December 24, 2014

Registration Opens for 2015 WFATT World Congress


Attend Both the WFATT and NATA Meetings at a Special Rate! 


Registration for the 2015 World Congress of the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy (WFATT) opens January 1, 2015. The Doisy College of Health Sciences Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Saint Louis University is proud to serve as host for the WFATT World Congress, which will be held on the Saint Louis University campus from June 20 - 22, 2015.


SLU Allied Health Building
Allowing for flexibility, there will be four different levels of registration available:

Full Registration: allows for participation in all conference activities, including Opening Ceremonies, Gala Dinner, Scientific Programs (Plenary, Concurrent/Breakout Sessions, Workshops, and Poster Sessions).
Full registrants, both National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) members and non-members, that are also attending the 2015 NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo can do so at a reduced rate.

More information on the NATA meeting is available at:
http://convention.nata.org/

Partial/Limited Registration: allows for participation in only the Scientific Abstract Poster/Concurrent/Breakout Presentations and Workshops of the Conference--not the Plenary Sessions, Opening Ceremonies or Gala Dinner


Student Registration: allows for participation in only the Opening Ceremonies and Scientific Programs (Plenary, Concurrent/Breakout Sessions, Workshops, and Poster Sessions)--not the Gala Dinner. Students must be enrolled full-time in a health professions program.


Distance/Remote Registration: available to view plenary sessions only through FUZE meeting. The sessions will be available live and will also be archived.


SLU Edwin Everest Education Union
2015 WFATT World Congress registration page:
http://www.slu.edu/physical-therapy-and-athletic-training/athletic-training/wfatt/registration

2015 WFATT World Congress home page:
http://www.slu.edu/wfatt2015

E-mail for more information:
wfatt2015@slu.edu

December 18, 2014

Happy Holidays from the SLU AT Program!

December 07, 2014

SLU AT Student Connects the Classroom and the Clinical Setting at Mehlville High School


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Mehlville High School
By: Brady Moore (MAT Class of 2016)

For the last two months my preceptor has been Dan Rackovan, ATC at Mehlville High School in my first clinical experience of the professional phase of SLU’s MAT program. I have greatly enjoyed my time at Mehlville High School and I have learned a lot about the daily tasks and duties I will be responsible for in the future. Dan has helped with my ability to gather history, assess injuries, and determine diagnoses of injuries. He has also helped me practice taking SOAP notes and become more comfortable with communicating with athletes to give them the best care possible. I have been exposed to many athletes and sports at Mehlville High School, which have helped me refine the skills I have learned during class this semester. I was surprised how well the curriculum integrated into the situations that I have been involved in at Mehlville. It seems that every week at least one topic that was discussed in class comes up when assessing an injured athlete.

Brady Moore and Dan Rackovan ATC
I have been involved in situations this semester from a basic grade I inversion ankle sprain to an unconscious athlete with a concussion who had to be immobilized on a spine board. The experience I have gained from these situations has given me the ability to reflect on the actions I took and determine what I do well and what I need to work on. Since I am just skimming the surface of knowledge that I will eventually be exposed to, I have to rely heavily on the knowledge and experience of others such as my preceptor and professors. With every injury that I assess and help to treat, I gain important knowledge that will help me with my future practice as a professional. Each athlete I treat gives me another opportunity to practice my skills and become a well-rounded athletic trainer.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

December 05, 2014

Late Season Playoff Run Caps Off a Special Clinical Rotation for SLU AT Students at John Burroughs



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - John Burroughs School
By: Dustin Jamboretz (MAT Class of 2016)

This fall I have had the incredible opportunity to work at John Burroughs School. John Burroughs School consists of grades 7th-12th and is only made up of 600 students. Since this was my first clinical rotation, initially my skills were limited to very basic tasks. But as the weeks progressed, my preceptor Dean Tiffany ATC quickly started giving me opportunities to prove that I could handle more advanced responsibilities. Each day Dean and/or Shannon (PY2) would teach me new skills, ensuring that would have a successful semester. These lessons included how to make my taping skills more proficient, how to complete a through injury evaluation, the therapeutic effects of each modality, and how to perform to mobilizations for different joints throughout the body. Amusingly, it seemed that whenever we would cover a topic in class, Dean or Shannon would have already touched on that material.

Dustin Jamboretz, Dean Tiffany ATC and Shannon Kane
It has also been an absolute pleasure working with our patient population. Every student I have encountered at John Burroughs has been extremely well mannered, respectful, and has an admirable work ethic. We are currently providing medical services to all of the fall sports that Burroughs’s has to offer. These sports include: football, men’s soccer, women’s field hockey, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, cross country and swimming. With the variety of sports and the large difference in age, it is always eye opening to go from providing treatment to a senior football player to explaining the stages of cold (CBAN: coldness, burning, aching, numbness) to a 7th grade student who was injured in his physical education class.  

Throughout this semester, we have been able to care for a variety of different injuries. A large portion of our time in the athletic training room consisted of treating and providing rehabilitation for athletes who suffered ankle sprains, acromioclavicular sprain, subacromial impingement, and glenohumeral instability. There were also a couple of instances when we got the chance to provide emergency care and actually had to initiate our emergency action plan. The enactment our emergency action plan was a result of a patient succumbing to heat stroke and another instance where a patient fractured their femur.

Dustin Jamboretz and Shannon Kane at the Edward Jones Dome
I also had the opportunity of working on the sidelines of the Edward Jones Dome when our football team made it to the class 3 state championship game. It was a very unique experience to see the under workings of a professional football stadium. Unfortunately, they were not able to take home the state championship. But the experience of being on the sideline of an NFL stadium for this high-octane, championship football game was incredible regardless.

As a result of working at John Burroughs School, my knowledge and skills related to athletic training have increased tremendously. I am extremely grateful to my preceptor Dean Tiffany ATC, and (the PY2 student) Shannon Kane, for going out of their way to teach me new lessons daily. I am also beyond thankful that I was able to treat and get to know the phenomenal students that make up John Burroughs School. 

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

December 04, 2014

Busy Schedule at Kirkwood High School Creates a Great Learning Environment for SLU AT Students



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Kirkwood High School
By: Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015) and Alissa Beeman (MAT Class of 2016)

This fall we are doing our athletic training clinical rotation at Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, MO. The high school setting is a pretty crazy environment to be in as an Athletic Trainer, especially when you’re the only one. But Denise Grider ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Kirkwood, does a phenomenal job at handling the pressures of taking care of the athletes that are under her care. It is amazing to see the amount of work than one ATC can get done with so many athletes.

Our day starts around 2:45 PM when the students are dismissed from school and the race is on. A mad rush enters the door and everyone wants to be first in line to get taped or evaluated and get to their practices or games on time. Unfortunately, with one ATC and two athletic training students, not everybody gets taken care of at a fast pace. We do our best to manage the rush and provide quality care to all of the athletes that walk through our doors.

Alissa Beeman, Denise Grider ATC and Michael Aaron
It is a challenge being an athletic trainer at the high school level, especially when it’s a school the size of Kirkwood. There are so many athletes and so many events going on at one time, We're not sure how Denise does it all. She is lucky to have a supportive coaches and administrative staff that is willing to haul ice and water around for her, as well as notify her when there are injuries at events that we are not covering at the time. 

Our experience thus far has been a great learning experience and a blessing to have a preceptor like Denise that allows us to get plenty of hands on experience with any of the athletes and injuries. We are excited to continue to grow as athletic training students and learn how we want our approaches to injuries and daily work to be done when we get to do it all on our own.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

December 03, 2014

SLU AT Students Get a Wide Variety of Experiences with the Billikens


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Saint Louis University
By: Connor Doherty, Mike Griffith and Tori Lycett (MAT Class of 2015)

Saint Louis University has offered the three of us: Connor Doherty, Mike Griffith, and Tori Lycett, as PY2 students, a multitude of opportunities and diverse experiences. Currently for the fall season Connor is working under Angie Wills ATC with the men's soccer team; Mike is helping with Volleyball under Tammy Pastor ATC; Tori is assisting with women's soccer under Lizzy Kienstra ATC. We also interact with two other AT's at SLU:  Jonathan Burch ATC and SLU AT Program alum Kelley DeGreeff ATC. Each of our placements have offered us first hand experience work in the D1 setting.

Connor: "This year for my clinicals I am at Saint Louis University and have been gaining experience with Angie Wills, ATC.  We have been working with the Men’s Soccer team as well as the Men’s Baseball team.  The Men’s soccer team has enjoyed a great start to their season while the Baseball team has been preparing for the start of their season.  During practices and games I have gained experience with assessment and treatment of various injuries.  So far this semester I have been able to work on rehabilitation with a number of athletes using the great facilities that SLU Sports Medicine possesses as well as communicating and working with SLU Physical Therapists.  I am looking forward to a great rest of this season with Angie and the rest of the SLU Sports Medicine Staff."

Connor Doherty and Kelley DeGreeff ATC
Mike: “My rotation at Saint Louis University has been a great experience for me in my education and development as an Athletic Training student. This past month I have had the priveledge of working and learning under Tammy Pastor ATC as we manage the Women’s Volleyball team. Working in the Division 1 setting has been a great change of pace for me as I have found that the Athletic Training staff plays a much greater role in the overall success of a competitive sports program such as the Billikens. At Chaifetz, I have had the chance to improve upon my rehabilitation knowledge thanks in part to the level of attention that is able to be afforded to each team, allowing a more comprehensive study of an athlete’s injury and how to bring them back to play. I am extremely happy with my setting this year, and look forward to what the rest of the year has to offer.”

Lizzy Kienstra ATC and Tori Lycett outside Chaifetz Arena
Tori: "Transitioning from my internship at Georgetown University to Saint Louis University, I have been privileged to be able to compare my experience at the two collegiate settings. This year I am working under Lizzy Kienstra ATC, a former SLU MAT graduate. Currently we are aiding the Women's Soccer team through their season. I have been able to help treat, evaluate and rehab many of the girls. I have even had the opportunity to become more familiar with the SwimX and utilize it in facilitating rehabs. Even though it is soccer season, Lizzy also manages Swimming and Diving, and Softball so I have been able work with a diverse group of student athletes.

In addition to working with the athletes, I have also been able to observe the interprofessional practice. At each of the games there is always a SLU physician. In addition to the physician there are also doctors such as Orthodontists, Dermatologists, and many other specialists that work directly with the SLU athletic trainers. Rehab is also a way I have observed the interprofessional interactions. There are several PTs that are part of the Sports Medicine staff; Several of the women's soccer players utilize their services that they provide. The PTs keep good communication with the Athletic Training staff throughout the athletes rehabilitation and progressions. Having an interprofessional approach to a Sports Medicine staff helps to ensure primacy of the patient, and SLU is a good example of how it positively impacts the athletes."

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 16, 2014

SLU AT Students Conduct Learning Activities and Advocate for the AT Profession at Healthfest



HealthFest, presented this year by Coventry Health Care, is an annual event held in November at the Saint Louis Science Center.  Established in 2003, it is a one-day event featuring educational booths from a variety of area health professionals and health-related organizations.  They offer free information, health screenings for all ages, giveaways, and more!  HealthFest's mission is to provide education to visitors/families about current issues and research, information about services available to the community, and introductions to careers in health-related fields. - See more at: http://www.slsc.org/healthfest#sthash.ozAbWjaj.dpuf


2014 is the 4th straight year that the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society (SLATS), the SLU AT Student Association, sponsored and staffed a booth at Healthfest.  


This year's topic was "Wound Care" where the ALU AT Students taught children and their families about universal precautions, bandaging and the AT profession in general.


Special thanks to the following SLU AT Students that participated in Healthfest:
Brandi Burgett
Jose Mendez
Collin Peterson
Brittany Koops
Haylie Dehm
Andrew Gomez
Kayla Kelley
Amelia Meigs
Brad Bunten
Rachel Spika
Alissa Beeman
Krystin Haas
Dave O'Loughlin
Raquel Roberts-Hamilton
Ellie Collett
Demeisha Crawford


SLU AT Students Find Excellent Preceptors and a Flexible Clinical Site at Fontbonne University


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Fontbonne University

Andrea Strebler (MAT Class of 2016)

I was assigned to Fontbonne University for my Fall 2014 clinical practicum experience.  It has only been two and a half months and I feel as if I’ve learned a years’ worth or more of material. My clinical experience so far has been extremely helpful in the classroom. At Fontbonne I have the ability to connection the material in class and apply the knowledge on the field. Fontbonne has four very passionate Athletic Trainers that I have the opportunity to work with. 

Andrea Lindquist ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer and my main preceptor at Fontbonne University.  She is extremely knowledgeable and is very supportive of me to take the risk of being wrong to be able to learn through experience.  Ann Schmerbach ATC, 2011 alum of SLU’s AT Program, is brilliant at testing my past knowledge and teaching about various rehabs on injuries. Jaci Clauson ATC a Grad Assistant ATC has been tremendous at connecting her recent graduation experience to get me excited for my future success. Brooklyn Dunihoo, ATC pushes me to show what I’ve learned and teach ways for me to better improve those skills.

Being a NCAA Division I soccer athlete at SLU I can really connect with as well as appreciate many of the injuries and particular aspects for Fontbonne’s NCAA Division III soccer teams. I have been working with women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and cross-country. I have learned a great deal so far and am really looking forward to upcoming men’s and women’s basketball in winter.

Andrea Lindquist ATC, Ann Schmerbauch ATC, Andrea Strebler, Brooklyn Dunihoo ATC, Jaci Clauson ATC
Brittany Koops (MAT Class of 2015)

Beginning my second year of clinical, and my second and final year of SLU I didn’t know what to expect. I was excited and nervous; I was happy and sad, and confused but confident. My emotions were mixed and so were my thoughts about my new clinical assignment at Fontbonne University. I am naturally a shy and awkward person. I was afraid I wouldn’t fit in, or that I would feel overpowered or overshadowed by the people I’d met briefly at the end of the spring semester. Gladly all my fears of me being awkward and quiet were false. The open and outgoing personalties of my preceptors at Fontbonne have helped me feel comfortable and be able to become more and more myself with each day. I feel that I was able to open up quicker, and feel less timid about being me and fitting in and being accepted. I knew from the start that I was welcomed by both my preceptors and the students.

This welcoming feeling and being able to break out of my shell has begun to help, and will continue to help me in my future and throughout the rest of the year. I am more willing to ask questions, speak out, and don’t try to slide by unnoticed. It has helped me gain more confidence in myself as a student, and as a person.

Not only am I welcomed, but my busy schedule is accepted. They work hard to make sure that I am able to still make my hours, even if it means coming in early in the morning before school so I can work one of my two jobs late at night. Balancing school full time, on top of working 40 or more hours a week and clinicals, has been challenging, but my preceptors at Fontbonne have been there as support through personal stress, as well as help with school stress. They are open to explaining and answering my questions, and that has done a great deal to help relieve some pressure of my classes, when I feel like I have nowhere to turn.

Lastly, so far this semester I feel that the exposure to a range of sports has really helped me. Not only do I have more opportunities to practice the skills I’ve learned and potentially see different injuries, but I also get to learn more about the dynamics of athletic training and how they can differ from sport to sport. I get to see the athletes during season, preseason and postseason, which is also a different experience compared to last year, when I only worked with the sports in season.

Not only to I get to work with a variety of sports, but this year I am also fortunate enough to get to work with a PY1 student. Last, year I never had a rotation with a PY2 student, and I am excited to get to experience the dynamics of being able to learn from and teach a fellow student. This past month at Fontbonne has exceeded my expectations, and I can only expect that it will continue to do so.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 15, 2014

SLU AT Students Get Purple Pride from Cougar Nation at Affton High School


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Affton High School
By: Eldon Reid (MAT Class of 2015) and Haylie Dehm (MAT Class of 2016)

This semester has been a whirlwind of excitement! When we first came into the Athletic Training Room at Affton High School, you could tell that this was going to be an amazing experience. All the coaches were friendly and welcoming and the student athletes had a spunk of their own. We have had the chance to work with football, girls’ volleyball, boys’ soccer, co-ed cross country, boys’ swimming/diving, and the spirit teams. We have never seen a school so full of team spirit, or in this case, Purple Pride. It has been an interesting ride, this semester, as we have been relatively calm down in our cozy little Athletic Training Room. Besides the standard muscle strains and joint sprains that accompany being an athlete we have had experienced two broken fibulas and a fractured humerus.

Eldon Reid, Becky Stigen ATC and Haylie Dehm
From talking to past AT students that had a clinical rotations at Affton, we were prepared for an okay football season as in the past few years they have not been that great with records like 0-10, 1-9, and 5-6. Our preceptor, Becky Stigen ATC, even said that we’d be lucky to see a 5-5 season, based on the more recent history with the football team. Our football team made it to the MSHSAA Quarterfinals with an 11-1 record!

Haylie Dehm, observing a shoulder evaluation being performed by Eldon Reid
Cougar Nation is out with a vengeance this season and it has been amazing to be a part of it! We may freeze at some of the games with our Extreme Extremity Polar Challenge that was created at the MoATA Secondary Schools level, but the winning streak makes all the Goosebumps and shivering worth it! Affton is such a special place and we could not have asked for a better placement!

Homecoming game in the rain! We're still rocking the shorts!
We cannot wait to see what the winter sports at Affton will bring. Here’s hoping the rest of the sports can follow in the football team’s steps and have amazing and unexpected seasons!

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 14, 2014

SLU AT Students Grow Professionally With Experienced Mentor at Triad High School



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Triad High School
By: Candie Hill and Jack Dunlap (MAT Class of 2016)

When we started this semester we had no clue what we were getting ourselves into.  We was starting our first professional year in the SLU Athletic Training program and were worried about our first clinical rotation.  We were assigned to Triad High School in Troy, Illinois.  Jack Edgar ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer at Triad and he has taught us a lot about the Athletic Training profession.  He is knowledgeable and enthusiastic when it comes to the athletes that he treats and the students that he teaches. We have come a long way from the first weeks of my rotation when we were hesitant to help treat patients because we were afraid that we were going fail if we tried something difficult.  Now we have become much more confident in everything that we do in the athletic training room. 

Candie Hill, Jack Dunlap and Jack Edgar ATC
While at Triad HS, we have learned how to evaluate various injuries relating to the foot, ankle, knee, and shoulder. Concussions are also a major concern in contact sports and occur frequently here. Rehabilitation and treatment techniques are especially important. We have learned new and unique ways to treat hip and knee issues that are seen daily. Working with such a large school also requires the ability to appropriately care for all of the athletes in a timely manner. 

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

First and Second Year SLU AT Students Share Clinical Experience at Missouri Baptist University


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Missouri Baptist University

Josh Harris (MAT Class of 2015)

The Missouri Baptist University Spartans, founded in 1964, reside in what is commonly referred to as “West County” in St. Louis, Missouri. The Spartans compete in the American Midwest Conference, part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). There are a total of eight ATCs at Missouri Baptist, five of which are full time athletic trainers for the school and three that are graduate assistants. PY2, Josh Harris, and PY1s, Brad Bunten, Brandi Burgett, Rachel Spika, and Erika Cook share athletic training clinical experience primarily with four of the eight ATCs at Missouri Baptist, which is commonly referred to as MoBap for short.

Josh Harris (center) with Demeisha Crawford and Josh Yanzer at MoBap vs Lindenwood-Belleville Soccer game.
For this fall semester, Josh Harris has been working with Assistant Athletic Trainer Jamie Herron, MS, ATC and the men’s and women’s soccer teams. All of the PY1s have been working with the newly formed football team this fall and work with Head Athletic Trainer Meredith Dill ATC; Assistant Athletic Trainers Craig Zurliene, ATC and Ashley Broughton, ATC; as well as graduate assistant athletic trainer Emily Lawrence, ATC. 

Our time at MoBap has been an excellent learning experience for all of us, regardless of where we stand as a PY student. The athletic trainers at this university have been outstanding in helping all of us further ourselves as independent, future practitioners. 

All of us are excited to learn much more as the fall semester progresses – Go Spartans!


Brad Bunten, Brandi Burgett, Erika Cook and Rachel Spika (MAT Class of 2016)

We were not exactly sure what to expect when we arrived at Missouri Baptist University for our first day of clinical rotations.  Being PY1s and having never been out on clinical rotations before, this was going to be a new experience for all of us.  Our preceptors, Craig Zurliene ATC and Ashley Broughton ATC, quickly got us acclimated to the daily rigors of what it is like for an NAIA football team going through their first ever football season.

While it can be a struggle working with a team that does not even have their own field, we have gained an immense understanding of the fact that athletic trainers always need to be the ones that are organized and able to adapt to changing situations.
Ashley Broughton ATC, Erika Cook, Rachel Spika, Brad Bunten, Brandi Burgett, Emily Lawrence ATC and Craig Zurliene ATC
Our days start bright and early at 4:00 a.m. when we arrive at MoBap.  Before the athletes start coming in for morning treatment and prep for practice, we prepare the athletic training room for the day and get all the coolers, injury ice, and other practice necessities ready. After taping the athletes and going through any morning rehabs or treatments, we head over to our temporary field next door at CBC High School for 6:00 a.m. practice.  It is somewhat of an adventure being a team without our own field.  Recently it has actually served as an awesome opportunity for us, because we now have the privilege of practicing at Rams Park – the training facility of the St. Louis Rams – twice a week.

The first ever season of Spartan football has been nothing shy of action-packed for us as athletic training students.  So far we have seen everything from shoulder injuries to foot fractures, knee sprains to dislocated fingers, and the ever-classic ankle sprain. This being our first year in the professional phase of the program, we are lacking in some of the skills required to evaluate and treat these injuries when they occur.  But as of now, it has been extremely beneficial for our learning to simply be surrounded by all of these different types of injuries.

Additionally, our preceptors are great at answering any questions we may have, and they are always willing to provide us with supervised instruction. Overall, our experience at Missouri Baptist University has been a positive one and has been very beneficial in our development as athletic training students.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

SLU Alum and Community at Althoff Catholic Create a Great Learning Experience for AT Student



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Althoff Catholic High School
By: Andrew Gomez (MAT Class of 2016)

Just 15 miles southeast into Illinois sits my home for this fall semester. Althoff Catholic High school in Belleville, Illinois is home to the Fighting Crusaders. This private catholic school is home to around 600 students, but what makes this high school special is that it’s made up of people from surrounding areas. Some students make commutes up to 45 minutes just to attend this school. One thing that I really value from being here is the tightness of this community. From the students to coaches to faculty, there is such a great family bond. I have grown to like this setting because they have taken me in as one of them, especially the students.

This semester we have had men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, cross country, and football. It has been an interesting year so far trying to cover as many games/matches since it’s just my preceptor and I. There are some days where we won’t be able to make it to a practice or game just because it can get very hectic at times helping the athletes get ready for their games and practices. I am enjoying this site with the hands on experience and being able to learn and grow daily, although it has been a very interesting year with some very interesting and puzzling injuries. My skills develop daily from taping to doing special tests and even working on evaluations on the athletes. 

Andrew Gomez and Meghan Gehrs ATC
My preceptor is Meghan Gehrs MAT, ATC, a graduate from the SLU MAT class of 2011, and also a graduate from Althoff Catholic High School. I have learned so much from her this far, from how to run the AT room to individual care of an athlete. She shows dedication and care for the students by coming in early, staying late, keeping up with them and showing individual attention to each one while maintaining professionalism. I am very lucky to have been placed at ACHS with Meghan. I have learned so much thus far, and look forward to the rest of the semester.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 13, 2014

SLU AT Student Gets Real-time Practice at Parkway Central High School


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School
By: C.J. Spink (MAT Class of 2016)

Parkway Central High School has given me the opportunity to witness and assess injuries of athletes whose level of physical development varies as individuals mature substantially from the moment they walk through the doors their freshmen year. This experience has allowed me to interact with student-athletes whose level of familiarity with injury or cooperation with a health care provider ranges from unknowing and apprehensive to experienced and cooperative. Having this difference in the athletes’ comfort level has required me to use stronger communication skills in order to explain the problems that an inexperienced individual may be facing as well as describing the severity of an injury to an older athlete. 

C.J. Spink and Matt Markelz ATC
Matt Markelz ATC, the AT at Parkway Central through PRORehab, has been a great preceptor and mentor. He has been the Athletic Trainer at Parkway Central for about ten years and interned with the Chicago Bears prior to making his way to St. Louis County. Matt has shared his experiences with me in both settings and has given me insight on the daily tasks associated with both the professional and high school levels. This information has influenced my thoughts on where my professional future will lead me following the completion of my program. 

Aside from improving communication skills and pondering my future career path, the injuries that I have encountered at Parkway Central have varied from cuts, muscle contusions, ankle sprains, concussions, an ACL tear and even a mid-shaft femoral fracture. Rehabilitation of the mid-shaft femoral fracture and ACL tear have been educational in how the process of providing rehabilitation for extreme injuries works, but observing and treating the everyday bumps and bruises has shown to be more commonly the task that is required in the every day job of an athletic trainer. My clinical experience has allowed me to perform muscle and joint tests under the supervision of an AT and has shown me that an athlete who has been hurt may not necessarily be injured. It has proved that assessing history and mechanism of injury is crucial in the process of diagnosing injuries and providing the student-athlete with the proper information concerning their health. Thus, allowing them to return to the field of play as quickly as possible. 

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

SLU AT Student Finds a Rewarding Experience at Francis Howell High School



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Francis Howell High School
By: Krystin Haas (MAT Class of 2016)

This semester I have been at Francis Howell High School. I was a little apprehensive going into it at first because I didn’t know what to expect and wasn’t sure that I would like the high school atmosphere. For being my first clinical experience, it has been a great one. Ruth Young ATC is my preceptor and she has been wonderful. We have had an eventful first semester so far. I have learned what it would be like to work in a high school setting and I have to say, I am a fan.  

Ruth Young ATC and Krystin Haas
We have had many injuries that I have got to see in my short time there. I think the injury that stuck out to me most, was the terrible triad and then some. One of the athletes dislocated his patella, tore his ACL, tore his medial meniscus, tore his MCL, and had a medial ankle sprain. This was one of the craziest things that I had seen. Even my preceptor was a little flabbergasted. Just shows that no matter how long you are doing something, you can always see new things. Seeing how this injury was managed was interesting because I wouldn’t have even known which one to start with. I wish that I was going to be there to see the rehab process of it all, but I have to move on to new things. 

I have learned that working in a high school is a very high demand atmosphere and definitely rewarding. Being able to cover every sport gives you a wide array of injuries and lets me use many of things that we are covering in class first hand. This new experience has helped me decide somewhat where I want to go with my athletic training career in the long run. Getting to interact with the athletes and see their appreciation when you help them is always a good feeling. I can’t wait for my next clinical experience. 

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 12, 2014

Clinical Experience at Lutheran South Enhances SLU Student's Motivation for AT Profession




SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lutheran High School South
By: Eugene Jeun (MAT Class of 2016) 

During my PY1 fall semester, I had the privilege to work with Mary Finkenkeller, ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2013), at Lutheran High School South. I had previous athletic training experience from shadowing ATs; however, it was here that I fully grasped what it means to be an athletic trainer. I got to work with the football, soccer, softball, field hockey, and volleyball team. It was a great learning experience, since I got to cover a variety of different sports. A typical day would consist of setting up water, treating athletes, and attending practice/games. Since there was only one ATC on site, it was important that there was an effective communication system between the coaches and us. We never seemed to be able to stay on one place. Aside from the daily duties, Mary has created a great learning environment for me. She always updated me with injury reports and athletes’ progress.  Also, I was given many opportunities to practice the knowledge I learned in class. 

Eugene Jeun and Mary Finkenkeller ATC
From typical ankle sprain to torn ACL, I’ve been able to witness a wide range of injuries. In the beginning, I was only focused on the injury aspect of my clinical experience. I completely overlooked one of the reasons why I chose to become an athletic trainer. The best part about being an athletic trainer is getting to know the athletes. It’s been a great pleasure getting to know the school staff, coaches, and athletes. During my time at LHSS, I’ve become a fan of these athletes. From athletes pursuing a college career to athletes playing for recreational activity, it’s exciting to watch every one of them play. It’s been rewarding helping these athletes recover from injury and returning to play, as well as interacting with them on a daily basis. 


It’s only been about 3 months since I’ve started my pursuit for a career as an athletic trainer; however, I’ve learned a lot here at LHSS. It has only increased my passion and drive towards athletic training and sports. It has also given me a different perspective that we shouldn’t only focus on an athlete’s injury, but rather the athlete himself or herself.

Every athlete is different. For instance, some treatments may be suitable for some, but not for others. It’s an athletic trainer’s job to know his or her athletes, and determine the best treatment. 

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 11, 2014

Preceptor Creates a Great Experience for SLU AT Students at Webster Groves High School



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School
By: Cara Bowton and Mark Pais (MAT Class of 2016)

Life as students in the first professional year of the SLU Athletic Training program comes with a plethora of experiences, demands, and challenges. Fresh off of a rigorous summer of gross anatomy and MAT 501, we are now armed with a foundation of information that is critical for our success as athletic training students. Most of us entered our first week of clinical rotations with some trepidation due to the fact that we lacked experience in the field that we all hope to soon be certified in. For the two of us, any feelings of uneasiness were quickly quelled as soon as we stepped foot on campus at Webster Groves High School. Our clinical site preceptor, Sean Wright ATC, immediately made us feel welcomed and comfortable with our new second home. He made it clear that he did not want us to be put into situations that we were uncomfortable in handling, but he did (and continues to) encourage us to challenge ourselves and our knowledge. Sean is always willing to answer a question, elaborate on treatment/procedure rationale, or demonstrate a technique in order to facilitate our learning. This strong relationship with Sean has been the driving force in our positive experience so far at Webster Groves.

Mark Pais, Sean Wright ATC and Cara Bowton
The clinical rotation at Webster Groves allows for PY1 students like ourselves to garner a wide variety of experiences valuable to our growth. We have been exposed to all levels (Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity) of a wide variety of sports, with our priorities lying mainly with high contact sports. However, that is not to say that we have not seen our fair share (as most everyone probably has) of cross country self-diagnosed “shin splints.” In our daily routine, we see some regular faces of those who need taping and treatment prior to practice and games, and then we get to work with the rehabbers who are coming off of injury. As our time has progressed, Sean has given us more freedom to develop and carry out the rehab programs. This gives us a chance to work exclusively with athletes and to develop strong relationships with them, as well as giving us a better understanding of the rehabilitation process. Once 4:00 hits, we are out to the fields to monitor the home games for that day. The coaches and athletes always acknowledge us with a smile and a kind word, which is a testament to the relationship that Sean has built during his time there. His decisions are respected and never questioned due to his professionalism and expertise as an athletic trainer. Sean exemplifies the importance of staff collaboration and how it is imperative for smooth functioning of an athletic department.
Our clinical rotation at Webster Groves has already provided us with memorable experiences that we will not soon forget. Seeing an injured athlete, who has worked hard day after day in rehab, return to play is a very rewarding moment. One of the football athletes sustained a sprained MCL during a game and required significant rehab before he could return to play. He worked with us for two weeks doing countless monster walks, terminal knee extensions, and rounds of the “VMO special” in order to be fit to return to play. After his dedicated effort in rehabilitation, he was back on the field and playing at a high level, and that was a very rewarding moment for us as students. It this sort of impact that we can have on an athlete’s life that drives our desire to be athletic trainers. Being at Webster Groves has offered us an experience that reinforces our decision to become athletic training students. All of the time and effort required to help things run smoothly is incomparable to the feeling of gratification when we can help athletes return to a high level of performance for the sport that they love. We feel incredibly fortunate for our opportunity to work with Sean and Webster Groves and we look forward to what the next two months bring!

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.

November 10, 2014

SLU AT Students Get a Wide Variety of Experiences at Lindenwood-Belleville



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindenwood University-Belleville

Stuart Plamp and Tony Mosello (MAT Class of 2015)

This school year we are fortunate enough to have our clinical rotations at Lindenwood University Belleville (LUB).  This fall we are lucky enough to be helping keep the LUB football team healthy alongside Head Athletic Trainer Bill Dill ATC, graduate assistants Billy Netzhammer ATC, Jessie Zehner ATC, Nichelle Harrison ATC, and the athletic training students of LUB.
The 11 of us have been working almost every day since early August to ensure that the football team stays as competitive and healthy as possible.  Days usually start with pre-practice treatments and rehab in LUB’s wonderful athletic training facilities along with pre-practice taping.  Practice time is spent managing any new injuries that may occur during practice and ensuring all athletes and coaches are properly hydrated.  The days are finished back in the athletic training room where we perform post-practice treatments and further evaluate injuries as needed.
Football season at Lindenwood is a crazy time and we are glad we are a part of it.  From practices, to away games, to all the on-football players who still come in for treatment, there always seems to be something to do at Lindenwood.  And when there is not, the coaches, staff, and players are always great people to talk to and be around. 
Although there is still a lot of football season left, We are already excited to see what the rest of our year at LUB brings us. After football, Tony will be working with the Men’s Hockey team in the winter and either men’s or women’s lacrosse in the spring, and Stuart will be working with men’s basketball in the winter and the lacrosse opposite of Tony’s.

Stuart Plamp (far left back) and Tony Mosello (far right back) with Lindenwood-Belleville Football AT staff.
Demeisha Crawford (MAT Class of 2016)

For my PY1 fall clinical rotation I’ve had the opportunity to work with women’s soccer at Lindenwood University in Belleville, IL with athletic trainer Emily Kaindl, ATC. So far I have gained many skills both interpersonal and medical that have helped in my growth as a future certified athletic trainer. Working with the women soccer team, I have learned that building trust is an important factor when establishing relationships with athletes. In addition to the great relationships established, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in concussion assessment using the SCAT3 test and the IMPACT test to monitor symptoms in the return to play protocol. I have also been fortunate to assist in evaluation of many orthopedic injuries. To aid in the healing process of injuries, Lindenwood University has multiple modalities including Gameready, Ultrasound and E-Stimulation that I have become familiar and proficient in during rehab and treatments. I will continue to be fully involved to learn and improve as an athletic training student at Lindenwood University being sure to keep the athletes first. 

In all, I have gained many skills that will contribute to the successful athletic trainer that I aspire to be once I am certified. I am thankful for the time well spent at Lindenwood University so far and I plan to continue to grow as a professional and work to improve the care of the athletes for the remainder of my clinical experience. 

Josh Yanzer, Emily Kaindl, ATC and Demeisha Crawford.
Josh Yanzer (MAT Class of 2016)

For my first semester of clinicals in Saint Louis University’s Athletic Training Program I was very happy to be placed at Lindenwood University in Belleville Illinois.  I am very grateful to be placed here because it allowed me to experience and learn many different modalities such as Ultrasound, E-Stim, and Gameready right away that other clinical sites, like some high schools, don’t have the budget for.  Being able to spend a lot of time around all the different modalities right away and being at a clinical site with a lot of funding makes the clinical experience much more exciting and easy to get into.  
On top of the availability of modalities at Lindenwood University in Belleville there is also a wide range of sports there and over ten ATC’s to help me excel my skills as an athletic training student.  I was placed with women’s soccer and once that is over I will be going to men’s and women’s hockey.  
This was great for me because I am not familiar with either sport at all so having so many sports to choose from helped widen my range of learning different injuries associated with different types of sports.  It is also the first time I have been around one team so for long helping them out so I learned how to get to know my athletes and earn their trust when accessing their injuries, taping their ankles, or applying certain modalities on them.
Having Emily Kaindl, ATC as my preceptor for the women’s soccer team has been a very interesting experience.  She is similar in age to me and also going further in her education even though she is already certified which makes it more fun because we are both still learning so much about injuries on our way to becoming better athletic trainers.  We both learned a lot about concussions and how to manage them since we had so many people with them this year so now I really know how to distribute SCAT 3 exams.  Overall my experience has been amazing being under Emily as my preceptor at Lindenwood University Belleville.

This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training students featuring their clinical site and their preceptors. The number, quality and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU AT Program.