March 16, 2020

SLU AT Student Appreciates Preceptor's Support in Her Professional Development


SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Rockwood Summit High School
By: Emma Yonkers (SLU MAT Class of 2020)

I keep telling myself this is the home stretch and it feels bittersweet. I am lucky to be able to finish my college career at such a great clinical site like Rockwood Summit. Winter sports are winding down and there is a lull in the madness. It won’t last long, however. Spring sports are on the horizon, which means more long days, cold nights on the sidelines for soccer, and shivering, despite wearing what feels like a dozen layers, in the Gator watching baseball. I am really excited to wrap up my time here with so many wonderful experiences under my belt, knowing I gave it my best.

Winter sports were filled with some common conditions like sprained ankles, skin infections in wrestlers, and jammed fingers in basketball players. I have also had experience managing some less common conditions. The most interesting acute injury I have seen this season was a dislocated elbow. Seeing a gross deformity like that and understanding what needs to be done in that moment is a really good feeling. You know that athlete is scared and unsure of what is going to happen, so being the person who can take charge and help makes all the hard work and long nights worth it.


The independence and trust that I have earned at Summit have allowed me to understand how to navigate my transition to practice. Knowing that soon, I will be able to remove the “student” title from my name and be able to say I am an athletic trainer is the best feeling ever. Balancing schoolwork, clinical, and studying for the board exam has proven difficult but not impossible. I am grateful to have an awesome preceptor, SLU alum and Mercy Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer Tony Mosello MAT, ATC, who supports my learning and respects my time so I can manage everything and still take care of myself. His mentorship has made me excited for what is coming next, but is also a good reminder to live in the moment and focus on using what I know to continue improving.

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.

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