SLU AT Students Enjoy Numerous Clinical Learning Opportunities with Washington University

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Washington University in St. Louis Athletics

By: Emily Haley, Anastasia Galo, Mason Remeis, Alex Smith (SLU MAT Class of 2023) and Sydney Nash (SLU MAT Class of 2022)

Our clinical experience at Washington University, with preceptors Chris Schultheiss ATC,  Jackee Hill ATC and  Amanda Lusky ATC,  we have primarily been caring for football and have had many opportunities to witness and take care of injuries including ACL tears, patellar subluxation, Achilles tendon rupture, AC joint separation, shoulder dislocation and many more. With the number of injuries from pre-season camp and now, we have had ample opportunity to either create rehab plans or assist in executing rehab with the players. 

This experience has given us many opportunities to use modalities that many places do not have like laser, an underwater treadmill, and Hiva mat. Since the sports medicine doctors are frequently at our site, we have also had the opportunity to sit in on and take notes on evaluations as well as the ability to observe suturing. 

The PY1’s have learned a lot from this first clinical experience so far and have been building up our skill sets. We have practiced a lot of taping, compression wrapping, wound care, taken histories, assisted with pre-season physicals, observed on field evaluations, and have just begun to practice evals on the foot and ankle. Wash U is a great learning environment for us as there is always something happening. 

Sydney, a PY2, has had the ability to practice her evaluation skills on athletes as well as learning the administration side of athletic training. She has had many opportunities to assist in physicals and paperwork regarding them which has been an amazing experience to prepare me for my future experience. Being able to be at this clinical site with all of the PY1’s has been an amazing and fun experience.

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.