November 29, 2016

The SLU AT Program Kicks Off the Third Year of the Roosevelt HS AT Club


2016-17 Roosevelt High School Athletic Training Club
By: Amelia Meigs (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

We had the first meeting of the 2016-2017 Roosevelt High School Athletic Training Club just two weeks ago. 

This is the third year of the RHS AT Club, which has been funded by an Ethnic Diversity Enhancement Grant from the National Athletic Trainers' Association Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee.  A new development this year is that RHS now has an Athletic Trainer, Kemba Noel-London MAT, ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2012), who is pursuing a PhD in Health Management and Policy with an assistantship sponsored by the Doisy College of Health Sciences.
We met at Roosevelt with a group of about 15 students, and first introduced Saint Louis University Kemba, Dr. Breitbach and our mentors (Morgan Jasperson, Amelia Meigs, Brandi Burgett). First, I presented about what an athletic trainer is, what could make a person a good fit for an athletic training career, and how to become an athletic trainer.

Then we discussed what matters to the RHS students—a large focus of our club this year. We are aiming to meet the students where they are to provide them with the tools for a successful career in sports medicine based on their interests. We want to allow them to develop professionalism before entering a program, and allow them to understand the process of becoming an athletic trainer.
Then we got on to the real fun—teaching the students how to tape an ankle! All the Roosevelt High School students were excited to learn this new skill. Some of the students have been in our club all 3 years, and those students were able to assist their classmates in taping. I’m always surprised and amazed at the quality of the tape jobs by these first-time tapers—many of them are athletes and have an intuitive understanding of athletic training, even though this is the first year Roosevelt High School has an athletic trainer. 

Still to come this semester is a meeting with a Dietitian from Saint Louis University, a SLU basketball game, and much more!

November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving from the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program


The faculty, staff and students of the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program wish you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.  May you enjoy this opportunity to join with your friends and family and give thanks.  We hope that this spirit of appreciation sparks a light of kindness and gratitude in your actions moving forward!

November 16, 2016

Faculty and Students Utilize a "Crash Reel" to Help Students in the SLU Health Sciences Learning Community Learn about Athletic Training


TV shows often feature "Crash Reels" to highlight dangerous situations or high profile injuries.  The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program utilized that format to help First Year Students in SLU's Health Sciences Learning Community.

This "Crash Reel Night", held on Monday, November 14, 2016 at the Reinert Residence Hall, was a great success!

Athletic Training students Sarah Haenchen, Amelia Meigs, and Stephanie Ross along with faculty member Kitty Newsham PhD, ATC showed the Health Science Learning Community videos of injuries and talked about how an athletic trainer manages an injury. Using the videos gave the participants a clear picture of the nature and the context of the injuries.

SLU Health Sciences Learning Community

This year we focused on an ankle sprain, one of the most common injuries an AT treats. The discussion encompassed acute care on the field, the assessment in the clinic, and then rehabilitation for an ankle sprain. We had some hands-on activities such as functional tests to evaluate balance and proprioception which inform return to play decisions.

The athletic training students have been busy this November and we are excited for our future events!

November 15, 2016

SLU AT Students Enjoy Engaging with the Community at the St. Louis Science Center's HealthFest


We had a great time again at HealthFest this year!  Every year students from the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program  participate in this event, hosted by the St. Louis Science Center, to help children and families experience health and science with hands-on experiences.


We had tons of fun running through an obstacle course created with various rehab tools. Children ran through an agility ladder, cones, mini hurdles and worked on balance. Not only did the children have fun, but parents were able to try some of the rehab activities as well. We were able to educate the parents on how to incorporate some of our activities in their children’s life and make it enjoyable for the family.

A team of athletic training students from freshman to PY2 years were able to work collaboratively to teach HealthFest 2016 attendees about athletic training and run through the obstacle course with the children. 
Plans are already in the works for next year's HealthFest, which will be rebranded as "Healthy U", next year!

November 06, 2016

SLU AT Student Appreciates a Special Opportunity at the ASAHP Annual Meeting

Professional Development Experience at the ASAHP Conference in New Orleans
By: Collin Peterson (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

I recently had the privilege of attending the National Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) conference in New Orleans this October.  Thanks to the nomination and sponsorship from my Program Director, Dr. Anthony Breitbach, and the Dean of the Doisy College of Health Sciences, Dr. Mardell Wilson, I was selected as one of seven students from various health professions and universities to develop a plan and infrastructure to start a national ASAHP student organization.  I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity that the SLU Doisy College of Health Sciences has made possible. This experience has also helped shape my career path as a future athletic trainer.
It was extremely rewarding to be a part of such a select group of highly motivated students and to see the overwhelming support and enthusiasm the ASAHP Board of Directors gave us for our efforts developing the ASAHP Student Assembly.  As the only athletic training student in the group, I enjoyed seeing how my athletic training experiences go beyond the clinical site and have helped shaped my collaboration and problem solving abilities.  

In addition to working with my team, I moderated presentations that included great work on Interprofessional Education from SLU’s Dr. Leslie Hinyard, Eileen Toomey and Dr. Breitbach. I also listened to several inspirational speakers on the future of healthcare education and networked with accomplished professors and deans such as Dr. David Perrin and Dr. Chris Ingersoll, former editors of the Journal of Athletic Training.

Seeing all the great research being done and interacting with leaders in higher education so passionate about helping students, it reaffirmed my recent decision to pursue a Ph.D. so that I can contribute valuable research and impact students the way the SLU Athletic Training Program has impacted me. I want to reiterate my gratitude to the Doisy College of Health Sciences for giving me such an enlightening and influential opportunity that has helped shape my professional future as an athletic trainer.            

November 04, 2016

SLU AT Students Inducted to National Allied Health Honor Society


The Saint Louis University chapter of Alpha Eta, the National Scholastic Honor Society for Allied Health Professions, held its annual induction ceremony in the Multipurpose Room of the Allied Health Building at Saint Louis University on November 2, 2016.

The Society is named for the Greek letters equivalent to the first letters of Allied Health (AH), which are Alpha Eta.  The purpose of the Society is the promotion and recognition of significant scholarship, leadership, and contributions to the allied health professions.

The following SLU AT students (MAT Class of 2018) were honored in this year's ceremony:
Jenna Ginsberg
Abigail Klosterman
Michael Milek
Emily Mott
Congratulations on this prestigious and well-deserved honor!