April 29, 2013

Schedule Set for SLU AT Capstone Day - Friday, May 3, 2013


The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program is hosting its 4th Annual Capstone Day on Friday, May 3, 2013 in the Multipurpose Room of the Allied Health Building on the SLU Medical Center Campus. 

Students in the SLU Master of Athletic Training Class of 2013 will present their Capstone projects. These projects represent the students' culminating scholarly work from their experience in the SLU AT Program.

For more information about the SLU AT Capstone Day, call 314-977-8561 or email atep@slu.edu.

SCHEDULE

GUIDED POSTER SESSION I: 10:00 am-11:30 pm
AT Student
Title of Capstone Presentation
Sarah Reifsteck
Do Athletic Trainers Influence the Knowledge of Concussion Awareness Among Parents of High School Athletes?
Sarah Hall
Athletic Trainers vs. Personal Trainers
Lizzy Kienstra
Fast-Pitch Softball Pitchers and Kinematic Changes Through Time
Bridget Quirk
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in a Female Collegiate Soccer Player: A Case Report
Janese Evans
Graft Material Selection in Lowering the Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Re-Injury.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS: 11:30 am-1:00 pm
AT Student
Title of Capstone Presentation
Derrick Neuner
The Affordable Care Act, Public Policy, and the Future of Athletic Training
Ryan Vallo
Functional movement screen and joint by joint approach as it pertains to injury risk.
Adriana Black
Relationships Between Socioeconomic Status, Sports Participation, and Access to Athletic Trainers Amongst Youth in Schools
Alex Sawyer
Introducing Video Marketing as a Recruitment Tool for Saint Louis University's Athletic Training Education Program

GUIDED POSTER SESSION II: 1:00 pm-2:30 pm
AT Student
Title of Capstone Presentation
Mary Finkenkeller
Athletic Training in the Performing Arts
Rachel Cocek
Rehabilitation and Surgical Intervention in Male Athlete with Multi-Directional Instability and Underlying Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Vince Di Renzo
Low-Load Resistance Training may be More Beneficial for Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy than High-Load Resistance Training
Katie Herington
Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Avulsion in the Male Athlete: A Case Study
Katie Schneebeck
The Sole Story
Hilary Orf
Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy in Athletes

April 26, 2013

SLU AT Student Presents at Graduate Research Symposium



Saint Louis University Athletic Training Student Bridget Quirk (MAT Class of 2013) presented a poster at the Graduate Research Symposium. The title of her poster was: "Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome In A Division I Collegiate Soccer Player: A Case Report". Dr. Kitty Newsham and Dr. Bill Siler served as her mentors on the project.


Hosted by the Graduate Student Association, the annual Graduate Research Symposium is held each year during the spring semester. This year's symposium was held on Friday, April 26, 2013, in the BSC Multipurpose Rooms 170-173. 

Bridget Quirk (SLU MAT Class of 2013) with Dr. Kitty Newsham at the Graduate Research Symposium.
The GSA Research Symposium is an event open to all SLU graduate students and every department with graduate degree programs was encouraged to participate in this interdisciplinary forum. Paper and poster presentations were divided into categories based on the distribution of the participants. Judges were selected from SLU faculty to represent the variety of disciplines. Monetary awards are available for the first, second, and third place papers and posters in each category.

April 25, 2013

Two Major Academic Journals of Athletic Training Move to Saint Louis University



Carrie Bebermeyer
314.977.8015
bebermcl@slu.edu

ST. LOUIS – The Journal of Athletic Training and The Athletic Training Education Journal, two scholarly, peer-reviewed publications of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) will make their home at Saint Louis University, according to the association’s president, Jim Thornton, MA, ATC, CES.  In a nod to the University’s expanding national presence, Thornton visited SLU earlier this semester to talk about the “Secondary School Student Athletes’ Bill of Rights” as well as sports-related health concerns that athletic trainers are well-positioned to help solve.

The Journal of Athletic Training office at Saint Louis University will handle all editorial responsibilities for the publication and will continue to be led by managing editor, Leslie Neistadt. The 48-year-old journal is open-access and has a subscription base of more than 10,000 sports medicine professionals.

The Athletic Training Education Journal serves as an interface between the theory and practice of athletic training education by providing a forum for scholars, educators, and clinicians to share critical and significant concepts, original research, and innovative ideas. The two journals will share resources on SLU’s campus.

SLU’s athletic training education program, begun only five years ago, has quickly reached the ranks of a top flight program in a field that itself has gained visibility and importance in ensuring the health of athletes at all levels of play.  In particular, athletic trainers are heralded as a part of the solution to sports related concussions, a grave and growing concern, especially in high impact sports like football and hockey.

SLU AT students managing a simulated on-field emergency.
“I’m extremely proud of how far our program has come, from our beginning five years ago to where we are now, with 90 students in the program,” said Anthony Breitbach, Ph.D., Athletic Training Program Director at SLU.

SLU’s athletic training faculty and students have served as advocates and leaders in the region, state and beyond. In its five year history, the program has hosted a sudden cardiac death conference for the region, partnered with the Brain Injury Association of Missouri to host a seminar on sports related concussions, and hosted the state meeting for athletic trainers twice. Students have been advocates, as well, lobbying in Jefferson City in support of athletic training legislation in the Missouri Senate.

Brain Injury Association of Missouri Meeting in Spring 2012.
Breitbach serves as a member of NATA’s Executive Committee for Education, a group that has developed future guidelines for the profession. Assistant professor Kitty Newsham, Ph.D., is on the standards committee for the Board of Certification. Assistant professor Tim Howell, Ph.D., is a site visitor for CAATE, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

The athletic training education program, which is a part of the physical therapy and athletic training education department, is housed in the Doisy College of Health Sciences.  Last year, the program established the Bauman Endowed Scholarship in Athletic Training to provide tuition support for outstanding students in the program during their final year of study.

Less than two years after admitting its first student, the entry-level master's program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), making it one of only 23 such accredited programs in the country.

“When CAATE made their report, they noted that SLU's athletic training education program is well positioned to see exponential enrollment growth in the near future,” said Mark Reinking, Ph.D.,  chair of the department of physical therapy and athletic training education at SLU.   

“Because the program is uniquely positioned on a medical campus within a collaborative, interprofessional environment, students have access to SLU's state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory spaces, as well as the new Chaifetz arena,” Reinking said.

A 10-year forecast by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places athletic training among the top 10 jobs that are expected to grow over the next decade. Students in SLU’s program participate in clinical rotations at 20 high schools, 10 colleges and in physician offices in the region.

Taking advantage of its location in the heart of a great sport city, the program has connected students with professional sports teams in St. Louis for internships. SLU recently worked with the Cardinals to establish three internships each year for SLU students.  Those types of experiences have proven invaluable for students entering the job market.  For example, a recent graduate of the program received a full time job offer with the Rams after completing an internship there.

Other students intern at places beyond the playing field, including organizations like Disney.  Job seekers are finding that athletic trainers are being hired in some surprising places, including the military, performing arts and industry.

SLU AT students and faculty at 2012 NCAA Regional Men's Basketball in St. Louis.
In addition to the strong clinical experiences students find within the program, students note that the opportunity to work at tournaments, in simulation labs, and at community events gives them a well-rounded experience.

“When our students are out in the community during their clinical rotations or internships, they become a part of that community,” Breitbach said. “They are advocates and they raise the standard of care by bringing with them knowledge about the latest research and the newest techniques.

“In what can be a tough, competitive environment, athletic trainers are advocates for the players.” 

April 23, 2013

SLU AT Students Present at Senior Legacy Symposium


Saint Louis University Athletic Training students Andrea Auclair and Catherine Costello (MAT Class of 2014) made a poster presentation at the Senior Legacy Symposium on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.  The symposium took place in the Wool Ballroom at the Busch Student Center on SLU's Frost Campus.

SLU AT students Cat Costello and Andrea Auclair with Dr. Breitbach at the Senior Legacy Symposium.
Their poster was titled: "The Role of Interprofessional Education as a Means to Interprofessional Practice in Athletic Training"

The Senior Legacy Symposium provides seniors with a venue for professional presentation preparation and communication as well as a showcase opportunity for student academic achievements to celebrate accomplishments.
Cat Costello and Dre Auclair showing off their medals and certificates from the Senior Leadership Symposium.
The symposium gives seniors an opportunity to reflect their career at SLU and how they will carry that forward into their careers and further studies.

Seniors will have an opportunity to leave behind a major contribution to their field of study or to the University. The event allows the entire University community to see the academic possibilities and contributions including faculty, administration, staff, students, and alumni.

SLU AT Students Practice to Prepare for On-field Emergencies


Saint Louis University Athletic Training students and faculty utilized the outstanding facilities at the SLU School of Medicine's Simulation and Clinical Skills Center to prepare for on-field emergencies.  


The center features high-fidelity clinical simulators which are designed to prepare health professionals in the management of all types of trauma and injury.  They can be programmed to simulate many different conditions including cardiac and respiratory problems.


On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, SLU AT students from the first and second year of the professional phase of the program teamed up to manage a scenario that simulated a football cervical spine injury that included cardiac and respiratory arrest.  The seven person teams were responsible for determining roles and a management plan which they practiced prior to the simulation.


They were video recorded in the scenario which included a primary and secondary survey and acute management of the injury in a football player.  It also included transportation of the patient using a spine board.  Faculty members Kitty Newsham PhD, ATC and Melissa Cobb ATC provided feedback and conducted a debriefing using the video with the teams after they completed the scenario.


Experiences and resources such as these are invaluable in the professional development of the SLU AT students.

April 17, 2013

New Column Reflects on a Fun and Busy Month in the SLU AT Program


It is said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  For me, March was more like a tornado, and I loved every minute of it!  Life was very busy from the beginning of March right through the beginning of April.  It was all good stuff, though. 

For example, one of the things that kept me busy during March, which was National Athletic Training Month, was preparing for the Doisy College of Health Sciences Student Crisis Fund Auction.  This is an annual event which the staff of the college holds as a fundraiser.  As the current chair of the DCHS staff committee, I am both sad to say that I’ve seen students need to utilize the Student Crisis Fund and pleased to say that I’ve seen the financial assistance from the fund grant students a little bit of independence at a time when they really needed it.  There was a lot to do to prepare for the auction.  This was working out well, until I got sick on the day of the auction and ended up missing it!  What a bummer!  I didn’t even get to bid on anything.  :-(  That’s okay, though.  The auction net over $2,000 for the fund, and that’s what is important.  What a blessing!  It’s all about having assistance readily available when students may need it.

Another thing I got to do last month is a true passion of mine.  I was a judge for the Gateway Classic Speech and Debate Tournament.  This is a tournament for home-schooled students grades 6 through 12.  I homeschooled my own, two college-aged children.  While they did not participate in this event, I know many other families who have done so or still do.  It is fun to be a part of watching and judging these budding young orators.

The last big thing that I did in March is the SLATS Bowl-A-Thon campaign.  I worked behind-the-scenes.  I made the copies, I created the payment portion of the donor letter, I verified the addresses that were submitted, and so forth…  I am blown away by the responses we got.  It was so much fun to check the mail and email each day to see how many responses we had.  Sometimes, it was difficult working on a task because so many phone pledges were coming in.  What a great problem to have!  Now that the Bowl-A-Thon is all said and done, I think we ended up with some incredible final numbers.  My hat is off to everyone involved with this event—from those who came up with the idea to those who helped to pull it off and everyone in-between.

Now, in just a few short weeks, I’ll be standing in Chaifetz Arena with my “Graduation Bag” in hand.  What is a “Graduation Bag”?  It is a small bag that includes the following:  bobby pins, safety pins, clear fingernail polish (to fix runs in stockings), and breath mints.  In years past, one or more of these items have been known to calm the most nervous of graduates.  Whatever I can do to help…

"News From the Front Desk" by Jennifer Baine is a regular column that features a look inside the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program.  Jennifer greets all of the program's visitors and works with the faculty to make sure our students have the best possible experience.

April 15, 2013

SLU AT Student Bowl-a-thon an Amazing Success!


On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society (SLATS) hosted the SLATS Bowl-a-thon to benefit SLU’s Bob Bauman Endowed Scholarship in Athletic Training.  In less than a month, SLATS members raised approximately $4500 for the scholarship fund.

The event took place at the Moolah Lanes adjacent to SLU’s Frost Campus.  Over thirty students were sponsored by 114 sponsors for the event.  Food and prizes were generously provided by The Pasta House Company and Humphrey’s Restaurant and Tavern. 

SLU AT students Brianna Labarbera, Ethan Andrews and Ali Graham with guest Matthew Cherven.

SLU AT Students Jess Bushjost, Dan Herrin, Nick Gastorf, Angelo Bongiorno and Abby Breseman.

Prizes were awarded to six students who raised over $300 in donations.  Leading the way was SLATS President Emily Grace (MAT Class of 2014) with $730.  Other prize winners were Cat Costello and Kelly Peck (MAT Class of 2014); Emily Costabile and  Christian Ahlstrom (MAT Class of 2015); and Brandi Burgett (MAT Class of 2016). Collin Peterson (MAT Class of 2017) won the prize for bringing the most sponsors to the event by bringing six friends to the Bowl-a-thon.

SLATS President Emily Grace with Bowl-a-thon Chair Cat Costello.

SLU AT students Andria Lampe, Kayla Kelley, Haylie Dehm and Brandi Burgett.

SLU AT students Dre Auclair, Kelly Peck and Tyler Wood.
Thanks go out to all who participated by bowling or donating to this fun event!

April 04, 2013

SLU Doisy College of Health Sciences Annual Report Highlights the 2011-12 Academic Year

The Saint Louis University Doisy College of Health Sciences Annual Report features the many accomplishments that took place in the college over the 2011-12 Academic Year.  The SLU Athletic Training program appears prominently in many sections. It  is available for viewing on-line HERE.


April 01, 2013

SLU AT Students Hosting Bowl-a-thon to Benefit Scholarship Fund


The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society (SLATS) is hosting a Bowl-a-thon to benefit the Bob Bauman Endowed Scholarship for Athletic Training at Saint Louis University.

All of the proceeds of this event will go directly to the scholarship to benefit SLU AT students in their final professional year of the SLU AT program.



The SLATS Bowl-a-thon will take place at the Moolah Lanes (3821 Lindell Blvd  St Louis, MO 63108) on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

Donors sponsor the students to bowl in the event. There are prizes for the students who raise the most money and who have the largest number of sponsors.

For more information or to sponsor a student call the SLU AT office at 314-977-8561 or email atep@slu.edu.