October 30, 2015

SLU AT Student Gets an Extensive Clinical Experience at St. Mary's HS


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - St. Mary's High School
By: Krystin Haas (SLU MAT Class of 2016)

I have been at St. Mary's High School for about 2 months now and it has definitely been a great experience so far. At the start it is a little overwhelming, in the sense that there are so many things that my preceptor and SLU alum Bridget Quirk MAT, ATC does in-house that I have not seen before through her position which is sponsored by SLU and SSM-SLU Hospital.

The AT room is a very hectic place most of the time, with things always happening. This has gotten me a lot of experience doing rehabs and having a role in the athletes return to play, and actually get to see and measure their progress throughout their process. At the last high school I was at, the athletes mostly went to physical therapy for their rehab and I didn't get as hands on of a role in it. When I was at Missouri Baptist University, we were only dealing with one team most of the time, so I didn't really get a lot of rehab practice either besides basic things. Being at a high school where most is done in-house, and dealing with all of the in season athletes, is a hectic thing and a great experience.



On another note, the demographic diversity at St. Mary's is also a good learning experience. I never would have really thought about what to do if an athlete didn't have insurance, or couldn't afford simple things that could make a big difference, like foot orthotics. There have been injuries that they can't afford the out of pocket charges for the urgent care, so the kids don't go or they just go to the ER. Not all of the athletes fall into this category, but just seeing and dealing with the ones that do, it is an eye opening experience that I was not anticipating having to deal with when I started there. It is nice to have to deal with now though, so I would better know what to do if I ever am in this situation again in my professional career.

Overall, I have learned many things at my time at St. Mary's and I am enjoying myself thoroughly. I am excited to see more and learn more as the year continues and anxious to see what else time brings us. I have am also excited that I get to be here the whole year and can get excited about all of the winter/spring sports that I didn't get to experience last year because I left. 

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.

October 27, 2015

Veteran Preceptor and Busy Pace at Webster Groves HS Creates Engaging Experience for SLU AT Students



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School
By: Alissa Beeman (SLU MAT Class of 2016), Nick Kellerhals and Phillip Soncasie (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

This fall we are doing our athletic training clinical rotation at Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, MO. The high school setting can get pretty intense as an Athletic Trainer, especially when you’re the only one. Sean Wright, ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Webster Groves however, does a remarkable job at handling the demands of the environment in both a positive and efficient way every single day. It is incredible to see the amount of work that one ATC can excel at with so many athletes.


The students get out of school at 2:35pm and are in the athletic training room by 2:36pm. They line up out the door anxiously waiting to get taped, treated, evaluated or rehabilitated before their practices begin. We have one Certified Athletic Trainer and three athletic training students that work vigorously to meet the needs of all the athletes quickly and efficiently. Usually around 3:30pm the chaos slows down and we can head over to practice or a game. 

With as many sports as there are at Webster Groves, it is impossible to be everywhere at all times. We pick the highest contact sport and cover that first. We have a supportive coaching staff that knows to call if there is an injury that we need to come tend to. The athletic director, Jerry Collins ATC, is also a certified athletic trainer and is a huge component of the team at Webster Groves. He helps Sean cover big events that we can’t be at. 

Working with Sean has been a pleasure and such a phenomenal learning experience. He allows us plenty of hands on experience with all of the athletes and their injuries. We have learned so much since we started with him in August and continue to absorb more and more knowledge every day we’re here. We look forward to continuing our clinical education here at Webster Groves and are excited to see what else it has in store for us. 

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.

October 26, 2015

SLU AT Students Thrive in a Busy Clinical Site with a Team Atmosphere at Affton HS


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Affton High School
By: Katherine Love and Amelia Meigs (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

The Affton High School athletic training room may not be the most spacious of athletic training rooms, but it gets a lot of traffic. Each day after school, 10-30 athletes from various sports pile into the room to get treatment. This keeps us busy with taping, stretching, ultrasound, and therapeutic exercise. The past 11 weeks at Affton have been incredibly eventful—we have had a myriad of injuries from head to toe (literally). From the very first day, Becky Stigen ATC, our preceptor, has kept us busy putting our clinical skills to good use. Having someone put trust in our knowledge and skills is more than we ever could have asked for—Becky is an outstanding preceptor.


We attend home soccer, volleyball, and football games and travel with football each weekend. Through Becky’s guidance, the after-school athletic training room is an educational environment where we practice skills we learned in class on our athletes. Becky is dedicated to Affton and to ensuring that each athlete gets the care he or she deserves.


One of the most rewarding aspects of this semester has been the growing trust between the athletes and us (Katherine and Amelia). At the beginning of pre-season, the players did not know us, and would rush over calling, “Becky, Becky!” But now, we are “Becky 1” and “Becky 2” and respond to the name Becky as well. This level of trust has turned to athletes asking us for tape or rehabilitation assistance (and some even knowing our name isn’t really Becky!). Becky rules her athletic training room with a firm hand, but allows us to explore our knowledge and work together to come to solutions. The team atmosphere of the Affton athletic training room has allowed us to understand what it is like to work in athletic health care and how to effectively care for athletes as a team.

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.

October 25, 2015

SLU AT Student Connects the Classroom and the Clinical Setting at Vianney HS


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - St. John Vianney High School
By: Danny Smith (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

I have been blessed and privileged to begin my clinical experience at St. John Vianney High School. At Vianney I have had the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business, Tim Trupiano ATC.  Tim has taught me so much about the field of athletic training and health care in general.  I can already notice my skills and confidence growing each day I go to my clinical site.  

At St. John Vianney High School I have had the opportunity to care for student-athletes competing in football, soccer, and cross-country.  I have been able to demonstrate my skills in wound care and preventative taping on a daily basis.  I really enjoy being able to get the athletes back on the field and ready to play their best.  I have also had the opportunity to practice my assessment skills.  I am extremely fortunate to be able to learn a skill in class and then be able to demonstrate that skill later the same day.  
The experience and knowledge I have gained at St. John Vianney High School will impact my career in health care for the rest of my life.  I have been able to practice taking patient histories and communicating with patients.  During home football games, I have also had the opportunity to speak with and learn from Vianney’s team doctors.  This opportunity has been a real life application of the interprofessional education I have received from SLU.  I am excited for all that my future career in health care has in store for me, but I will never forget that it all started in the athletic training room at St. John Vianney High 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.

October 24, 2015

Individualized Hands-On Experience Helps SLU AT Student Learn at Westminster Christian Academy



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Westminster Christian Academy
By: Bailey Draheim (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

I have learned so much being at Westminster Christian Academy this semester. Being the only student at my site, I have been able to see and perform many of the tests and examinations that we have done. So far this semester, we have seen an array of things, but ankle injuries have been the most common. After watching for the first few months, my preceptor (SLU Alum Hilary Orf MAT, ATC) has now let me perform the exercises and stretches on the athletes and I have gotten to do some of the initial examinations with her. I am becoming much more confident in my ability to assess the ankle. 
I get to be very hands-on at my clinical site, which I feel has taught me so much. I tape ankles and wrists almost every day that I am there so I have become very comfortable and more confident in my taping abilities. We have also experienced many concussions so far this semester that have been very interesting to learn about. I have seen many athletes go from initial concussion through the progression and back to playing. The progression process for every athlete can be a little different based on his or her sport. I never knew how common concussions were, especially in high school athletes, and how long it takes for them to get back to playing. I am very excited to see what else I get to experience while at Westminster for 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.

October 23, 2015

SLU AT Students Get a Comprehensive Experience with a Team Approach at Kirkwood HS



SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Kirkwood High School
By: Cara Bowton (SLU MAT Class of 2016); Collin Peterson and Olivia Robinson (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

Kirkwood High School has been a great example of what working as an athletic trainer at the high school level is like.  Under the guidance of our preceptor, Denise Grider ATC, we have covered a variety of sports including football, soccer, softball, field hockey, and volleyball, and also have worked with athletes from cross-country, swim, and several other sports.  We have provided on-field acute wound care and aided in the on-field assessment of injured athletes. Along with providing care at games, we spend a large amount of time in the athletic training room providing protective taping and padding devices, evaluating various injuries, and leading athletes in stretches and rehabilitation activities.  


We have learned that building trust with the athletes, as well as with the coaches, athletic directors, and the many other people who make high school sports possible, is integral to helping keep athletes safe and healthy on a daily basis.

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.

October 22, 2015

SLU AT Student Gets NCAA D1 Experience with a Variety of Preceptors at SIU-Edwardsville

 

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
By: Erika Cook (SLU MAT Class of 2016)

Greetings from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville! 

It’s been an exciting fall so far with volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer in the midst of their competitive seasons. Right now I spend the majority of my time with women’s and men’s soccer where I’m learning tons about the sport and the common injuries that soccer players deal with. There are a lot of athletes on both teams, so my preceptors and I always have something to do. Furthermore, SIUE is a great place to be if you think you want to work at the D1 level in the future.


This semester I’m the only SLU AT student on campus, so I get tons of one-on-one time with the amazing staff. Our head AT is Gerald Schlemer ATC, and he takes care of men’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis. One of the assistant AT’s is Alex Sawyer ATC (a SLU AT grad!), and she works with volleyball and women’s basketball. Then there is James Mays ATC and he looks after men’s soccer and softball. The last of the assistants is Ben Heimos ATC who is with women’s soccer and baseball. We also have two graduate assistants, Allison Barloon ATC and Ryan Salerno ATC; Allison takes care of cross country and track and field while Ryan looks after wrestling. Each of these guys is great at what she/he does, and it’s easy to see that their athletes love them. More importantly, they challenge me every day that I’m working with them.

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.

October 21, 2015

SLU AT Students and Faculty Member Inducted into Alpha Eta Honor Society


On the night of October 21, 2015, six students and one faculty member from the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program were inducted into Alpha Eta, the National Allied Health Honor Society.  The induction ceremony took place in the Multipurpose Room of the Allied Health Building on the SLU Medical Center Campus.


Faculty Member: 
Michael Markee PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, ATC

Graduate Inductees: 
Dustin Jamboretz and David O'Loughlin (MAT Class of 2016)

Undergraduate Inductees: 
Amelia Meigs, Collin Peterson, Stephanie Ross and Daniel Smith (MAT Class of 2017)

SLU AT Students Get a Great Clinical Experience in a Busy Place at John Burroughs




SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - John Burroughs High School
By: Angelina Vitale (SLU MAT Class of 2016) and Brianna LaBarbera (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

This semester, we have the fortunate opportunity to be placed at John Burroughs High School with Dean Tiffany ATC as our preceptor.  Home to the JBS Bombers, this site has a wide variety of fall sports including football, soccer, field hockey, swimming/diving, volleyball, cross country, golf, cheerleading and tennis.  

John Burroughs is very unique in that the school mandates that all students participate in multiple sports all four years.  This encourages student involvement in extracurricular activities, increases the overall health of the student population, allows for students to experience different sports, and helps students develop proper time management skills.  After being in different clinical settings, it is clear that these students are positively influenced by this design.  Students are generally more enthused and have more positive relationships with their teammates and coaches/teachers through this added structure.  
While we cover all of the sports at John Burroughs, we spend a large amount of time with football, traveling with both Varsity and JV teams to games.  This experience has given us an opportunity to see many different injuries and how to properly treat them.  


We have also been able to take part in rehabilitation practices for all of the teams at a higher level. Having worked in many rehab settings before, Dean is extremely knowledgeable in many areas of rehab, which has been helpful exposure for us.   Under his supervision, we are able to take a very hands-on approach in treating these athletes on and off the field.  This has given us a chance to put what we learn into practice. 
As the fall sports are winding down, we are looking forward to the continuation of Varsity football as they enter playoffs and are excited for the start of winter season. 
Go Bombers!!

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.

October 20, 2015

SLU AT Student Finds Growth and Confidence in Clinical Practicum at Althoff Catholic


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Althoff Catholic High School
By: Stephanie Uhrich (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

I have learned a lot from my fall clinical site at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Illinois. This experience goes way beyond what I could learn in class, and it really solidifies my knowledge by allowing me to practice my skills in a hands-on setting.  At Althoff, I have become very proficient in my taping skills.  I have learned how to adapt tape, braces and splints in order to use them most effectively.  I really enjoy the challenge of a difficult tape job, and I am always happy when the athlete comes back to tell me that the tape was helpful.


Another skill I have learned through observation of my preceptor (SLU Alum Meghan Gehrs ATC) and through practice is taking history and asking the right kinds of questions.  Compared to the beginning of my clinical experience, I have improved my questions to provoke the athlete to share more information and to direct the evaluation in an appropriate manner.  I have observed many instances in which my preceptor, has asked what seem like simple questions, but the questions are critical in her decision making about an injury.  I have learned that the way questions are asked can affect the response of the athlete and also how important the athlete’s medical history is.  
Lastly, I have learned a lot about myself through this clinical experience.  I have learned that I enjoy working in a high school setting.  I have also learned that I am able to stay calm in emergent situations.  At the beginning of this clinical experience, I was not one hundred percent sure of these two things, but now I have confidence in my skills and confidence in myself.  I have learned so much from my clinical experience at Althoff High School, and I know I will take what I have learned with me for the rest of my career. 

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.