May 16, 2014

MAT Class of 2014 Graduates from Saint Louis University





The Saint Louis University Master of Athletic Training Class of 2014 celebrated graduation at the Doisy College of Health Sciences Precommencement on Thursday May 15, 2014. The following students graduated with an MAT degree in the ceremony, which will be formally conferred at the University Commencement ceremony on May 17, 2014.

Bongiorno, Angelo G.
Botting, Claire N.
Breseman, Abigail
Buschjost, Jessica M.
Costello, Catherine M.
Cybulski, Michelle A.
DeGreeff, Kelley M.
Gastorf, Nicholas M.
Grace, Emily
Herrin, Daniel J.
Hudspeth, Blake
Koch, Heather M.
Maturan, Jay L.
Peck, Linda (Kelly)
Rhatigan, Mary B.
Runde, John L.
Vander Vorste, Alex (AJ)
Wood, Tyler A.


Following precommencement, SLU AT Faculty and Staff celebrated the occasion with the MAT graduates and their families.  The following awards were presented at the reception:
  • Academic Excellence (highest GPA in professional coursework):  Kelly Peck
  • Professional Service:  Cat Costello and Emily Grace
  • Clinical Excellence:  Angelo Bongiorno, Jessica Buschjost and Dan Herrin
Congrats to the Graduates!

May 12, 2014

SLU AT Students Get a Great Experience with the Griffins


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Fontbonne University
By: AJ Vander Vorste (SLU MAT Class of 2014) and Angie Vitale (SLU MAT Class of 2015)

Brooklyn Dunihoo ATC, Sharon Henderson ATC, Angie Vitale, Andrea Lindquist ATC, AJ Vander Vorste, Ann Schmerbauch ATC
This past semester, we were privileged to be athletic training students at Fontbonne University, a small college in suburban St. Louis.  Under the supervision of Andrea Lindquist ATC, Brooklyn Dunihoo ATC, Ann Schmerbauch ATC, and Sharon Henderson ATC, we were able to work with a variety of teams in many different settings. Over the past few months, we have worked with women’s and men’s basketball, baseball, softball, women’s and men’s lacrosse, cross country, track and field, and men’s volleyball.  Teams practiced through all hours of the day, ranging from 5:30 AM to 10 PM.  These early mornings and late nights gave us a good idea of the flexibility that athletic trainers must have.


Fontbonne is a unique experience in terms of working in a collegiate setting.  While this experience has given us a closer look into the ins and outs of the physical work athletic trainers do, what we have really seen is the importance athletic trainers are to their athletes.  Athlete’s dedication to his or her sport (refer to the previous comments on early morning workouts) was impressive, but their interactions with each athletic trainer were one that was truly remarkable.  Fontbonne is a very open place where it is easy to feel comfortable asking questions and trying new things.  We have had a very great time here and are very thankful for this amazing opportunity.


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.

May 05, 2014

SLU AT Students Help Care for the Cougars at SIUe


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
By: Josh Harris & Eldon Reid (SLU MAT Class of 2015)

This semester, we have had the privilege of getting clinical experience at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIU-E), a university in the Ohio Valley Conference (NCAA Division I). We have mainly worked with Gerry Schlemer, ATC, during our semester. We spent one week each with assistant James Mays, ATC, who works with the softball team. During this time, we have been able to strengthen and practice our athletic training skills. We have learned how much work it is to actually be the head athletic trainer at a college, and it is a lot more work than one would expect.


We have been working with the athletes and athletic training staff of SIU-E since early January of this year. During the spring season, we have spent most of our time working with track & field and softball athletes, also getting some experience with men’s basketball.  We have been able to see a wide variety of injuries to the hips, foot, ankles, and knees.



As PY1’s in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training program, we have thoroughly enjoyed our time at SIU-E. We would both agree that our athletic training skillset has grown immensely since starting our rotation here. Gerry and his staff have been absolutely incredible with teaching us new athletic training skills and also helping us improve upon the skills we have already learned inside the classroom. It is undoubtedly an experience that both of us will cherish as we move further into our careers as athletic training students and future professionals. Go Cougars!

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.

Faculty and Students from SLU AT and PT Programs Conduct Seminar at St. Louis Science Center


Students and faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training provided families interested in Sports Medicine classroom instruction and hands-on experience on Saturday, May 3, 2014. This program was part of the Family Medical School Labs and took place at the St. Louis Science Center.


Participants included AT faculty members Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC, Bridget Quirk MAT, ATC, and PT students Sarah Reinking and Dan Wrzosek.  They presented on concussion; and youth upper and lower extremity injuries.

Bridget Quirk MAT, ATC presenting on concussions.

Dan Wrzosek and Sarah Reinking demonstrating the "Throwers' Ten" exercises.

May 04, 2014

SLU AT Students Present Scholarly Work at MAT Capstone Day


On Friday, May 2, 2014 the students of Saint Louis University's Master of Athletic Training Class of 2014 presented their Capstone Projects at the Allied Health Building.  

This event was open to the public and is one of the final steps that the students take towards graduation and represents a culmination of the work in the professional phase of the SLU AT Program.

This table lists the students and the titles of their Capstone Projects.

Nick Gastorf
A Series of Clinical Preceptor Instructional Videos To Further Identify Their Roles and Responsibilities in the SLU AT Program
Abby Breseman
Improving Accessibility of Rehabilitation Information for Athletes Through Blog Posts
Mary Rhatigan
A Look at Patented Soft Tissue Mobilization Certification Options For Athletic Trainers : Graston vs ART
John Runde
Core Strength and its Effect on Shoulder Pathology in Baseball Players
Jay Maturan
Exercise-induced Dyspnea in a High School Female Wrestler: A Case Report
Heather Koch
The advancement and promotion of the profession of an athletic trainer in the role of a physician extender using Social Media
Jessica Buschjost
The effectiveness of the King-Devick Concussion Test as a sideline tool for head injury assessment
Cat Costello
Utilization of Neuromuscular Cross-Education to Prevent Atrophy in Unilateral Injuries
Emily Grace
Management of Recurrent Exertional Compartment Syndrome in a Collegiate Volleyball Athlete
Kelley DeGreeff
An Interprofessional Approach to Weight Loss and the Impact on the Health Care System
Kelly Peck
Employment Problems and Solutions in Secondary Schools
Dan Herrin
Concussions and their Association with Depressive Disorders in Youth Athletic Populations
Tyler Wood
Athletic Training Promotional Publication: More than Just Athletic Tape
Michelle Cybulski
Factors that Affect Return to Play After an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Pilot Study Survey
Claire Botting
Occurrence of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in Different Strength and Conditioning Programs
Blake Hudspeth
Hip Dislocation Management in a Collegiate Wrestler- A Case Study
Angelo Bongiorno
Effects of Yoga (Pranayama) on Pulmonary Function in Asthmatic Patients
A.J. Vander Vorste
Biomechanics and Functional Deficits in Baseball Players

May 01, 2014

SLU AT Students Have a Busy Spring Caring for the Pioneers

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Kirkwood High School
By: Connor Doherty (SLU MAT Class of 2015)

This semester we have had the pleasure of gaining clinical experience at Kirkwood High School.  The Athletic Trainer here, Denise Grider, has provided an exceptional environment for us to gain valuable experience and help out all of the great Pioneer athletes.  Everyone in Kirkwood has been very welcoming to us and has made us feel as if we had been here for years.  We have been able to enjoy the great facilities that Kirkwood High School has, including their gymnasiums, outdoor fields, and athletic training room.  

Denise Grider ATC with SLU AT students Connor Doherty and Abby Breseman.
During the Winter and Spring seasons we have worked with Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, Girl’s Soccer, Track and Field, and Boy’s Volleyball teams.  During both seasons we have kept very busy with all of the different athletes and keeping them all in tip-top shape.  We have been able to practice evaluations, immediate care, taping techniques, and rehab protocol.  

Both Abby and I have learned so much from Denise and working with all of the athletes here at Kirkwood and will take this new knowledge to our next clinical placement or out into the real world.

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.