda and snackswill be provided, but feel free to bring your own treats. All proceeds fromthis event benefit the Doisy College of Health Sciences Alumni AssociationScholarship Fund. This event is sponsored by the Doisy College of HealthSciences Alumni Association.

Visit the Trivia Night website HERE

Please register by February 17. Last year's event sold outso don't wait to register! Doors open at 6 p.m. Questions begin at 7 p.m. We ask that all attendees are over the age of21.

Contact Information

Melissa Weaver

(314) 977-7825

weavermn@slu.edu

Date & Location

Date: February 25, 2012

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Allied Health Building

Multipurpose Room 3rd Floor

3437 Caroline Mall Drive

St. Louis, MO 63104

Parking is available in the Hickory East garage (located atTheresa Ave. and Hickory St.)

A Christmas Card from the SLU AT Education Program!

2011-12-18T20:56:00.000-06:00

Christmas Prayer

By Robert Louis Stevenson

Oh, God...
help us rightly to remember
the birth of Jesus, that
we may share in the songs
of the angels, the gladness
of the shepherds, and the
worship of the wise men.
May the Christmas morning

make us happy to be your children.

SLU AT Students Host Holiday Event

2011-12-05T05:06:00.001-06:00

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society (SLATS) hosted a successful holiday event which featured a screening of the Christmas movie "Elf", holiday treats and a toy drive for Children's Hospital of St. Louis. It took place in the Carlo Auditorium at Tegeler Hall at Saint Louis University on December 4, 2011.

SLU AT students Maggie Meier, JJ Hannigan, Hilary Orf, Haylie Dehm, Janese Evans, Nygel Williams, Adam Long, Katie Schneebeck and Emily Grace.

Faculty Presentations Highlight Doisy Alumni Event at Chaifetz Arena

2011-12-03T22:12:00.001-06:00

On Saturday, December 3, 2011, the Doisy College of Health Sciences Alumni Association featured its 2nd annual "Blackboard to Backboard" event at Chaifetz Arena prior to the Billikens Men's Basketball game versus the University of Portland. It featured the link between what is being studied in the classroom and what happens on the court and/or field. The theme was concussion management with presentations by faculty members Dr. Anthony Breitbach (Athletic Training), Dr. Christine Werner (Physician Assistant) and Crystal Botkin (Nuclear Medical Technology) as well as a welcome from Dr. Charlotte Royeen, Dean of the the Doisy College. It also consisted of tours of the Chaifetz Arena's sports medicine and strength training facilities, hosted by Jonathan Burch and Erick Schork from SLU athletics. Dinner was also provided in Lorenzini's Restaurant in the arena prior to the 73-53 win by the Billikens.

The tour included the state of the art Chaifetz Arena sports medicine facilities.

Basketball games at SLU are always fun events!

Visiting Baseball Heaven!

2011-11-28T15:36:00.001-06:00

On Monday, November 28, 2011, the students and faculty of the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program visited Busch Stadium as a guest of Greg Hauck ATC, the Head Athletic Trainer for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. In addition to getting access to the athletic training room, they toured the weight room, the clubhouse, the dugout and the field. Mr. Hauck spent an hour with the students talking to them about his career, the life of a Major League Baseball athletic trainer and his work with the Cardinals, including the exciting World Series run in 2011. It is great to have such fine colleagues in St. Louis with which to interact and learn!

SLU AT students on the field at Busch Stadium.

SLU AT students in the Cardinals clubhouse at Busch Stadium.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:36:00.001-06:00

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program wishes you a happy, blessed and safe Thanksgiving! May you be in the company of special friends and family to give thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us all!

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School

2011-11-18T12:14:00.001-06:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction is a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

Webster Groves High School
By: Bridget Quirk (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Statesmen!

I’mat Webster Groves High School with my ACI. Sean Wright ATC, and Kemba Noel-London, a second year SLU AT student. Atthis point in the semester, we have a system figured out to help assess, treatand rehabilitate the athletes as effectively and efficiently as possible. We recently received a computer for the athletictraining room and installed the 2011 Sportsware program. Athletes sign ineveryday and check off the type of treatment they will be receiving so we canaccount for who comes in, their injury, and what we did for the injury. We also make a rehab chart of exercises andmodalities for each athlete so they can be more independent. This allows us to tape and assess injurieswhile those with a rehab program get started their exercises.

Sean Wright ATC (left) and SLU AT student Bridget Quirk (right) take a Webster Groves student-athlete through rehab exercises.

There is a rush of people when school getsout and Sean tries to have Kemba and I manage the majority of the flow. Iusually tape, take histories, set up modalities and get athletes started on theirexercises while Kemba does assessments. After I become familiar with certain (common) injuries, Sean will let mecreate a rehab plan for an athlete and monitor the progress as if he/she weremy patient. Sean gives us a lot offreedom and (for the most part) let’s us do whatever we feel confident doing. For football games, Sean has students fromhis high school Athletic Training class run and fill water so I can focus on the game andsidelines. Kemba and I alternate runningonto the field with Sean if an athlete is down while the other watches from thesideline, prepared to bring an AED or splints if necessary. When Sean explains an assessment or tapingtechnique, he will ask questions so that I can apply my anatomy and kinesiologyfoundation and better understand why it is done in that manner. Not only have I practiced and improved myclassroom and lab skills, but I have also learned a lot from my ACI and myexperience thus far.

Guest Lecturers Enrich Therapeutic Modalities Class

2011-11-17T19:25:00.001-06:00

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program is fortunate to have a wealth of health professionals in the area that can serve as instructors and guest lecturers. This has been the case in MAT 530 - Therapeutic Modalities, where there has been several presentations by clinicians from the community.

Dr. Larry Burrell demonstrating ART on SLU AT student Katie Herington.

On November 17, 2011, Dr. Larry Burrell of Performance Chiropractic presented on Active Release Technique (ART), which addresses soft tissue injuries. Dr. Burrell is also affiliated with the St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Blues and Washington University Athletics.


Nick Washmuth DPT , DMT looks on while James Sepich ATC demonstrates Graston technique.

Nick Washmuth DPT, DMT and James Sepich ATC, of Monroe Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, presented on the Graston Technique on November 14, 2011. They work together at a clinic in Columbia, IL where James serves as the Athletic Trainer at Columbia High School.

Miya Sullivan ATC demonstrates kinesiotaping

On November 10, 2011 Miya Sullivan ATC, Staff Athletic Trainer for SLU Athletics, presented on kinesiotaping. Miya serves as the athletic trainer for the Billikens women's soccer, softball and tennis teams.

SLU AT students Rohini Jaglan, Bridget Quirk and Rachel Cocek (left to right) practice kinesiotaping on a knee.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Saint Louis University

2011-11-16T07:40:00.001-06:00

By: Vince DiRenzo (MAT Class of 2013)

The Approved Clinical Instructor (ACI) for myclinical assignment is with the athletic trainer for the men’s basketball teamat Saint Louis University. After working with and getting to know SLU AssistantAthletic Director/Head Athletic Trainer Jonathan Burch ATC, I must say I amexcited for what is in store for the rest of the semester. I have come torealize that my ACI is a very useful resource for helping me to understandthings better that I don’t quite pick up in class. Our one on one time is verybeneficial for me since I can pick his brain about questions I have on topicswe are studying in class and for understanding the basis for the clinicaldecisions he makes. Being able to pick up things he does during an examinationand understanding why he does certain tests is very important. This is thebeginning of me building my own foundation of clinical knowledge to use with myfuture patients.

SLU AT student Vince DiRenzo (left) with Jonathan Burch ATC (right) prior to a basketball scrimmage in Chaifetz Arena

I understand that being placed with the men’s basketball teamis a privilege since they are a high profile team. The fact that I have thisassignment makes me somewhat nervous since I know my ACI is expecting a lot outof me. However, I feel if I can handle this as my first, it will only benefitme for future clinical assignments. The fact that he knows this can bestressful for me helps to put my mind at ease. He has been nothing but flexiblein working out my schedule and never gives me more than I can handle. For thatreason, I am very comfortable with talking to my ACI about any problems I mighthave. He understands this and I feel we will make a great team this semester.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - SIU-Edwardsville

2011-11-14T05:05:00.001-06:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction is a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
By: Adriana Black (MAT Class of 2013)

I have been on a clinical rotation at Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville (SIUe) for just about two months. It has been a true growingexperience as it puts to practice the notion that the profession of athletictraining is one that is completely unpredictable and requires much flexibility.Having my clinical rotations at such a large institution puts many privilegesand opportunities at our disposal. The facilities, equipment, and technology are excellent and I amalready pretty spoiled because I have access to suchtop-notch amenities.Workingat a NCAA Division I university is something that I have been looking forward tosince my enrollment in the Athletic Training Education Program here at SLU. Thebiggest benefit that I have experienced in this large, competitive D-I settingis having that opportunity to work alongside so many different professionalsand work with so many different athletes. At SIUe, there is a head athletictrainer, three assistant athletic trainers, two graduate student athletictrainers, two student workers, and two SLU athletic training students that work in the twoathletic training rooms. I have had the chance to interact with all of them. It hasreally been a blessing to see all of the professionals in action and discusstheir insight and perspective. Anotherhuge benefit of my clinical experience thus far is that of flexibility. My ACIshave been very adaptable to our experience in that they have allowed us to interact with a variety of sports and events. I have worked withsoccer, volleyball, track, cross-country, wrestling, basketball, tennis,softball, and baseball to a degree. Mostly, the time in this clinical rotation has been spent with bothmen and women’s soccer teams.

SLU AT student (left) with Ben Heimos ATC

BenHeimos ATC is the athletic trainer for the women’s soccer team. I have thoroughlyenjoyed working with Ben as he creates a very laid-back, yet productiveatmosphere for the whole team. He always is honest with his team and maintainsa level head whenever the athletes are plagued with injury. More than anythingI appreciate his realness with his the team as that is the approach I willalways want to maintain when I fill the role of an athletic trainer for a team. Though Ben claimsthat he is not a good teacher and that having students shadow him is a newexperience, I have learned a lot from him by simply watching. I ask Benquestions frequently and he is always helpful in his responses. I actually appreciate thata lot as it lets me figure it out and I learn more that way. I know that if Iever have a real doubt I can ask him and he will be happy to assist in any way,but learning on my own by being in his presence is a fruitful learningexperience in and of itself. It goeswithout saying that my time in Edwardsville has been eye-opening, educational,and entertaining. I have really connected with theathletes that I have treated and the clinical instructors that I am lucky to work beside. Ilook forward to seeing what the next clinical rotation has in store.

SLU AT Program Faculty and Students Participate in Healthfest

2011-11-12T17:30:00.001-06:00

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program participated in Healthfest at the St. Louis Science Center on November 12, 2011. Healthfest featured health and medical oriented activities by dozens of community organizations and 100's of familes from the St. Louis region. The SLU AT program’s presentation featured experiential activitiesbased on principles of balance, agility and quickness. The program was developed by Dr. Tim Howelland the students in SLU’s MAT Class of 2012: Leah Egeland, JJ Hannigan, KaceyMorrison and Kemba Noel-London.

Activities included speed/agility ladders, balance mats,dyna-discs, BOSU balls and a Star Excursion Mat. An instructional video was developed toassist the students in the presentation, which was done in the Science Center’sLife Sciences lab. The SLU AT program isdedicated to advocacy of the AT profession in the region and an informationalbrochure was developed and distributed to attendees for that purpose.

SLU AT students Ryan Vallo, Alex Sawyer and Maggie Meier (left to right)

Dr. Tony Breitbach, Program Director, (middle) pictured with SLU AT students Adriana Black, AJ Butler, Bridget Quirk and Mary Finkenkeller (left to right)

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Fontbonne University

2011-11-12T06:32:00.001-06:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint LouisUniversity Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and theirclinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instructionis a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

FontbonneUniversity

By:Mary Finkenkeller and Maggie Meier (MAT Class of 2013)

Weare enjoying our first clinical rotation at Fontbonne University, a NCAADivision III school in Clayton, MO. Fontbonne University has 2 full timeAthletic Trainers, Andrea Christensen ATC and Brooklyn Dunihoo ATC, on staffworking with all of the sports teams. We are lucky because we have theopportunity to work with not only the soccer team, but also the volleyball,basketball, softball, baseball, golf, cross country, and lacrosse. Working with all the sports teams is a wonderful opportunity for us tosee all kinds of injuries. We’ve e observed and evaluated not only the commonankle and knee injuries with soccer, but also shoulder and back injuries withvolleyball and basketball.

SLU AT student Mary Finkeller, Brooklyn Dunihoo ATC, Andrea Christensen ATC, and SLU AT student Maggie Meier work together in their clinical experience at Fontbonne University.

Counterbalancingeach other perfectly, Andrea and Brooklyn are great ACIs who work very welltogether as a team. Andrea is an encyclopedia of Athletic Training andteaches us all about the fundamental knowledge behind the skills that AthleticTrainers perform and why we perform them. Brooklyn is more of a hands-onteacher who believes you learn best by doing and provides more practice for usin the training room. Since beginning our clinical rotation at Fontbonne,our knowledge of athletic training has changed and greatly improved. Wenow understand more fully the impact athletic trainers have on athlete’s livesand the vital skills we provide in tough situations. Our experiences atFontbonne have made us more excited to keep learning more about athletictraining and keep improving throughout the SLU AT program.

SLU AT Students Inducted to National Allied Health Honor Society

2011-11-10T19:47:00.001-06:00

SLU Athletic Training students Libby Deiters (Breese, IL) and Maggie Meier (St. Louis, MO), both from the MAT Class of 2013, were inducted into the SLU Chapter of Alpha Eta. The ceremony was held on Thursday, October 10, 2011 in the Multipurpose Room of the Allied Health Building at Saint Louis University.

SLU AT students and Alpha Eta inductees Maggie Meier (left) and Libby Deiters (right)

Alpha Eta is the national scholastic honor society for the Allied Health Professions. The society was founded in 1975 and was named for the Greek letters equivalent to the first letters of Allied Health. Its purposes are the promotion and recognition of significant scholarship,leadership, and contributions to the Allied Health Professions. The society's motto is "Together We Serve, " and its colors are light green and white.

Maggie and Libby with Dr. Tony Breitbach, SLU AT Program Director

Criteria for Induction
Students working toward undergraduate degrees must maintain GPAs of 3.5 or better while enrolled in their professional allied health programs. Graduate students must maintain GPAs of 3.8 or higher while enrolled in their programs. All candidates should show capacity for leadership and achievement in their chosen fields, be recommended by members of Alpha Eta, and approved by the Dean of the College. Faculty candidates must have a minimum of three years experience as educators in their disciplines and also must have significant records of scholarship, leadership, and service to Allied Health education or practice.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lutheran High School South

2011-11-10T16:49:00.001-06:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint LouisUniversity Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and theirclinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instructionis a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

Lutheran High School South

By: Ryan Vallo (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Lancers!

My first clinical experience is working with certifiedathletic trainer Nikki Duncan at Lutheran High School South. I assist her in covering every sport fromfield hockey to wrestling. Working withso many sports allows me to see multiple injuries that may be due to sportspecific activities. Nikki helps meassess these injuries, develop a plan of action, and progress the athlete backto return to play. This clinicalexperience has allowed me to be hands on with athletes and further myprofessional skills. Not only is thisexperience about educational improvement, but it has allowed me to develop agreat relationship with Nikki. She isalways there to critique me when it comes to my professional skills such asprophylactic taping techniques, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Nikki shows me that their is always way toimprove upon something. Nikki alwayswants me to push myself past what I knew before and continue to learn and grow.

Nikki Duncan ATC (left) pictured with SLU AT student Ryan Vallo (right)

During our down time in the athletic training room, Nikkihelps me prepare for classes such as musculoskeletal assessment and therapeutic modalities. We try to take what I am learning in theclassroom and translate the material to a clinical practicum setting. The correlation between the two allows me totake skills I have learned and fine tune them. I really enjoy working at the high school setting and developing arelationship with Nikki. I will notforget the skills she has taught me as I progress through the professionalphases of this program and my career.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Washington University Football

2011-11-09T07:54:00.001-06:00

Rick Larsen ATC serves as the primary approved clinical instructor for three SLU AT students with the football team at Washington University in St. Louis. They are J.J. Hannigan (MAT Class of 2012), Janese Evans (MAT Class of 2013) and Katie Herington (MAT Class of 2013).

Washington University Football

By: KatieMae Herington (MAT Class of 2013)

Ihave spent my first clinical experience at Washington University in St. Louisworking primarily with Rick Larsen. I’ve also gotten to work with JimAnderson, Kelly Lawson, and Kellie Black. It has been a great experienceso far. Each athletic trainer has had different experiences, so it’s niceto have different opinions on certain treatments, taping techniques, and otherthings pertaining to athletic training. I’ve been working specificallywith the football team, so I’ve gotten to see a wide variety of injuries. We’vehad multiple ACL tears, a tibial plateau fracture, an elbow hyperextension,torn ligaments in hands, as well as multiple other fractures, dislocations, andcontusions. As a first clinical experience I feel like I’ve been exposedto a wide variety of injuries, and now have a better idea how to handlethem.

Workingwith Rick has been a very educational experience. He has very highexpectations for all of his athletic training students and will hold them up toa high standard of performance everyday. One education tool he has usedwith us has been assigning each student a certain injury to follow. Afterfilling out a SOAP note on our assigned athlete we present our information toRick and the other athletic training students. After presenting, therewill be follow-up questions from Rick and our peers, and then we’ll discussthings we should’ve considered including in our report and what we could’vedone different. I like these assignments because they allow us to practiceskills we need to be competent at as ATCs.

Overallthis experience has been extremely enlightening. Not only have I improvedmy taping skills drastically, I’ve learned new techniques, learned extensivewound care, practiced different modalities, covered multiple competencies, anddiscussed and treated many different injuries. Working with Rick hasbeen a great experience. He often shares stories from his 30 years as anATC, which are extremely beneficial considering Rick’s extensive career and allof his unique experiences.

Ienjoy working at Washington University, and I can’t wait to see what else Ilearn in this clinical rotation.

Rick Larsen ATC (second from left) with SLU AT student JJ Hannigan, Katie Herington and Janese Evans (left to right)

Washington University Football

By: Janese Evans (MAT Class of 2013)

I am currently doing my first clinical rotation atWashington University in St. Louis working with the football team under HeadAthletic Trainer, Rick Larsen. I have the opportunity to work with three otherSLU students: JJ Hannigan, Katie Herington, and Katie Schneebeck. So far my experience at WashU has been incredible. I’ve learned so many new things, witnessed quite a fewinjuries, and built great relationships with my ACI, the other SLU students,the other Wash U Athletic Trainers, the football coaches, and most importantlywith the football players. Rick Larsen is extremely knowledgeable and has somuch experience and advice to offer. Larsen is always trying to get us to thinkcritically and is constantly pushing myself and the other AT students to takeadvantage of these opportunities that we have. Larsen encourages us to thinklike clinicians and gives us the opportunity to showcase what we learn in classand apply it to our clinical experience. This first clinical rotation so farhas been a great journey and I look forward to learning so much more before itis over.

Everyone has to "carry their share" in this clinical rotation!

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Marquette High School

2011-11-07T19:17:00.002-06:00

Marquette High School

By. Hilary Orf (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Mustangs!

This semester, I was fortunate enough to get theopportunity to do my clinical practicum at my alma mater, Marquette High School, inChesterfield, Missouri. Elena Claus ATC isthe Athletic Trainer there and she has been more than helpful with showing methe ropes of the profession. She takesspecial care to explain what tests she’s performing and why she’s performingthem. She is always asking what I’mlearning in class and does her best to integrate what I’m learning in theclassroom to the real world. I get totake histories, palpate, and perform the special tests we’ve learned in classto help determine what the problem/injury might be. The athletic training room at Marquette might notbe the largest, but we use every inch of it to the best of our ability andwe’re constantly busy. I wouldn’t haveit any other way.

Elena Claus ATC directs the activity while SLU AT Student Hilary Orf assists an injured athlete off the field.

SLU Faculty and Students Provide Medical Coverage for Soccer Playoffs on Medical Center Campus

2011-11-06T13:25:00.002-06:00

The Medical Center Stadium provided a great facility for the tournament.

Saint Louis University partnered with Casa de Salud to host the Liga Latino Americana de Futbol soccer playoffs on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 at the new Medical Center Stadium. Casa had a booth at the field where players, their families and fans found out more about Casa's clinical and mental health services for the Latino community. In addition, the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training had faculty and students provided medical coverage for the competitors. The SLU Department of Orthopedics provided physician coverage for the games.

SLU PT Students Christine Orfei and Sarah Reinking and SLU AT Students Katie Schneebeck and Lizzy Kientra (front row left to right) pictured providing medical assistance with Dr. Mark Reinking and Dr. Tony Breitbach (back row left to right)

The Liga Latino Americana de Futbol has been around for twenty years and provides an opportunity for individuals to get involved in an organized soccer league. The league draws players primarily from Mexico, Africa, Europe and the United States, with 22 players on each of the league's 26 teams. The regular season, which runs from mid-April to the end of October, is played at soccer fields in the City of St. Louis.

About Casa de Salud
Casa de Salud (House of Health) is a nonprofit organization that provides low-cost, episodic care for patients with little or no health insurance and who suffer non-acute injuries and illnesses. Casa de Salud assists patients in connecting with existing healthcare providers and advocates for them in their ongoing care.
For more information, call 314-762-1251or visit CasadeSaludstl.org.

Click HERE to read the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article about the tournament.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Affton High School

2011-11-06T07:15:00.003-06:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction is a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

Affton High School
By: Lizzy Kienstra (MAT Class of 2013)

It has been about 8 weeks since I started my clinical rotation at Affton High School, and it seems like yesterday I was getting anxious just thinking about what it would be like at Affton. It’s exciting to think that I waited three years to finally have my own experience and a chance to work with athletes, using my knowledge from my ACI and from class to have the best skills and knowledge for my profession as an athletic trainer.

As my ACI Becky shows me the ropes at Affton, she and I have a good time working with the athletes and getting to know the players. I am enjoying the experience of the team dynamic and inclusion, being a part of Affton when we are on the sidelines with the teams. Becky and I work with all of the sports offered at Affton this season and with the athletes that come in with injuries every day when school lets out. We attend home soccer, volleyball and football games at all high school grade levels, and I get a lot of athletic training experience under Becky’s talented and skillful guidance.

Becky Stigen ATC with SLU AT student Lizzy Kienstra at Affton HS.

In class we have learned about foot, ankle, and knee examinations, evaluations, and pathologies along with how and why to use modalities like electrical stimulation and ultrasound. At Affton, Becky and I have worked on many things from perfecting my ankle and wrist taping, evaluating and examining for an injury, and working with an athlete and their rehabilitation program as they recover from ACL reconstruction surgery, just to name a few.I am continue to learn so much at Affton and am so lucky to have such a wonderful opportunity to work with Becky and the Affton students. I am sure that these experiences will make me become a better Athletic Trainer and prepare me for my first real job as an athletic trainer.

Special care is needed around wild animals....good thing Lizzy is trained in first aid!

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindenwood University - Belleville

2011-11-04T05:21:00.004-05:00

Lindenwood University-Belleville

By: Derrick Neuner (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Lynx!

My approved clinical instructor is William Dill, Bill for short. He’s the Head Athletic Trainer at Lindenwood University – Belleville, as well as the engineer behind the university’s growing AT services. I can honestly say that I hope to count Bill as a close colleague for the rest of my professional career.

There are several things that impress me about Bill, but probably the most significant is his dedication to me as a student and learning professional. There isn’t a week that has passed where Bill hasn’t asked me about what I’m learning and then facilitated what I’m learning in lecture into my clinical experience. He has been a major asset in prepping for exams, integrating different ideas, techniques and models into my professional “tool box,” and pushing me to think outside the classic clinical model. With Bill, it’s always, why, and what else can we do, to treat the athlete.

William Dill ATC (right) instructs SLU AT student Derrick Neuner (right)

I’ve also learned a great deal about how to work effectively in challenging situations with athletes and coaches. Bill’s athletic training room is relaxed, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of dedication to his athletes. He is very serious about what he does. I have seen him work with coaches who question decisions in an extremely effective manner; he gets his point across firmly and with upmost professionalism. Likewise, athletes have a responsibility to care for themselves, too, and Bill makes that quite plain. Sure, there’s an athletic training staff there to guide the care, but it takes two to tango.

As students we don't give official grades to our clinical instructors, but if I could, I would grade Bill with an A+. I’m his first student in the clinical education setting, and I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience. Bill has become a great mentor and friend, and come December, I’m going to miss working with him everyday.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Vianney High School

2011-11-02T13:29:00.002-05:00

St. John Vianney High School

By: Sarah Schaefer (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Griffins!

I currently am assigned to St. John Vianney High School with their athletic trainer Kacey Chamness ATC. Working with Kacey, all the coaches, and their athletes has been nothing but an enjoyable educational experience. From day one I was welcomed and treated as if I had been there for years. The coaches and athletes at Vianney are some of the most respectable people I have ever met, and I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to work with them. This fall, Kacey and I have most closely worked with the soccer and football teams, yet we also routinely see cross-country, swimming and diving athletes in the training room, and basketball and wrestling will be starting shortly. The best part about working with Kacey is how much I get to help out. I personally am a very hands-on learner, and Kacey is more than willing to let me do as much as I feel comfortable doing. She is an amazing ACI, and I truly have learned a great deal in the short amount of time I have been with her.

SLU AT student Sarah Schaefer (left) examining an athlete's knee while getting feedback from Kacey Chamness ATC (right)

She has really helped shape my knowledge on the high school aspect of athletic training, and I could really see myself working with high school athletics in the near future. Every day holds a new and exciting challenge, which makes going each day that much more worthwhile. As much as I am very excited to see another aspect to the field of athletic training, I am also going to miss Kacey and everyone over at Vianney once this semester comes to an end. Kacey is a very knowledgeable athletic trainer, and she is well liked by all the coaches and athletes at Vianney. I just hope one day I can be as great of an athletic trainer and person as she is!

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Saint Louis University

2011-11-01T13:56:00.009-05:00

SLU Staff Athletic Trainer Miya Sullivan ATC served as an ACI for two AT students this fall.

Saint Louis University Athletics

By: Rohini Jaglan (MAT Class of 2013)

Miya Sullivan, is one of the four ACI's at Saint Louis University. As a PY1 AT student, I have had the opportunity to work under and along side of her. Miya Sullivan has an astounding personality that exemplifies her passion for her profession. Working with Miya this semester has truly been a learning experience that has increased my knowledge not only in the principles of the Athletic Training profession but also the importance of professional and athlete relationship. One thing, amongst the many, that really had an impact on me was the amount of respect and trust the athletes had for her. Miya's devotion to her athletes and her profession is shown through her work everyday in the athletic training room. I strongly encourage everybody to have the opportunity to work with her. Observing Miya and the hands on experience that I have had during this rotation has motivated me to gain further experience in this profession and work towards a future career. The chance to work with Miya is an opportunity that has been proven to be greatly beneficial. I believe that Miya Sullivan has had a positive impact on my experience and has taught me many essential skills that I will use for the rest of my career.

SLU AT students Libby Deiters (left) and Rohini Jaglan (right) with Miya Sullivan ATC (center)

Saint Louis University Athletics
by Libby Deiters (MAT Class of 2013)

This past semester I have been working with Miya Sullivan at Saint Louis University. We are currently working with the women’s soccer team and also assisting women’s softball and tennis throughout their off-season. Although many hours are required when working with a division one athletic program, it has taught me how to manage my time and also how to work efficiently in a fast pace environment. I really enjoy working with Miya; not only does she educate me about different injuries and various treatments, she also allows us to educate her on what we are learning in the classroom. I think my clinical experience this fall has been a great learning experience for me to not only learn about the duties and responsibilities of a division one athletic trainer, but also to learn about the time commitment that is required of them. In a normal day we start around 1:30pm in the athletic training room giving treatments before practice and then move on to wrapping and taping ankles to prepare the athletes for their practice that is at 2:30pm. We then move outside where we get Gatorade, water, and injury ice ready for practice. The next two to three hours are then spent watching practice making sure no one gets injured and to help any athletes who may need to be stretched or re-wrapped. After practice we then clean up the water and Gatorade and move back inside where we will give treatments for those who need them after practice. On some days the teams will lift so we will wait for about another 45 minutes and in this time we normally work on paperwork. On a normal day we leave the athletic training room around 6-6:30pm. I can only hope that everyone will be so lucky to work under Miya at Saint Louis University

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Washington University

2011-10-30T08:02:00.004-05:00

Washington University in St. Louis

By: Katie Schneebeck (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Bears!

My clinical assignment for this fall is Washington University and my clinical instructor is Kellie Black . Kellie is a legendary SLU student and athletic trainer. I believe she graduated from the Saint Louis University Athletic Training program at the top of her class, and it certainly shows. Not only is she smart, she also creates a fun atmosphere in the athletic training room. During busy weeks, Kellie is outwardly calm and organized. (Meanwhile her mind is quickly organizing millions of floating thoughts) She presents herself professionally on a daily basis and always looks the part. She has a gentle nature with her athletes and is perceptive when feeling tender areas of pain. She is also personal and likes to take her time listening to her athlete's stories and descriptions of their injuries. Most athletes will describe their experience with Kellie in the athletic training room more like being in a doctor's office one-on-one than in a busy athletic training room. With Kellie, every athlete holds great priority on her list. She makes a smelly athletic training room shine with her radiating enthusiasm and optimistic disposition.

Kellie Black ATC (left) with SLU AT student Katie Schneebeck (right)

As an athletic training student, Kellie is a great mentor to me and opens the door to ask questions and provide suggestions. With Kellie, no question is passed over without an insightful response. Additionally, Kellie is a great teacher. She will tell you multiple ways to do something. Then, she'll show you her favorite way and always has a concise and well-worded explanation for doing so. Kellie provides me with a variety of opportunities. She allows me to research different ways to tape at home and test them in the athletic training room. When we find competencies difficult to achieve in the athletic training room, Kellie will give me homework to further the application of my knowledge. She provides a welcoming atmosphere to ask questions about homework from class and has helped me study for my Musculoskeletal exam class. Her communication with the other Athletic Trainers at Washington University and "labels out" organization style makes it easier to assign my schedule to me ahead of time. It also allows me to easily navigate her desk. I believe Kellie has the ability to become a great leader, when the opportunity presents itself. Kellie is smart, but is also a modest athletic trainer, who sees eye-to-eye with me and never makes me feel inferior. Rather, she receives my input with a great deal of concern and entertains many of my ideas. I want to thank Kellie for letting me use her jacket on occasion and for blessing me with multiple learning opportunities. She has taught me grab the reigns, confidently make important decisions, and give all athletes the one-on-one attention they deserve. Thank you Kellie!

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - SIU-Edwardsville

2011-10-28T13:55:00.002-05:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction is a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
by: Alex Sawyer (MAT Class of 2013)

My Approved Clinical Instructors (ACIs), Gerald “Gerry” Schlemer, Tyann “Ty” Thomson, Ben Heimos, and James Mays are a group of amazing, inspiring individuals. Each person brings a different energy to the athletic training room, and I have had the opportunity to work with each of them rather closely. The first person I had the chance to work with was Ben Heimos. On my very first day at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) he welcomed me warmly and made sure I was oriented to the athletic training room at Korte Stadium. At this time Ben was responsible for working with the women’s soccer team. While working with him I also learn a bit about his background. Ben started at SIUE in October of 2009. Before that he worked with the Florida Marlins organization in three different Florida minor league affiliates during that time. After women’s soccer season is over, Ben is primarily responsible for coverage of SIUE’s baseball team. He got his Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Evansville, and his Master of Science in Athletic Training from Indiana State University.

The next person I met, the same day I met Ben, was James Mays. James was also very welcoming. He was working with men’s soccer at the time. James is very easy to talk to and has a very contagious laugh. He brightens up everyone’s day with his remarkable sense of humor and admirable athletic training skills. The passion he has for his athletes is something that radiates through his extraordinary work ethic. James started at SIUE in January of 2007 after receiving his bachelor of science in Athletic Training from Millikin University. Being that Milllkin and my alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University, were rivals in the CCIW conference, we had a lot to talk about. James also has his Master of Science in Education from the department of Kinesiology at SIUE. After covering men’s soccer, James will shift his responsibility to the women’s basketball team.

SLU AT student Alex Sawyer (middle) with Gerry Schlemer ATC (left) and Tyann Thomson ATC (right)

I worked with both Ben and James at Korte Stadium for the beginning of the soccer season and continue to work with them at soccer games. I later moved to the Vadalabene Center to work more closely with Ty Thomson and Gerry Schlemer. Ty has been an amazing teacher. She always takes time out to work with me on my competencies, and is always there to answer any questions I may have. Being the only female on the team, Ty offers somewhat of a motherly air to the athletic training; making sure things stay in order, athletes are taking care of their responsibilities, creating work schedules of the athletic trainers, and so much more. In addition to all of this, Ty’s primary responsibility is to the volleyball and softball teams. Ty began working at SIUE in August of 2007. She received her bachelor of science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a master of science from Indiana State University. I admire Ty’s talents and her ability to “hold her own,” amongst the men she works with. She is not afraid to speak her mind and demands respect from her peers and athletes.

Last, but certainly not least, the most influential person I have worked with thus far, Gerry Schlemer. Gerry lives and breathes athletic training. His passion for this field is commendable and truly inspiring. He is dedicated to his athletes and their well-being. Though Gerry wears many hats at SIUE, he manages his time well. He devotes equal time to his athletes, maintaining the athletic training room, and taking me on as a student. He challenges me and seems to truly enjoy teaching. Gerry respects my talents and allows me to work hands-on with athletes. I feel that he has developed me the most thus far. He taught me new skills, in addition to putting previously learned skills to work. Gerry can be a “tough cookie,” but he only wants the best for the athletes and his peers. The list of his past experiences is extensive. He began working at SIUE as the Head Athletic Trainer in 2004. Having more than 18 years of athletic training experience at a variety of levels (collegiate, high school, clinical, professional), Gerry is a great mentor to have. I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to work with him.

I am looking forward to the next few months to come. Upon leaving SIUE, I would have worked with 4 amazing athletic trainers. Each of which have an individual presence, level of expertise in the field of athletic training, and a unique flare. As I grow as a student I only expect that this experience gets even better and I learn more. If given the opportunity I would love to work with this team again. They are truly a unique and influential group. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with each of them.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lafayette High School

2011-10-27T14:26:00.010-05:00

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructor. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction is a major asset for the SLU AT education program.

Lafayette High School
By: Sarah Hall (MAT Class of 2013)

Home of the Lancers!

I never thought I would enjoy working in the high school setting, but decided to give it a shot for my first clinical rotation. I was placed at Lafayette High School, in Wildwood. Heather Carroll is the Athletic Trainer at the school, who is contracted through ProRehab. The school has a great sports program, with a large variety of sports for every season. Every day is a busy day for Lafayette sports, there are always ankles to tape, or evaluations to be done, or concussion athletes who are working on returning to play. I have been able to refine the skills I came to Lafayette with, and have had the opportunity to experience some things I would not have by reading a book. Heather is good about helping you study during slower times, and is quick to provide you with the time and resources to work on anything you might need to work on.

AT Student Sarah Hall (left) pictured with Heather Carroll ATC (right) and Lafayette student-athlete Tyler Manne.

I have had the opportunity to talk with the orthopedic team doctor for Lafayette, he is also really pleasant and helped me study for our Musculoskeletal Exam course. The students at Lafayette, are really curious about me, and what I am going to school for, they ask a lot of questions. Some students who are in a lot for rehab have even volunteered to be subjects when I need to study for exams by letting me palpate them. It is nice because it gives me the chance to teach them something about their anatomy, or their injury. Overall Lafayette is a great clinical site, I have experienced a ton! Heather, and all the athletes I work around daily are super nice, and really help make it a relaxed learning environment.

SLU AT Program Director to Speak at Second Annual "Blackboard to Backboard" Event

2011-10-26T15:32:00.005-05:00

SLU Athletic Training Education Program Director Tony Breitbach will join fellow Doisy faculty members Crystal Botkin and Christine Werner in presenting the second annual "Blackboard to Backboard" event sponsored by the Doisy College Alumni Association at Chaifetz Arena before the Billikens Men's Basketball game vs. Portland on December 3, 2011. For more info or to register go to: http://alumni.slu.edu/blackboard11

St. Louis's First Rock and Roll Marathon Provides a Fun Experience

2011-10-26T10:44:00.002-05:00

The Rock and Roll Marathon/Half-Marathon was held for the first time in St. Louis on Sunday, October 23, 2011. Saint Louis University served as the primary sports medicine sponsor for the race. Volunteers from all parts of SLU volunteered to help this event be a success! Faculty and students from the SLU Athletic Training Education Program served as medical volunteers providing first aid for the event.

SLU AT Students Sarah Hall (left) and Hilary Orf (right) with Dr. Breitbach in the main medical tent before the race.

The starting line as viewed from the main medical tent.

AT Student Mary Finkenkeller with her uncle John at a medical station on the marathon route.

Music could be heard all over the course with stages every mile.

SLU AT Program Director Makes Presentation with Doisy College Faculty

2011-10-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

Anthony Breitbach, Darina Sargeant and Peggy Gettemeier

Doisy College of Health Sciences faculty members Anthony Breitbach (Athletic Training), Peggy Gettemeier (Occupational Therapy) and Darina Sargeant (Physical Therapy) made a presentation together at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions on October 19, 2011. The title of the presentation was: "From Buy-in to Integration - Melding an Interprofessional Initiative into Specific Academic Programs in a College of Health Sciences". The meeting took place at the Doubletree Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Follow the SLU AT Education Program on Twitter!

2011-10-02T23:24:00.001-05:00

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program is now on Twitter....you can find it at @SLU_AT or follow this link for the home page: http://twitter.com/#!/SLU_AT

Advocates for Injured Athletes Foundation Looks to Place Certified Athletic Trainers in Every High School

2011-09-23T07:57:00.003-05:00

The Advocates for Injured Athletes Foundation, founded by Tommy and Beth Mallon in response to the care Tommy received by Athletic Trainer Riki Kirchoff after Tommy suffered a cervical spine injury in a high school lacrosse game.

Watch the excellent video about their story HERE.

AIA's Mission:

To help keep athletes safe

AIA's Goal:
To eventually have a certified athletic trainer on every high school campus in America

A traumatic injury leaves athletes and their families in a state of shock and chaos. Three million to five million injuries occur on the athletic field every year in the U.S. in both competition and recreation. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and support programs that will help injured athletes thrive.

Through our programs and strategic alliances, AIA seeks to strengthen injury prevention in high school sports by promoting the use of Certified Athletic Trainers. In addition, we will provide grants that enable high schools to employ full-time athletic trainers and will work to identify injured athletes that can benefit from our support network and resource center.

Go to the AIA website: http://www.injuredathletes.org/

Faculty Member Interviewed on National Radio Program

2011-09-14T06:09:00.001-05:00

Dr. Jason Bennett, faculty member in the SLU Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, was interviewed by Jon Grayson, from the nationally syndicated radio show Overnight America. He was interviewed about the record tying 63 yard field goal kicked by Sebastian Janikowski and the physical factors going into the kick.

To listen, click on the following link:

http://cbsstlouis.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/jason-bennett.mp3?dl=1

Overnight America originates on KMOX-AM in St. Louis and also runs on CBS affiliates WBZ in Boston, KDKA in Pittsburgh and WCCO in Minneapolis.

Remembering 9/11/2001…..

2011-09-10T07:44:00.004-05:00

In this, the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11/2001, there are many ceremonies and TV specials to commemorate the memory of those who lost their lives that day. I am sure these are all fitting tributes, but these events do not come close to the living memorials in our hearts and minds.

The memory of that day is still vivid in my mind. I first heard the news of the attack as I was driving into SLU on I-44. I was working as the Head Athletic Trainer at Saint Louis University at the time. Fall sports season was in full swing and I anticipated a busy day covering a volleyball match and serving the needs of the rest of the Billiken athletes who needed my care.

Because there was road construction on I-44, I was listening to KMOX on the drive into work that day. I was listening to live coverage of Tiger Woods’ practice round at the PGA golf event taking place at Bellerive that week. As I drove past the Laclede Station Road exit, the morning anchor on KMOX cut in to report a terrible accident in New York City. They were still unsure of what was happening and I listened intently as I arrived at work and heard about the attack on the second tower, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

The Athletic Training Room had the only TV where Billiken athletes could watch the coverage in West Pine Gym. Slowly the number of athletes and staff began to accumulate in the Athletic Training Room as the sad news of the tragedy unfolded. Time stood still as we all sat in disbelief and silence. Tears flowed freely as we called our friends and relatives to try to make sense of the incident.

Several of us were directly affected by the incident. My brother Tim was in Manhattan, near ground zero on business that day. Many of our athletes and staff had connections to people embedded in the tragedy. Because the problems with communications, I did not hear from Tim until Wednesday and I remember my relief in hearing his voice!

The volleyball match with Indiana that day was cancelled and our upcoming trip to Florida was also cancelled as airline travel was temporarily suspended. FBI agents began to appear on our campus, as institutions with aviation programs were being investigated for possible leads on future attacks.

I barely slept that night waiting for Tim’s call as my family and I huddled watching the ongoing coverage of the aftermath. My brother Tim finally made his way out of the New York City on Friday and rented a car in Newark, NJ which he drove to our home in St. Louis. He arrived at about noon on Saturday tired and still reeling from the event he witnessed. We totally lost track of time as we spent the day talking and crying about our feelings, relieved we had survived, but grieving for those that did not.

I traveled with volleyball on its first road trip to Dallas and Houston a few weeks later. The airports were full of armed soldiers to maintain security. For months afterwards we feared there would be another incident, but thankfully, there has not…..

Our lives have been irreversibly changed by those events in September 2001 and all of the things that came later as a result. The greatest memorial we can provide those affected is to keep their memory alive in our hearts and minds, trying our best to serve others as a legacy to their sacrifice.

May God’s blessings be with you…

Tony Breitbach

SLU AT Faculty Member Howell Awarded Innovative Teaching Fellowship

2011-09-02T12:58:00.002-05:00

…and now for something completely different....

Dr. Howell teaching in the Learning Studio at Des Peres Hall.

Timothy Howell, EdD, ATC, CSCS Clinical Education Coordinator for the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program held the inaugural class in the Learning Studio in Des Peres Hall August 29th, 2011. As part of an “Innovative Teaching Fellowship” award offered through the Reinert Center for Teaching Excellence Dr. Howell, along with three other fellows are teaching in a new learning space on the Frost Campus.

The course Dr. Howell is teaching MAT 560, Athletic Training Administration, in the space. While the course emphasizes organizational and administrative aspects of the athletic training profession being in the learning studio provides opportunities for the students to do so with an infusion of technology. The students will have access to iPads, tablet computers, and a video wall that can present up to three images at a time.

The first class meeting was an opportunity for the professional year 2 (PY2) students to gain a hands on introduction to the iPad2. A variety of technologies will be infused into the athletic training course over the course of the semester, all in a very direct and engaging environment.

Medical Center Campus Education Union Enhances the Student Experience

2011-08-31T14:59:00.000-05:00

Saint Louis University's new Education Union on the Medical Center Campus has already improved the quality of life for our students. Opened in July 2011, it houses: a state of the art auditorium that is designed for interprofessional interaction, a student lounge (which includes group and quiet study areas), computer workstations, a cafe/snack bar and clinical teaching labs.

Exterior View of the Education Union.

The Education Union sits in a beautiful setting on the Medical Center Campus.

Student Lounge with Computer Work Stations

Cafe/Snack Bar

State of the Art Auditorium with tables and seating designed for interprofessional interaction.

Welcome to our new students!

2011-08-26T13:10:00.002-05:00

Classes begin on Monday, August 29th and Saint Louis University is in the middle of Welcome Week, where the new students move-in and get to know the campus and each other better. There is a flurry of activity as everyone gets situated.

On Friday August 26th, a New Student Convocation was held at Chaifetz Arena, where the Administration, Faculty and Staff of SLU formally welcomed the students to campus. After the Convocation, each college or school held a luncheon for their new students. The Doisy College of Health Sciences hosted their students in the Simon Recreation Center.

Stephen Bolger, Makenzie Lockwood-Meier and Brady Moore

Dr. Tony Breitbach with Dustin Jamboretz and his parents Mary and John.

SLU AT Faculty Member Voted President-Elect of MoATA

2011-08-23T12:50:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Dr. Katherine "Kitty" Newsham!

It was announced today (8-23-11) that she was voted President-Elect of the Missouri Athletic Traininers Association (MoATA).

Dr. Newsham is an Assistant Professor in the Athletic Training Education Program at Saint Louis University. She will serve on MoATA's Executive Board until she takes over as President in June 2014.

For more information go to: http://www.moata.net/

For her bio sketch go to: http://www.moata.net/Newsham.pdf

SLU AT Program Director Named to National Athletic Trainers Association Executive Committee for Education

2011-08-20T09:59:00.003-05:00

Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC

August 19, 2011

by: Maggie Lillmars

(314) 977-8698

mlillmar@slu.edu

Anthony Breitbach, Ph.D., director of the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program, was recently named an at-large member of the Executive Committee for Education (ECE) of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).

Breitbach has been the director of the SLU Athletic Training Education Program since 2007. Prior to that he was the head athletic trainer from 2000-2007.

Housed in the Doisy College of Health Sciences, the Athletic Training Education Program is one of approximately 25 entry-level master's programs nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

About the Executive Committee for Education (ECE) of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA):
The Executive Committee for Education sets the direction for athletic training education. Emphasizing a commitment to improving patient care through an evidence-based approach, the ECE proactively influences best educational practices that reflect the profession's interdisciplinary nature and commitment to learning across the professional's lifespan. The Executive Committee for Education is comprised of members from the Continuing Education Committee, Professional Education Council, Post-Professional Education Council, Post-Professional Education Review Committee, the Athletic Training Education Journal editor and liaisons to the Board of Certification, Inc (BOC), the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), and the NATA Research and Education Foundation (REF). The Executive Committee for Education was formed in 1996 in response to recommendations from the NATA Task Force on Education.

Link: http://www.slu.edu/x53305.xml

Jacob Blasingame, Welcome to the Team!

2011-08-19T12:14:00.001-05:00

Jacob Blasingame in the Chaifetz Arena Athletic Training Room.

We are happy to announce that Jacob Blasingame MAT, ATC, LAT (SLU Class of 2012) has taken a new adjunct position shared between the SLU Athletic Training Education Program and SLU Billiken Athletics. He will serve primarily as the Athletic Trainer for Field Hockey this fall and will also serve as a Lab Instructor for MAT 524 - Musculoskeletal Assessment and Management I and MAT 530 - Therapeutic Modalities. He will also fill other duties as a clinical instructor and in athletics as needed.

Welcome Jacob!

SLU AT Faculty Member Quoted in Suburban Journals Article on Concussion Rules

2011-08-16T12:24:00.001-05:00

Metro East players, coaches adapt to new 'concussion' rule

By Sarah Baraba

Posted: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 12:00 am

Cody Spanberger had a concussion every year at Granite City High School. Three he got playing football. The other he had during baseball season, which he didn't report.

"We didn't really tell anyone about that," said Spanberger, "because it was not likely to happen again."

That attitude might not cut it this year. A new state law is requiring that any student athlete even suspected of having a concussion get an OK from a doctor before playing again. The law is meant to curb the kind of serious — even fatal — brain injuries that young athletes can get after repeated, jarring blows to the head on the playing field.

But with football season moving into high gear, some are questioning how the new rule will be applied — and whether it will have a real impact on the rough-and-tumble world of student sports.

"Kids can be competitive to a fault," said Collinsville High School Athletic Director Chris Kusnerick. "Our hope is that they'll be honest and our trained medical professionals will be able to recognize when a condition warrants attention."

Put me in coach

The law Gov. Pat Quinn signed late last month essentially forces coaches to remove any player who might have had a head injury during a practice or game. It applies to all sports and all ages and mandates that school districts work with the Illinois High School Association on developing plans to make sure the rule is followed.

The onus is put on coaches, trainers, players and referees to spot signs of a concussion, which the legislation broadly defines as "loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems."

Jason Bennett, a St. Louis University athletic trainer and physical therapist, said concussions have gone overlooked for far too long because the injuries aren't taken seriously.

"If an athlete can get up and run around, and there's no obvious injury, there's a less serious sense of urgency," he said.

He said athletes who head back to the field before a concussion is healed run the risk of 'second impact syndrome." The potentially fatal condition can result from even a mild blow that rattles the brain, stopping its ability to regulate blood flow. This can cause swelling, permanent brain damage or death.

Of the 138 traumatic deaths of high school football athletes over the past 30 years, 17 were attributed to second impact syndrome, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Former Collinsville High School quarterback Austin Hails is familiar with concussions: He sat out four varsity games last year after a rough play.

"I hit my head and I remember standing up and doing the signs for a play," Hails recalled.

But other than having a case of the giggles and forgetting who his opponent was, Hails said, his head was in the game.

"I was ready to go back in way before they said I was OK," he said.

I'm ready to play today

Hails and Spanberger, who both graduated in May, highlight the potential challenge of enforcing the new rule: It's sometimes difficult to tell when someone has a concussion. In his experience, Hails said, players would rather risk further injury than ride the bench.

"There was one kid on my team who was having some head pain and he didn't want to sit out," he said. "So he didn't say anything to the trainer."

Coaches say keen eyes of trainers, refs and physicians will be key to making the new legislation work. Many area teams keep trainers and physicians on the field during varsity matches to help them spot suspect symptoms that players might not be aware of, or trying to cover up.

"My biggest fear is when the underclassmen go on the road, they may not have trainers on the field," said Joe Iorio, Columbia High School athletic director.

Coaches say teaching proper technique early on also helps.

"If I don't think a kid is ready for contact, they won't put on pads and a helmet," said Jeff Hasty, who coaches 6-year-olds for the O'Fallon Little Panthers Sports Club.

The minute a player complains of a headache or other concussion symptom, Hasty pulls them off the field until they've been checked out.

In the end, education will be key to making sure kids stay safe while not altering the spirit of the game, said Eddy Harkins, president of the Tri-County Junior Football league, which has teams in Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties.

"It's an impact sport, a collision sport. We encourage that," he said. "It's safe when we teach it properly."

To access original article: http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/illinois/education/article_2a3f03c8-0148-5eeb-96ea-50242d6d1117.html
Contact reporter Sarah Baraba at 618-344-0264, ext. 105

AT Student Represents SLU at White House Event

2011-08-12T17:55:00.003-05:00

A Special Way to Wrap Up a Busy Summer!
By: Adriana Black, MAT Class of 2013

There was only a week left of my 10 week summer session, which included Gross Anatomy and Principles of Athletic Training. At the time all I was thinking, eating and breathing was Gross Anatomy, because it is a rigorous course and was my only final exam remaining. One day after lab, I got a phone call asking me if I wanted to go to the White House. I was thrown-off base and just dismissed it and told them I would think about it and let them know. However, the White House needed to know by later that afternoon. I got home, checked my schedule, talked to my parents, and verified my trip with SLU’s administration. With anatomy being the only thing on my mind, I did not really have a chance to think about this impromptu trip to DC.

Adriana Black and Leah Sweetman in front of White House.

As Saint Louis University’s Diversity Leadership Cabinet (DLC) Chair, a committee under the Student Government Association (SGA), I was appointed as the student representative for President Obama’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge (http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ofbnp/interfaithservice). Essentially, this is a nationwide call to service. The challenge is to create a more connected, pluralistic society. It plans to bend society towards compassion and social justice. The initiative is sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Department of Education, Interfaith Youth Core, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. We may not all believe the same things, but it should not matter. We are all making a difference. Interfaith service is what we do as Americans. The United States has more volunteers through faith-based organizations than any other kind of organizations in the nation.

The visit to DC was an exciting opportunity.

With anatomy over and a couple days to decompress, I was on a plane to DC with SLU staff and faculty member, Leah Sweetman. Both of us a bit hesitant and not truly knowing what to expect, made it to DC the evening before the launch of this initiative. Tired, but eager, Leah and I got to the hotel and attempted to sleep early as our agenda was filled for the entire next day.

Adriana with Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core.

The President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge White House convening, was held in the White House and at the George Washington University on August, 3^rd, 2011. It was a whole-day event that I will remember for years to come. Over 250 institutions responded to President Obama’s call to service. More than half of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities created a year-long plan to implement on their respective campuses to enhance community service and interfaith dialogue. SLU’s own plan builds on many existing events and organizations, but incorporates and intertwines them with a interfaith or spiritual topic. Two of the main ideas highlighted in SLU’s plan center around domestic poverty and educational opportunity as well as health services and healthy living. These signature service opportunities will provide individuals of different faiths the opportunity to come together in service to address issues of poverty, education, and health.

SLU is not alone in realizing that health, community service, and interfaith work can all be blended into one cohesive event and platform for students to engage upon. That ideal partners so well with the foundational behaviors of athletic training. Of the seven, the one entitled cultural competence, discusses the ideology of equity – not all patients can be treated exactly the same. There are different ways and approaches to take when handling a patient with differing cultures, backgrounds, traditions, and in this case, religion. It was truly fascinating to see how all the schools were planning on tackling this concept that too frequently passes under the radar.

It was a true honor to represent Saint Louis University in our nation’s capital for an event that targets issues in our country that I am so passionate about. I can only hope that SLU, along with the rest of the schools participating can not only accomplish their proposed plans, but make them sustainable for years to come. I hope to use all the knowledge I gained at the conference and will gain throughout this experience, and incorporate it into my future profession within the athletic training domain.

SLU AT Program Director interviewed regarding minimalist footwear.

2011-08-09T08:19:00.001-05:00

Dr. Tony Breitbach, Director of the Athletic Training Education Program at Saint Louis University, was interviewed for a story on minimalist footwear and barefoot running on KSDK-TV. The story featured Dana Dean and ran on Tuesday, August 8, 2011 during the Today in St. Louis morning show.

To view the video click on this link: http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/270977/97/Barefoot-running-shoes-good-for-your-feet

Dr. Jason Bennett presents and wins award for dissertation project poster

2011-08-08T12:20:00.001-05:00

Dr. Jason Bennett, SLU Athletic Training and Physical Therapy faculty member, presented his dissertation research at the sixth annual Evidence-based Practice Symposium on August 5, 2011 in Provo, Utah. Hosted by Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, he presented his research as both a poster and a platform presentatuion. His poster was named as the outstanding poster of the symposium.

Dr. Bennett also participated in the commencement ceremony, where he was granted a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Congratulations!

Jason Bennett, SLU AT Faculty Member Quoted in St. Louis Post-Dispatch

2011-07-22T10:33:00.003-05:00

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_ca7faff7-a298-50ac-ad65-d6490176086c.html

Exercising good judgment during heat wave

BY CYNTHIA BILLHARTZ GREGORIAN

cbillhartz@post-dispatch.com

314-340-8114

Posted: Friday, July 22, 2011 12:11 am

ST. LOUIS • Joseph Hayes told a fib. His mother asked the other day if he has been running during the ongoing heat wave.

"I said, ‘No, ma'am,' because I did not want to hear a lecture," said Hayes, 69, of St. Louis.

But there he was Thursday morning, getting ready to start a sweaty, six-mile slog with a group of retired men, ages 61 to 73, who call themselves "The Legends of Forest Park."

The group has been running together several times a week for more than 30 years. They run when it's 8 below zero with a windchill. They run when there's snow and ice on the ground and rain falling from the sky.

And they run when St. Louis is under an excessive heat warning. The current heat warning has been in effect since Saturday and will be until 7 p.m. Sunday.

The "Legends of Forest Park" know that some people think they're crazy.

After all, two people in the Metro East died of heatstroke Wednesday as the temperature hit 100 degrees.

Experts strongly recommend that most people move their workouts indoors. But elite and endurance athletes can survive exercising in saunalike conditions.

"After 30 years, you adapt," Hayes said. "Your body just gets used to it, whether it's cold or hot."

Jason Bennett, an instructor in the department of physical therapy and athletic training at St. Louis University, agrees.

Elite and endurance athletes are more efficient at dissipating heat, he said. "They sweat earlier than nonathletes because their systems respond more quickly to heat, and that can be both core and environmental temperatures."

Bennett points out that they also tend to be lean, so they don't have as much adipose tissue, or body fat, insulating their core. And they usually pay attention to hydration needs.

Bennett worked as an athletic trainer at a soccer tournament with hundreds of children running around in the heat last weekend.

"They were tolerating it because they're lean and they play in it all the time," he said. "But there were parents on the sidelines who aren't in it all the time and who have more body fat, and I had to call 911 because one of them was experiencing heat illness.

"If you haven't been acclimating as the temperature has been ticking up in the past several weeks," he added, "you shouldn't be out in it."

For athletes committed to playing or training in the heat, hydrating before, during and after is crucial, and Bennett recommends they keep tabs on the color of their urine. "If it's straw- or dark-colored, that's not good. It needs to be clear or light yellow," he said, adding that sports drinks are a must to replace electrolytes when exercising more than an hour.

The "Legends of Forest Park" have the same goal - to keep their blood pressure and cholesterol low, their hearts strong and their moods high.

Or as Elson Williams, 66, of St. Louis, put it: "We want to stay alive."

The men meet four times a week inside the Forest Park Visitors Center at about 8 a.m., then run six to 10 miles.

No one can pinpoint the exact year they began running together, but Hayes said he was running about 1.2 miles at Jones Park in East St. Louis in the late 1970s and decided he wanted to go farther.

He and a friend drove to Forest Park, where they found longer running paths and like-minded runners in the Visitor Center locker room.

"We all just kind of jelled," he said. "Runners seem to have a lot of the same values."

They philosophize and talk about current events and politics while they run. Thursday's topic was China's booming economy.

"We talked about dictatorships and what a dictatorship really is," said Gary Forde, 61, of St. Louis, as he cooled down by a water fountain. "Now, they aren't Princeton-Harvard discussions. They're laced with expletives to emphasize a point that's being made."

The group keeps socializing outside of running to a minimum. Too much time together, they figure, might cause squabbles.

Frank Allen, 73, of St. Louis and the eldest of the bunch, recalls several of them going to a funeral together a few years back. And every year or so, they picnic together with family members. They run road races together. But that's it.

"Sometimes I've been running and not known someone's name for the first several months," he said.

After their run Thursday, which took about an hour and 10 minutes, Allen ran up and down a flight of stairs in the Visitors Center while Forde stretched and walked backward.

Normally they run longer.

"But for this week, there's no sense in it," said Forde. "What purpose does it serve? We have a keen sense of our bodies, and we know how much we can push and how much to hold back. We know when to stop and drink or find a shady spot. We exercise judgment."

SLU AT Program Director Interviewed About Exercise in Heat

2011-07-18T18:53:00.001-05:00

Dr. Tony Breitbach, Director of the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program, appeared on the KPLR11-TV evening news on Monday, July 18, 2011. He discussed youth sports in the heat with KPLR Sports Director Rich Gould.

To view the interview, click this link: http://www.kplr11.com/videobeta/?watchId=c46c1610-00d2-4cbb-bf98-18d2556eba9c

SLU AT Program Director and Medical Director Quoted in Suburban Journal Story

2011-07-15T13:24:00.002-05:00

Heavy hitters: The sizing up of student athletes

By Sarah Baraba
Posted: Thursday, July 14, 2011 12:00 am

If you think linemen opposing your kid on the football field look a lot heftier than when you were in high school, you're probably right. Student athletes are getting bigger.

"What's happening is a trend, that to survive in a sport, you have to be bigger and stronger, otherwise you're at a disadvantage," said Anthony Breitbach, director of the athletic training program at St. Louis University.

Year-round training, beefier competition and tougher recruitment requirements are contributing to the sizing-up of student athletes. Consider recently graduated Granite City High School football right tackle and defensive player Casey Krohne. He's 6 feet, 4 inches — and 305 pounds.

Krohne said he worked to get so big for a simple reason: it gives him an advantage on the gridiron.
"No one plays a sport to lose," he said. "So you do what you need to do to get better, and in the sport of football, a large part of it is your size and strength."

There are also real downsides. The race to pump up can mean young players build muscle incorrectly, lose flexibility and even become injured. In rare cases, students are turning to supplements and steroids for speedy boosts in size. Breitbach said it's changing the way the games are played — and maybe even hurting kids.

"What you're seeing are athletes with less finesse, less skill," he said, "and more reliance on athleticism for success."

All sports, all the time

For today's student competitors, the last game of the season doesn't mark the last practice. An increasing number of high school and club teams are lifting weights and endurance training well into the off-season and it's adding to the bulk-up.

"Sports are pretty much year-round nowadays," said Waterloo High School softball coach Sarah Renner. Knowing numbers of her players are already in the weight room during for other sports, she's started to focus off-season work outs on mechanics rather than strength.

The workout regiment has spilled over to young kids — even elementary school students. Krohne said he started lifting weights and running in eighth grade to match his competition.

"You realize when you're a lot younger you need to do that stuff," he said. "Every one wants to be 'that guy' and be huge."

Coaches say their players try to emulate what has proven successful. In many cases, that's muscles.

"Athletes today know just by watching the professionals that they have to do anything that gives them an edge," said Collinsville head volleyball coach Tracy Plagemann.

At the same time, size has also become a draw for college recruiters. That's because stats on paper — scoring averages, number of tackles, but also weight and height — are often the first details a recruiter learns about a prospect, long before he or she is seen in real life. It's a make-or-break situation.

"When you get to those upper echelon schools, they look at size before they get in the door," said Dan Rose, Waterloo High School's head football coach. Stiff scholarship competition and penniless pockets are driving students to do everything they can to beef up.

"People are only able to do so much and kids do look for artificial means to get bigger," said Granite City High School Athletic Director Daren DePew. "As an athletic department, we try to encourage kids to do things the right way, and for the most part they do."

Coaches and officials agree that student athletes make up a huge portion of the supplement market, relying on the substances for a quick fix. In rarer circumstances, some are using anabolic steroids at a huge risk.

"They are potentially very harmful to someone who is not done growing," said Dr. Tyler Wadsworth, of the Center for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. He said muscle boosting steroids can cause adolescents' growth plates to close, prematurely stopping growth.

Bigger isn't necessarily better

While being the biggest kid on the field may catch a college recruiter's eye — it isn't necessarily helping out the team.

"The bigger you are, the more energy it takes to make you move," Wadsworth said. "If someone is big and bulky and they're in a position that makes them move, that's going to be a problem."

Though many kids are bulking up on muscle, others are just trying to increase size by whatever means possible — and some are becoming obese. High blood pressure, muscle strains and ankle injuries are all effects of excess poundage on athletes. Sports medicine experts say many youth athletes mistake "beach muscles" with the muscles that help them out in their sport.

"The muscles that make you a good athlete aren't the ones you can see in the mirror," Breitbach said.

Coaches stressed without guidance, young athletes may overbuild muscles that can hinder their game.

"We've run into kids that are training in ways that do not help their sport and in some cases actually cause injury," DePew said. "It's something we as coaches and athletic trainers have to educate kids on."

Many coaches said they give their players sport-specific weight training programs that target the muscles they'll need for their position. For the motivated athlete however, the demand for size is a top priority.

"I don't think it's possible," Krohne said, "to be too big or too strong."

Contact reporter Sarah Baraba 618-344-0264 ext. 105

SLU AT Faculty Member Presents at SLATA Annual Meeting

2011-07-11T10:02:00.000-05:00

Dr. Kitty Newsham, a faculty member in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program, presented at the Annual Meeting of the Saint Louis Athletic Trainers' Association on July 9, 2011. The presentation was on "Vocal Cord Dysfunction" and the meeting was held at The Orthopedic Center of St. Louis in Chesterfield, MO.

Congrats to SLU MAT Class of 2011.....Perfection!

2011-07-06T09:15:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the Saint Louis University MAT Class of 2011....all 8 of the graduates passed the Board of Certification Examination on the first attempt. It is a tribute to all of their hard work in the classroom and clinical settings over the past 2 years.

The MAT Class of 2010 also had a 100% first time pass rate, so in the history of this young program, every student who attempted the BOC exam passed on their first try. The national first time pass rate in 2010-11 was approximately 60%. We are all very proud of our graduates!

SLU Medical Center Campus Construction Projects Near Completion

2011-07-01T07:52:00.002-05:00

The construction of the new Education Union and Recreation/Track and Field Complex on the Saint Louis University Medical Center Campus is nearly finished. They both are set to be up and running by when the students arrive for Fall Semester.

The new Saint Louis University sign facing Compton Ave., complete with the decorative planting of the SLU Fluer-de-Lis logo.

The Receation Complex is located adjacent to the Allied Health Building, Center for Advanced Dental Education and the Hickory East Garage.

The 8 lane 400 meter track still awaits striping, but the complex has added significant green space to the Medical Center Campus.

The sleek facade of the Education Union provide an attractive gateway to the Medical Center Campus.

The Clock Tower sits tall at the middle point of the Medical Center Campus, while concrete work and landscaping is being completed around the Education Union.

AIMS Summer Workshop Participants Learn About Sports Medicine

2011-06-27T14:41:00.003-05:00

The Adventures In Medicine & Science (AIMS) Program is an outreach program of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. For more than 20 years, AIMS has offered summer workshops for high-achieving students who have an interest in becoming medical professionals. These experiential programs feature observations of live surgery, extensive study of human anatomy, and exposure to multiple facets of careers in medicine. The workshops are an outstanding way to help young people determine their future plans for study in college and beyond.

Dr. Tim Howell and athletic training student Kemba Noel-London provided a hands on athletic training experience for the students at Chaifetz Arena on Tuesday/Thursday June 21st and 23rd. The SLU Billikens Strength and Conditioning Staff also provided an instructional session at Chaifetz.

SLU AT Faculty, Staff and Students Participate at NATA Meeting in New Orleans

2011-06-22T15:25:00.001-05:00

The National Athletic Trainers' Association 62nd Annual Meeting and Symposium took place at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 20-22, 2011. Saint Louis University Faculty, Staff and Students participated in the event. On Monday, June 20th: Dr. Tony Breitbach served as a moderator for the feature presentation "The Athletic Trainer and the Law" and Dr. Kitty Newsham presented a Peer-to-Peer presentation on "Competency Assurance: the Changing Face of Recertification" sponsored by the Board of Certification.

Many of the SLU AT Education Program's Clinical Instructors and several students also attended. It was great opportunity for fun, fellowship and professional development. Next year's meeting will take place in St. Louis on June 26-29, 2012. Saint Louis University looks to be a very active participant in the event.

SLU AT Faculty and Students Cover Prestigious NIKE Event

2011-06-11T13:37:00.001-05:00

SLU Athletic Training Education Program faculty and students worked together to cover the NIKE Elite 100 basketball camp. Previously known as the NIKE Hoop Jamboree, it has been held on the SLU campus since 2000. Numerous current NBA players have attended the camp over the years when they were high school freshmen and sophomores.

The description of the event from the NIKE website:
Previously known as the NIKE Hoop Jamboree for the past 12 years, the NIKE Elite 100 has been the nation’s premier basketball event for elite underclassmen. This year, NIKE, along with the St. Louis Eagles Basketball Club, is inviting the country’s best basketball players to St. Louis for four intense days of competition. The goal for the NIKE Elite 100 is to give the best players the opportunity to develop their skills and to grow their game to heights never imagined. The NIKE Elite 100 is held on the campus of St. Louis University, in the heart of mid-town St. Louis and just minutes from the renowned Gateway Arch.

Pictured above is a group of the SLU faculty and students who worked the Elite 100 event. NIKE provided the medical staff with gold uniform shirts so they could easily be identified at the event.

SLU Athletic Training Blog Going Mobile!

2011-06-11T08:28:00.002-05:00

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Blog is now enabled for mobile devices!

Check it out at: http://sluathletictraining.com

MoATA Service Award Given to SLU AT Program Director

2011-06-07T13:09:00.009-05:00

June 07, 2011
Jennifer Baine

314-977-8561, jbaine@slu.edu

Breitbach Named Glenn L. McElroy, M.D., Distinguished Service Award Winner

Anthony Breitbach, Ph.D., A.T.C., program director for the Athletic Training Education Program in Doisy College of Health Sciences has been selected as the 2011 recipient of the Glenn L. McElroy, M.D., Distinguished Service Award.

The Glenn L. McElroy, M.D., Distinguished Service Award is awarded to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the profession of athletic training in the state of Missouri. The award may be bestowed upon any individual who is or has been involved in the advancement of athletic training and is passionate about treating athletes with excellence.

Breitbach holds a bachelor of exercise and sports sciences degree from the University of Iowa, a master of exercise and sports sciences from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. in higher education from Saint Louis University.

He has been a Certified Athletic Trainer since 1985, working in university, clinical and high school settings. In addition, Breitbach is a member of The National Athletic Trainers' Association, Missouri Athletic Trainers' Association and St. Louis Athletic Trainers' Association.

His passion for athletic training has led him to be found in any of a myriad of places both on and off campus. His is a well-known face to the SLU ice hockey and field hockey teams. Many of his students have him both as an instructor and a mentor. He spends time talking to each prospective student, first telling them about what brought him to this place in his life, then helping to guide them as to the best route for their own future.

Any student of Breitbach's can tell you his favorite story -- when he receives the texts from his students stating that they had passed the state board of certification exam.

To date, every student that has graduated from the athletic training program and taken the exam has passed.

SLU AT Program Director Quoted in Post-Dispatch Article Regarding Concussion Legislation

2011-05-26T10:17:00.001-05:00

New Missouri measure means more concussion precautions

BY CYNTHIA BILLHARTZ GREGORIAN cbillhartz@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8114
Posted: Thursday, May 26, 2011 4:30 am

REPRINTED FROM: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/fitness/article_2e320f8c-b86c-5b69-9d6b-42712376ad28.html

Not so long ago, when an athlete was dizzy from being conked on the head in a game or practice, his coach would often tell him to shake it off. "You got your bell rung," was a common sideline diagnosis.
This month, the Missouri Legislature took a step toward putting that way of thinking to rest when it passed the "Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act."

Now, athletes who are suspected of having a concussion or brain injury during practice or play must be sidelined immediately and not allowed back on the field for 24 hours. They must also be analyzed by licensed health care providers who are trained in evaluating and managing concussions to get a written clearance to play.

"I'm a late '70s football player, and they didn't even think of those things. It was just get up and go back in," said Harvey Richards, associate executive director of Missouri State High School Activities Association, which helped write the legislation.

The act also requires mandatory education of coaches, athletes and their parents about the signs and symptoms of a concussion and the possible long-term effects of playing with one before the season starts. In addition, it calls for the creation of a coalition of groups to collect data and publish a report each year about the long-term impact of concussions and head injuries on student athletes. Several other states have passed similar legislation.

Both chambers of the Illinois Legislature have passed versions of a similar bill and are now working out differences.

Nathan Wilmes, director of sports medicine for Excel Sports Physical Therapy in St. Charles, likes the precision of the Missouri law's language. "I've had experiences where athletes will doctor-shop to find one who'll clear them to play in two or three days because some doctors aren't trained in concussion management," he said. "It's really kind of scary."

BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER

Young athletes are bigger, stronger and faster today than ever before, making for more forceful impacts during collisions. And in football, helmets offer a false sense of security.

According to a study published in the medical journal Pediatrics last year, concussion rates among athletes ages 18 and under more than doubled from 1997 to 2007. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 3.9 million concussions related to sports and recreation occur nationwide each year.

On top of that, growing evidence shows an increased risk for degenerative brain disease in athletes who have had multiple concussions.

Anthony Breitbach, director of the athletic training education program at St. Louis University, said the new law is a move in the right direction, but he worries about the soccer player who's dizzy when she gets up from a play, but doesn't tell anyone.

Athletic trainers on sidelines during practice and games can detect a lot of concussions that would otherwise go unnoticed, he said. But not all schools hire athletic trainers.

Excel, which hires out (athletic) trainers, now administers a Standardized Assessment of Concussion test that measures the memory and cognitive skills of football players before the season starts. They give the test again on the sideline when they suspect players have suffered concussions during play or practice to see whether their scores have changed dramatically. It also helps them gauge changes from season to season.

"When I watch a play, I don't care what happens as far as getting a touchdown or scoring," Breitbach said. "I watch how they go to the ground and how they get back up. That determines what questions I'll ask them as they come to the sideline."

Richards said he's heard people express concerns that parents or kids may hide a concussion, because they don't want to be sidelined. "We have to be diligent in letting them know that missing that one play, or even the next game or two games, is not more important than how you live the rest of your life," he said.
Each player must now read and sign an information sheet about concussions and have their parents do the same. Richards believes that will help.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRAIN?

Medical experts are not sure yet what happens inside the brain when it suffers a concussion.
"We are concerned that younger kids have developing brains, and we don't know if they take injury differently," said Dr. Mark Halstead, director of the sports concussion clinic at Washington University. "We do know that the amount of recovery time is longer for young adults, so there's a difference in the way they tolerate injury."

They also know that continuing to play with a concussion makes a young athlete vulnerable to greater injury and even death should they suffer another jolt to the head.

Most research on sports-related hits to the head have focused on NFL players.

The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University has found the same neurodegenerative disease in more than 20 deceased players, including former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson, 50, who died after shooting himself in the chest in February.

What little research that has been done on younger athletes has found that pulling them off the field after a concussion may not be enough.

Last fall, the same researchers at Boston University reported that the brain of Owen Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania football player who hanged himself in April 2010, also showed signs of degenerative brain disease.

The researchers seemed stunned when interviewed for a PBS "Frontline" report, because Thomas was only 21 and had no known history of concussions.

In 2009, researchers at Purdue University equipped the helmets of 21 high school football players with sensors, and compared the impact data from them with brain-imaging scans and cognitive tests performed before, during and after the season.

Many of the players who did not suffer concussions performed increasingly worse on cognitive tests as the season wore on. And those who put their head down and took blow after blow to the top of the head were most impaired.

"We're looking at very sensitive organ of body and the nervous system," Richards said. "You don't even have to have a collision, it can be whiplash. Helmets don't protect against that. They're made to stop you from getting a skull fracture."

Football players run the highest risk of getting a concussion, but other athletes aren't impervious to them. In fact, Richard says, female athletes — particularly in soccer and basketball — run a higher risk of concussion than men in other sports because of a physiological difference.

"The male gender has a stronger neck which helps avoid some of these concussions," he said. "In female sports, when you're going backwards and fall and hit the ground, and your head snaps, you're essentially do the same thing as a guy playing football."

Welcome SLU MAT Class of 2013!

2011-05-25T14:02:00.001-05:00

A special welcome goes out to the Saint Louis Uinversity students who look to graduate with a Master of Athletic Training degree in May of 2013 as they begin the professional phase of the program this week. The Class of 2013 has 14 students who are matriculating from the pre-professional phase of the program at SLU and 7 post-baccalaureate students who received their degrees elsewhere.

They are taking 2 classes this summer: ANAT 400-Gross Anatomy and MAT 501-Principles of Athletic Training. The Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training sponsored a luncheon in the Multipurpose Room of the Allied Health Building on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 to welcome the AT & PT students to their respective professional phases.

Rohini Jaglan, Tasneem Zaki, Mary Finkenkeller, Erin Eisenhard, Alex Sawyer and Adriana Black

Desiree Ramirez, Emily Grace, Sarah (Harville) Hall, Ryan Vallo and Derrick Neuner

Sarah Schaefer, Maggie Meier, Adam Long, Rachel Cocek and Katie Herington

Katie Schneebeck, Lizzy Kienstra, Bridget Quirk, Janese Evans and Libby Deiters

Congratulations to SLU faculty member Jason Bennett!

2011-05-24T10:04:00.002-05:00

Today, May 24, 2011, faculty member Jason Bennett MSPT, SCS, ATC had a successful defense of his dissertation titled: "The relationship between isotonic plantar flexion endurance, navicular drop, and exercise related leg pain in a cohort of collegiate cross country runners."

This project is the culmination of his study in the doctoral program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Sciences. The Doctor of Philosophy degree specializing in Orthopedics and Sports Science will be conferred by Rocky Mountain this summer.

Upon conferral of the degree, all of the core faculty members in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education Program will have doctoral degrees. Jason teaches the Musculoskeletal Assessment sequence in the SLU AT program in addition to serving on courses in the SLU Program in Physical Therapy. He also has a clinical practice at the SLU Student Health Center.

Congratulations Dr. Jason Bennett!

Doisy College Precommencement Celebrates Class of 2011

2011-05-19T19:42:00.003-05:00

Saint Louis University's Doisy College of Health Sciences held its precommencement ceremony on Thursday, May 19, 2011. This is the ceremony where the graduates are recognized individually and is also where the MAT graduates were given their Master's hoods. After the ceremony, the SLU AT Education Program hosted a celebration dinner at the Mamma Mia Spaghetteria restaurant near the SLU campus.

SLU MAT Class of 2011 (from left): Jacob Blasingame, Geanie Butts, Mollie Cole, Laura Gosewisch, Meghan Gehrs, Emily Monahan, Diane Schlesselman, Ann Schmerbauch

BSES Class of 2011 (from left): JJ Hannigan, Samantha Peltzer, Kemba Noel-London, Dr. Tim Howell, Dr. Tony Breitbach

MAT Class of 2011 and AT program faculty at celebration dinner at the ceremony.

SLU AT Student's Children's Book Published

2011-05-09T11:07:00.004-05:00

Mollie Cole, a member of the Saint Louis University Master of Athletic Training class of 2011, wrote a children's book about the profession of Athletic Training. It is titled "What's in Your Fanny Pack?" and it served as her capstone project. It is available to be view as an ebook or it can be purchased as a paperback book through Bookemon. Click HERE to access the book on the publisher's site. Mollie previously received a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She also served as a classroom teacher for two years before entering the SLU AT Education Program. She is moving on to a position in the residency program at the Ben Hogan Sports Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas.

SLU MAT Class of 2011 Present Capstone Projects

2011-05-06T14:06:00.002-05:00

On Friday, May 6, 2011, the Saint Louis University Master of Athletic Training Class of 2011 made a public presentation of their capstone projects in the Multipurpose Room of the Allied Health Building. These capstone projects, mentored by Dr. Kitty Newsham, provide students with a culminating scholarly experience during their last semester in the program.

Ann Schmerbauch, Geanie Butts, Diane Schlesselman, Laura Gosewisch, Meghan Gehrs, Jacob Blasingame, Emily Monahan and Mollie Cole

The students' capstone topics were:

Jacob Blasingame - Acute Renal Failure After Anaerobic Exercise

Geanie Butts - Exercises to Address the Lower Crossed Syndrome

Mollie Cole - A Children's Book Introducing Athletic Training as a Profession

Meghan Gehrs - Hamstring Strain Prevention

Laura Gosewisch - Energy Drink Use Among Club Sport Athletes

Emily Monahan - Mental Imagery During Rehabilitation From Athletic Injury

Diane Schlesselman - Managing Head and Facial Injuries, a Guide for Coaches

Ann Schmerbauch - Comparing Bicep Load and Active Compression Tests for Diagnosing SLAP Lesions

SLU AT Students Conduct Football Injury Simulation

2011-05-04T14:56:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday May 4, 2011, Saint Louis University Athletic Training Students worked together to conduct a lifelike simulation where they manage a catastrophic football injury using the (METI) Human Patient Simulator in the Clinical Simulation Lab on the Medical Center Campus at SLU. The manikin they used created an extremely accurate representation of the experiences they would have in managing this type of situation. For more information about the Clinical Simulation Lab go to: http://oca.slu.edu/index.php?page=life-support-skills-center---simulation

Faculty members Tony Breitbach and Jason Bennett worked with School of Medicine Education Specialist Wesley Burch to develop a scenario where a group of students managed a football player with a possible cervical spine injury. During the simulation the patient stopped breathing and lost his pulse. The students had to work together to: position the patient, manage the equipment, treat the patient and prepare the patient for transport. The students were observed and videotaped. A debriefing session was conducted afterwards to review their performance and recommend improvements for the future. This is an invaluable resource to have for our students.

Ann Schmerbauch and Jason Bennett prepare "Brad" for the simulation.

The scenario began with the patient lying face down.

The patient had to be properly positioned.

After managing the equipment, CPR was initiated.

The faculty monitored and managed the scenario from the control room.

A spine board was used for transportation.

The debriefing session was very helpful in providing feedback.

SLU AT Study Abroad Opportunity - Switzerland

2011-04-25T21:38:00.001-05:00

Studying in the Center of It All!

by: Maggie Meier, Athletic Training Student

SLU MAT Class of 2013

Bonjour! I traveled to Geneva, Switzerland for my fall semester junior year. I tried to take full advantage of all the amazing travel opportunities while aboard, traveling to France, Germany, Italy, Vienna, Austria, Holland, Monaco, and Portugal. My favorite part was trying all the different foods and wines. While abroad, I tried to say “yes” to everything new. I even ended up climbing a mountain, which was exhilarating.

Maggie and her parents at the top of "Zugspitze" the highest point in Germany.

The school I attended in Geneva was extremely diverse. I was amazed by the numerous multilingual students who considered the knowledge of language part of normal life. I made sure to take a French course while in Geneva to become more confident with my ability to speak French.

While in Geneva, I had the opportunity to shadow a physician. The holistic approach to medicine made me realize how important it is not to just focus on an injury and fixing it, but to make sure underlying problems are not causing that injury and focus on prevention.

Food and exercise also play a major role in European health. People go shopping everyday and only buy fresh food to prepare for the day. I soon became accustomed to buying bread fresh everyday from the market. The markets sold considerably less junk food because there is not the same demand for those products in Europe. Also, Europeans walk everywhere. I was unprepared for the amount of walking, and I soon realized bringing high heels for going out was a mistake.

I loved my study abroad experience, and I hope to incorporate what I learned about healthcare in Geneva into my future profession. I am so lucky I had the opportunity to study abroad and recommend it to everyone. It was seriously one of my best experiences ever.

This is one of several posts featuring SLU AT Student study abroad experiences. Because of its 3-2 format, the SLU AT program gives students a unique ability to study abroad. For more information about study abroad experiences at SLU go to: http://www.slu.edu/x26920.xml .

Medical Center Campus Construction Projects Taking Shape

2011-04-21T07:20:00.005-05:00

The new facility additions to Saint Louis University's Medical Center Campus are really making progress....they seem to be on target for completion by the Fall of 2011.(click on photos to view more detail)

Installation has begun on the glass facade of the Education Union.

The clock tower adjacent to the Education Union is already up and running!

The asphalt base of the 400 meter track has been laid on the on the Sports and Recreation Complex which is blessed with a beautiful view of downtown St. Louis, including the Gateway Arch.

Recent rains have left their mark, but have not deterred installation of the light standards and the service building.

SLU AT Study Abroad Opportunity - Spain

2011-04-20T13:57:00.005-05:00

¡Hala Madrid!
by: Adriana Black, Athletic Training Student
SLU MAT Class of 2013

I went to Madrid for my study abroad semester. I went the first semester of my Junior year; as that is the semester that is set for most Doisy students to study abroad. Though it was a lighter credit-wise workload, it did not mean that I learned any less from it all. I was challenged in my classes and truly felt it helped develop my holistic education. I enjoyed my professors in each of my classes and gaining a new perspective about the coursework. It was also beneficial to meet new students and learn from their experiences. Overall, studying abroad was one of the best experiences I have had not just while in college but in my life thus far.

While in Madrid, I had the pleasure of taking IPE 350: Healthcare Systems and Promotion. Due to the critical topic, engaging class, but most of all the inspirational professor, it easily became my favorite class in college. The class was half lecture half discussion, but the lectures themselves turned into discussions with all of the analytical questions that the professor would pose. The way to do well in the class was not to just do the work - it delved deeper than that by having students think critically and on a global-scale.

Analyzing the healthcare systems worldwide sheds some new light on our own healthcare system in place in the United States. Learning about the other systems in this class became a compare and contrast session where different viewpoints were scrutinized and issues were tackled. Looking at the these systems from this macro perspective helped in understanding the social justice and global issues that face our world today.

The IPE 350 class not only taught me about our U.S. healthcare system and global healthcare systems, but global issues that face healthcare professionals daily. As a future healthcare provider, it was important and necessary to be informed enough to assess all of these issues to someday be able to bring them to an end.

Adriana Black (far left) with friends in Madrid.

I am a Junior in the Master's of Athletic Training program at Saint Louis University. Though my experiences thus far at SLU have done everything to exceed my expectations, my study abroad experience truly encapsulates the reasons why I have thoroughly enjoyed my college experience. I am now a firm believer and strong advocate for students studying abroad in college when given the opportunity.

This is one of several posts featuring SLU AT Student study abroad experiences. Because of its 3-2 format, the SLU AT program gives students a unique ability to study abroad. For more information about study abroad experiences at SLU go to: http://www.slu.edu/x26920.xml .

SLU AT Study Abroad Opportunity - Australia

2011-04-20T07:12:00.005-05:00

A Semester Down Under
by: Libby Deiters, Athletic Training Student
SLU MAT Class of 2013

Oui Mate!! I don’t even know where to begin when I describe the amazing sights that I saw while living in Australia for four months; from the Great Barrier Reef to the Opera House in Sydney. When I first decided to study abroad I was so nervous and never thought that I would be able to last across the world from everyone. I soon proved myself wrong. I loved every minute of it and not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could turn back time and do it all again! While in Australia I went skydiving above the Western most tip of Australia while looking 300 miles down the coast, I went scuba diving at four different spots on the Great Barrier Reef, and I played with over fifty kangaroos. That doesn’t even do justice for all the other beautiful places that I visited.

Libby Deiters and friends scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

While I was in Australia I was also asked to participate in the Australian University Games I played basketball for Bond University, my host school. I was one of the three Americans that were asked to play in the whole tournament. Playing basketball in another country has allowed me to see the differences between American and international basketball, for example we played on a different size court than we have here. This experience gave me the opportunity to see how other countries view sports medicine and also gave me a chance to observe the environment that other athletic trainers worked in. In Australia their major in athletic training is called Physiology and their role is mostly in rehabilitation rather than focusing on preventative measures.

My one piece of advice for every college student who is given the chance to study in another country: DO IT, you will NEVER regret it! Study abroad has allowed me to not only learn about another culture, but also learn a lot about myself and I can say that it has impacted my future as an Athletic Trainer, I now feel more confident when asked to work with other cultures traveling to another country has allowed me to see the wide range of environments that we are able to work in. One day I hope that I return to Australia working as an Athletic Trainer.

This is one of several posts featuring SLU AT Student study abroad experiences. Because of its 3-2 format, the SLU AT program gives students a unique ability to study abroad. For more information about study abroad experiences at SLU go to: http://www.slu.edu/x26920.xml .

SLU AT Students Get a Major League Experience

2011-04-19T15:49:00.003-05:00

Students Will Rath and John Runde listen attentively as Greg Hauck talks to students in the Strength Training Facility.

On Tuesday, April 19, 2011, SLU AT students were able to tour the St. Louis Cardinals facilities at Busch Stadium. The tours were conducted by Greg Hauck, the Cardinals Head Athletic Trainer, who allowed the students to get a real feel for life as a major league baseball athletic trainer. The tours included the Cardinals clubhouse, the strength training facility, the athletic training facility and the home dugout. Due to the growth of the SLU AT program, there had to be 2 tour groups and Mr. Hauck generously gave of his time to lead both tours and talk at length with the students. It is truly great to have such an organization and facility minutes from our campus!

The early group of students on the field at Busch Stadium.

The early group of students in the Clubhouse at Busch Stadium.

The later group of students on the field at Busch Stadium.

The later group of students in the Athletic Training Facility at Busch Stadium.

AT Faculty Member Presents at SLU Strength Clinic

2011-04-16T11:02:00.003-05:00

Dr. Tim Howell, Clinical Education Coordinator of SLU's Athletic Training Education Program, presented at the "Strength, Power and Speed" 2011 SLU Strength and Conditioning Coaches Clinic on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Chaifetz Arena. Dr. Howell, who is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), addressed the topic: "Sports Injuries: Mechanisms & Modifications".

Hosted by the SLU Strength and conditioning staff, some of the other presenters included strength coaches from Boston College, the US Naval Academy, the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. The SLU Athletic Training Education Program also provides students with the necessary experience and coursework to gain the CSCS credential.

Athletic Trainers Featured on PBS's FRONTLINE

2011-04-13T11:38:00.004-05:00

PBS's FRONTLINE examines the risks of high school football and the important role that athletic trainers play in minimizing that risk.

Watch the episode: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/football-high/

Introduction (from FRONTLINE website)

April 12, 2011

Corporate sponsorships, nationally televised games, minute-by-minute coverage on sports websites -- for players, parents and coaches, high school football has never been bigger. But is enough being done to ensure players' safety as the intensity of the sport grows? In Football High, FRONTLINE investigates the new face of high school football.

Football observers and sports journalists alike agree that on average, high school players' size, speed and strength have increased dramatically over the past five to 10 years. At Euless Trinity in Texas, which has been ranked the No. 1 high school team in the country, 18 of the 89 varsity players weigh over 250 pounds. "The ramping up of pressure on high school kids ... and the increase of media attention on high school football, my God, in the last 10 years, it's become like a little NFL," says Gregg Easterbrook, a writer and columnist for ESPN. "If you look at it position by position, you can only compare it to NFL teams," says trainer Kelvin Williams. "It's just crazy. They are huge."

FRONTLINE centers its investigation in Arkansas, where two players collapsed from heatstroke last year while practicing during one of the hottest summers on record. The players were placed in the same intensive care unit in Little Rock, both having suffered extensive damage to their internal organs. One boy survived, but the other boy died in the hospital three months after his collapse. "There should never, ever be a person [dying] from exertional heatstroke, because it's 100 percent preventable," says Dr. Doug Casa, a leading expert on heatstroke.

In the wake of the tragedy in Arkansas, FRONTLINE investigates the differences in the two boys' fates. Only one of the boys' teams had an athletic trainer on staff, which reflects the reality in most of Arkansas: Only 15 percent of the schools in the state have a certified medical professional at games and practices, slightly below the national average.

The program also investigates the estimated 60,000 concussions suffered each year by high school football players. In 2010, researchers discovered a degenerative mental disease in the brain of 21-year-old Owen Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania football player who committed suicide last year -- and had never reported a concussion throughout his football career. Thomas' brain showed evidence of CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the same mental degenerative disease rampant in the brains of NFL players with serious mental problems. "It has totally changed what I thought about this game," says VA researcher Dr. Ann McKee. "Anybody who's playing the game, this could happen; this could be the result."

SLU AT Faculty Participate in District Meeting

2011-03-19T06:45:00.001-05:00

SLU AT faculty members Tony Breitbach and Kitty Newsham made presentations at the Annual Meeting of the Mid-America Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA District V) on Friday, March 19th at the Doubletree Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska.

It was a great opportunity for professional development and fellowship with colleagues from the midwest.

Dr. Breitbach made the presentation, "Board of Certification Examination Candidates’ Perceptions of Exam Preparation Methods and its Relation to First-Attempt Success Rate" and Dr. Newsham made the presentation, "Perceptions of Reasonable Accomodations During Clinical Education for Students with Physical Disabilities".

SLU AT Student gets perfect birthday present - a kidney from Maryland

2011-03-07T15:17:00.011-06:00

March 4, 2011

link to original article

Contact: Mary Williams
314-286-0300 mlw2380@bjc.org

An emotional St. Louis University graduate student, Jacob Blasingame, from Collinsville, IL, was very thankful to receive a much needed and special birthday present from a stranger in Baltimore, MD.

Blasingame’s birthday wish came true when he received a kidney from a donor at John Hopkins Hospital, meaning he no longer has to rely on dialysis treatments to survive. His transplant was performed on his 23rd birthday, March 1. Washington University surgeon Jason Wellen, MD, surgical director of kidney transplant at Barnes-Jewish Hospital performed the surgery.

“It has been a rollercoaster ride but my faith, family and friends have supported me through these difficult times,” says Blasingame.

Although Blasingame experienced a life-changing birthday, he had to pass on an opportunity in the fall to work as an intern at the St. Louis Rams training camp. He worked with the Rams over the summer, but problems with his kidney changed his plans.

In April 2008, Blasingame’s kidneys failed. His uncle, James, donated a kidney to him at that time. However, that kidney eventually failed, and Blasingame needed another transplant.

“When I originally got on dialysis this past time, I was hoping to get a transplant in December or January, but it didn’t happen,” says Blasingame. “I knew I didn’t want to be on dialysis on my birthday so it was a blessing from God that things happened the way they did.”

Another uncle, John, also offered to donate. But Blasingame had developed too many antibodies from his first transplant, and his Uncle John was not a good match. In return for Blasingame getting the kidney from Johns Hopkins, Uncle John will donate his kidney to another transplant candidate – either at Barnes-Jewish or another transplant center. Testing to find the best match for John’s kidney is currently underway.

But, thanks John’s willingness to donate to someone other than his nephew and to the generosity of a donor in Maryland, Blasingame will graduate in May from St. Louis University with a master’s degree in athletic training.

And though he will always have a special memory of his 23rd birthday, he plans to spend future birthdays with family and friends – and not in the hospital.