SLU AT Student Sees the Athletic Trainer's Wide Spectrum of Responsibilities on the Team at Lurie Children's Hospital

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
By: Paul Lamb (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

This summer at Ann and Robert H. Lurie’s Children Hospital has given me an immense amount of learning opportunities in a new setting for Athletic Trainers that I hadn’t experienced before this summer. Working within a hospital setting means being a part of interprofessional health care teams that incorporate numerous domains, including Athletic Trainers, Orthopedic Specialists, Nurses, Translators, and much more.

I’ve been lucky to have the guidance of four AT's (Kristi McCracken, ATC, Emily Worobec, ATC, Madeline McHugh, ATC, and Adam Potteiger, ATC) to demonstrate the role of an athletic trainer. Each one has taught me endless amounts about new conditions and treatment strategies, and have allowed me to get hands-on experience in clinic.

A typical day for me this summer starts with going to one of the Lurie outpatient clinics that are scattered throughout Chicagoland. From there, the day varies depending on what patients are scheduled. So while on day I may be shadowing a pediatric orthopedic surgeon as they diagnose an ACL injury, the next day I may be assisting in the casting of a baby with clubfoot. This variance of opportunities has shown me the wide spectrum of responsibilities that Athletic Trainers take on within the health care system.

I’m grateful to the staff at Lurie Children’s for welcoming me into their health care community, and allowing me to learn as much as I have so far this summer. The next few weeks will offer new chances to broaden my scope of knowledge, and I’m excited for what that will bring.

Students in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program have an immersive field experience in the summer between their two professional years in the program. This blog post details a student's reflection on their experience.