SLU AT Student Appreciates Support from Preceptor and School Community at Parkway Central HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School
By: Christopher Mecherle (MAT Class of 2019) 

Parkway Central High School has been a valuable experience on my path to becoming a certified athletic trainer. I’m certain once I’m out and working after college that I will look fondly on the skills that I have forged and refined during the last two semesters. My preceptor and SLU alum Michael Aaron, MAT, ATC, from Mercy Sports Medicine, is very enthusiastic about having an athletic training student. He always considers when and where there may be a learning opportunity to take advantage of, and for that, I am grateful.

For the most part, I feel comfortable in the athletic training setting. Performing evaluations, treatment, rehab, and first-aid definitely feels more natural than it did a year ago. So in my perspective, this semester has been more about discovering how I want my athletic training identity to take shape. It’s made me think about how I can be a transformational force in whatever setting I choose to be in. I often tend to question more about how I carry myself and if I project a fitting aura of professionalism. All in all, my skills are getting to be more second nature, and now it’s my persona that needs fine-tuning.

Parkway Central staff and athletes have been appreciative and accommodating of me, and I cannot thank them enough for their support. I look forward to finishing out the year with the Colts!

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.

SLU AT Student Grows Professionally Alongside Preceptor at Parkway Central HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School

By: Christopher Mecherle (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

During my second year in the professional phase of the SLU Athletic Training Program, I am honored to have a clinical experience with Parkway Central High School’s certified athletic trainer, Michael Aaron, MAT, ATC. While most of Michael and I’s time are spent at Parkway Central, Michael works for Mercy Sports Medicine. We utilize Mercy policies and protocols, and in turn, it has allowed us to provide the best possible healthcare to the student athletes. Organization has been key, and Michael is always accomplishing what needs to be done in the most efficient manner. I’m happy to be along for the ride.

This will be my second clinical experience in the high school setting, and I can safely say it has been good to be back. The plethora of student athletes that we see everyday has been great hands on experience. The time spent with them has sharpened my skills considerably since my first day this summer. In addition to the athletes, the faculty has also been a pleasure to work with. Each interaction is genuine, and coaches respect our healthcare team.

Overall, Parkway Central High School has been a fantastic place to grow as an AT student, and as a person. We are constantly busy, and being vigilant and calm can be a challenge occasionally. It has pushed my limits to a certain extent, and quite frankly I hope that is always the case.

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.

SLU AT Student Builds Knowledge and Skills in Busy Setting at Parkway Central High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School

By: Bridget Bushong (SLU MAT Class of 2018) 

This school year I am at Parkway Central High School as my final clinical rotation. I am really enjoying my experience at Parkway Central thus far. I have seen many injuries that I have not experienced before. Therefore, I practice evaluation techniques and assessing new injuries and I am becoming more comfortable doing them. 

Parkway Central is a large school with eight fall sports, four winter sports and eight spring sports there is always a lot going on in the athletic training room. My preceptor, Michael Aaron MAT, ATC, is awesome at giving me opportunities to practice new things. It’s great because he is a SLU alum so he’s a great resource for things relating to classes as well as being at Parkway Central.

I aspire to work in the high school setting so this experience is showing me everything that an AT does in the high school. We see a wide range of injuries and complaints from athletes so it keeps me on my toes for whatever is going to happen next. The athletic training room has limited modalities so a lot of the stuff we do is hands on. This has helped me develop my rehab skills and adapt to how a patient is responding to the treatment we are doing with them. It’s satisfying to see that my treatment helps an athlete to feel better and challenges me when something may not work how I originally thought it would. 

I cannot wait to see what the rest of this school year holds for me at Parkway Central.

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.

SLU AT Student Appreciates Professional Growth Guided by Preceptor at Parkway Central HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School

By: Sarah Haenchen (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

Time has gone by too fast, and I can’t believe my clinical experience at Parkway Central will be coming to an end soon. I have enjoyed working at PCHS with Mercy Sports Medicine athletic trainer and SLU athletic training graduate Michael Aaron, ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2015). Michael has challenged me by asking questions of why I do certain things during my evaluations and rehabilitation programs. This helps him figure out my thought process, but also has helped me refine my evaluations and rehabs and makes me consider the best practices based on evidence to give quality care. He also quizzes me on anatomy. This has been a great review, especially since I will be taking the Board of Certification exam soon. I have learned a lot from Michael not just with the duties of athletic training, but also personal health and well-being. I have learned to find balance in my life in order to provide excellent care to the patients.

I’m excited for the spring sports to begin. My favorite part about the upcoming spring sports season is being able to go outside and tackling the challenge of having multiple sports going on at the same time at different locations. The low demand of the winter sports season was a great time for me to learn and grow. My previous experience with Mercy Sports Medicine has helped me understand the importance of coordinated care. I was able to spend more time with my patients during rehab ensuring that they were performing the exercises correctly and reaching their goals. I was also able to review and assist in conducting selective functional movement assessments (SFMA) and give corrective exercises to patients with dysfunctional movement. During our down time, Michael and I organized the athletic training room and came up with plans to improve patient education and care for next year.

My clinical experience has shaped me to be the best clinician I can be. I’ve learned a ton throughout my experience and am determined to continue to learn. I am thankful to all the preceptors I’ve had. I appreciate all the support I have gotten from my family, the SLU AT program, my preceptors, and my friends. A special thanks goes to both Parkway South and Parkway Central for letting me be part of the healthcare team and Parkway community. I felt at home at both high schools and will never forget the great experience I had. I also want to thank Mercy Sports Medicine for their dedication to provide high standard quality sports medicine services. I can’t wait for the next step in my journey, and I am excited for my future career as an athletic trainer!

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.

SLU AT Student Appreciates Experience with SLU Alum/Preceptor at Parkway Central HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway Central High School

By: Sarah Haenchen (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

This year I am at Parkway Central High School working with Michael Aaron, ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2015). I have been very fortunate to continue working with Mercy Sports Medicine and at another Parkway school. I am also lucky to work with another Saint Louis University Athletic Training alum. Michael also helps Dr. Kitty Newsham teach the PY1 students in musculoskeletal assessment lab at SLU. When we reflect back to our time as a PY1 student, it amazes us on how much we learned. I enjoy and am thankful for the challenges and opportunities that Michael provides me in order for me to become a better clinician.

My time at the Mercy Sports Medicine clinic over the summer has helped me become confident in evaluating and rehabbing dysfunctional movement patterns. I am able to use those skills at PCH. While time is limited at the high school setting, Michael and I take advantage when we have down time to go through Selective Functional Movement Assessments (SFMA) on athletes who could benefit from this assessment. It is also helpful that I know what goes on in the clinic especially if we have to refer an athlete for additional therapy. This helps with collaborating care and making sure the athlete is getting quality care.

Parkway Central is a great place for my clinical experience as it is the setting I want to work in after I graduate. I enjoy the challenges of working at a large school with a variety of sports. This setting provides me with several opportunities to practice my skills of emergency care, evaluation and treatment, injury prevention and administration. The PCH community has been very welcoming, and there is a lot of team spirit during game days. I always look forward to going to PCH to provide the best care to the athletes and growing as a professional. I am excited for the winter sports season to start up and hope that our fall sports do well with the rest of their season. Go Colts!

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.

SLU AT Program Honors Academic Excellence at Annual Speakers Series

The Saint Louis Athletic Training Program held its Annual Speakers Series and Recognition Ceremony on Monday, February 9, 2015 in the Wall Auditorium of the Edwin Everest Education Union on the SLU Medical Center Campus,

The evening began with the initiation of the newest members of the SLU Alpha Iota Chapter of Iota Tau Alpha, the National Athletic Training Honor Society.

The students initiated to Iota Tau Alpha are:

New Graduate Members

Christian J. Ahlstrom

Brittany A. Koops

Christopher J. Miller

Eldon R. Reid

New Undergraduate Members

Demeisha A. Crawford

Ryan N. Frantz

Jenna C. Ginsberg

Candie M. Hill

Dustin M. Jamboretz

Amelia R. Meigs

Michael M. Milek

Emily R. Mott

Raquel M. Roberts-Hamilton

Daniel R. Smith

Following the Iota Tau Alpha ceremony, there was a Dedication Ceremony for the Clarence "Bob" Bauman Endowed Scholarship at Saint Louis University.  Bauman Scholarship Co-Chair Kim Tucci recognized Michael Aaron as the first-ever receipient of this scholarship, intended to recognize overall excellence and support SLU AT students in the second professional year in the program.

SLU AT Student Michael Aaron and Kim Tucci.

Keynote speaker Neeru Jayanthi MD then addressed the crowd of over 100 AT students, their families and health professionals in the audience with a presentation titled: "Sports Specialized Training in Young Athletes: Is this Helping or Hurting?" 

Dr. Neeru Jayanthi

Dr. Jayanthi's talk was followed by a lively discussion by a panel of experts on Youth Sports and Injury.  The panelists included Amy Schork ATC, Tyler Wadsworth MD and Richard Colignon PhD.

Dr. Tyler Wadsworth moderated the panel discussion.

Dr. Jayanthi, Amy Schork and Dr. Richard Colignon.

The evening wrapped up a pizza reception sponsored by SLATS, the SLU AT Student Association.

Overall, the festivities provided a great means to recognize SLU AT Students and learn about a very important topic. 

Busy Schedule at Kirkwood High School Creates a Great Learning Environment for SLU AT Students

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Kirkwood High School

By: Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015) and Alissa Beeman (MAT Class of 2016)

This fall we are doing our athletic training clinical rotation at Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, MO. The high school setting is a pretty crazy environment to be in as an Athletic Trainer, especially when you’re the only one. But Denise Grider ATC, Head Athletic Trainer at Kirkwood, does a phenomenal job at handling the pressures of taking care of the athletes that are under her care. It is amazing to see the amount of work than one ATC can get done with so many athletes.

Our day starts around 2:45 PM when the students are dismissed from school and the race is on. A mad rush enters the door and everyone wants to be first in line to get taped or evaluated and get to their practices or games on time. Unfortunately, with one ATC and two athletic training students, not everybody gets taken care of at a fast pace. We do our best to manage the rush and provide quality care to all of the athletes that walk through our doors.

Alissa Beeman, Denise Grider ATC and Michael Aaron

It is a challenge being an athletic trainer at the high school level, especially when it’s a school the size of Kirkwood. There are so many athletes and so many events going on at one time, We're not sure how Denise does it all. She is lucky to have a supportive coaches and administrative staff that is willing to haul ice and water around for her, as well as notify her when there are injuries at events that we are not covering at the time. 

Our experience thus far has been a great learning experience and a blessing to have a preceptor like Denise that allows us to get plenty of hands on experience with any of the athletes and injuries. We are excited to continue to grow as athletic training students and learn how we want our approaches to injuries and daily work to be done when we get to do it all on our own.

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.

SLU AT Students and Faculty Inducted to Allied Health Honor Society

On October 29, 2014 the Saint Louis University Doisy College of Health Sciences Chapter of Alpha Eta, the National Allied Health Honor Society, inducted 5 SLU Athletic Training students and 1 Faculty member to the Society.

Alpha Eta recognizes those allied health professionals who have excelled in their field. This recognition is extended to students, alumni, and faculty members. The society promotes both scholarship and fellowship among its members. This commitment to collaboration is reflected in the motto of the society: Together We Serve.

Demeisha Crawford, Rachel Spika, Michael Aaron, Dr. Tim Howell, Candie Hill and Hilary Stepansky

The 2014 Alpha Eta Inductees from the SLU AT Program:

Timothy Howell EdD, ATC, CSCS (Faculty Member)

Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015)

Demeisha Crawford (MAT Class of 2016)

Candie Hill (MAT Class of 2016)

Rachel Spika (MAT Class of 2016)

Hilary Stepansky (MAT Class of 2015)

SLU AT Student Spends a Summer Learning in the Big Leagues

Summer Internship Blog Post - St. Louis Cardinals
By: Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015)

Since May 26, 2014 I have had the opportunity to work with a team of great athletic trainers and team doctors that work with the St. Louis Cardinals.  I was lucky to start with some advice from 2014 SLU MAT graduates Dan Herrin ATC and Kelley DeGreeff ATC who were able to work with the Cardinals in the 2013 season.  Even with the advice and assurance that I would learn more than I could imagine, I am still blown away by the information and skill sets that I have been able to observe and begin to apply on a daily basis.

Greg Hauck, Michael Aaron and Adam Olsen

Greg Hauck ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer for the Cardinals and is assisted by Chris Conroy ATC and Adam Olsen PT, ATC. These three have had a big impact on the way that I look at and will evaluate injuries in the future.  Their approach is much different than other athletic trainers that I have worked with and it’s easy to tell why players get back on the field in good shape when coming off injuries.  This isn’t just due to the athletic trainer’s efforts, but also the team doctors that put a lot of time and thought into each evaluation and rehab process.  They all take their jobs very seriously and have fun doing it, which makes an atmosphere that the athletes are more inclined to include themselves in on a daily basis for any work that they may need done.  Not only did they make the environment good for the athletes, but it was a good environment for me to learn, observe and ask questions for hours every day.

Chris Conroy and Michael Aaron

Some of my responsibilities for the summer included making lots of hydration drinks, keeping first aid items stocked, help taking inventory, packing for road trips, keeping things organized and clean, and trying to absorb as much information as possible.  These things may not sound like a lot of fun, but they are things that have to be done in order to keep the athletes on the field every day.

Overall, I was very pleased with my experience and I can’t thank Greg, Chris and Adam enough for the opportunity to watch and learn from them all summer.  It is an experience that will have a big impact on the rest of my career.

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

2nd Annual SLATS Bowl-a-thon a Huge Success!

SLATS Bowl-a-thon #2...Twice the fun, Twice the Success!

By: Haylie Dehm (MAT Class of 2016)

This year the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society (SLATS), our student association, hosted its 2nd annual bowling fundraiser at Moolah Lanes for the AT student scholarship fund.  The 2014 SLATS Bowl-A-thon took on a higher meaning for our program because, as a part of Saint Louis University’s new "Go Further" campaign, every dollar raised is being matched, which means our goal of $6,000 would become $12,000 in the blink of an eye! How awesome is that?!

With this University-wide program, that means that the scholarship fund is growing larger, sooner so more students may get the opportunity to receive a Bauman Endowed Athletic Training Scholarship! In the end we raised over $6,500! We reached our goal and I could not be any more proud of my peers for raising such a great amount of money in such a short period of time! (Just imagine what we could have raised in a longer period of time!)

Last year I had a blast at the event and this year I was extremely excited to be a Co-Chair with Rachel Spika! Prior to the actual event, students from the program submitted a list of potential donors. Every student that submitted a list got free admission into the event. Anyone who donated on behalf of a student had the opportunity to attend and partake in the fun of free bowling and food! Anyone else who came had to pay $12 which is a great bargain considering they were getting catered food from The Pasta House and unlimited bowling for 2 hours!

SLATS Executive Board Members -- Mary Rhatigan (back left) - PY2 Class Rep, Andria Lampe (back right) - Philanthropy/PR Chair, Kayla Kelly (front right) - PY 1 Class Rep, Haylie Dehm (front left) - Vice President - enjoying the catering from The Pasta House while working the door at check-in.

I think my favorite thing from this event was the Bowling Shirts! Anyone who got 10 people to donate in their name got one of these highly sought after items! Also the top 5 people that had the most money donated in their name got a free bowling shirt! And finally the person who had the most walk-in attendees received a shirt! In this case, there was a tie for most walk-ins and two people were given the awesome shirts! Michael Aaron and Christian Ahlstrom were the only ones to have 10 or more people donate in their name. Those two along with Rachel Spika, Raquel Roberts-Hamilton, and Emily Costabile were the Top 5 money-makers! Stuart Plamp and Kathleen McGovern brought the most walk-ins. Unfortunately the picture of Bowling Shirt winners was taken before it was revealed that Stuart and Kathleen got theirs so this picture is missing them in their Retro Bowling Shirt Glory!

From Left to Right: Michael Aaron - 17 donors and 3^rd overall highest donation total, Christian Ahlstrom - 13 donors and 1^st overall highest donation total, Emily Costabile - 2^nd highest donation total, Rachel Spika - 5^th highest donation total, Raquel Roberts-Hamilton - 4^th highest donation total

‘Twas a great night and I can’t wait to attend the Third Annual Saint Louis University Society Athletic Training Bowl-A-Thon!

SLU AT Faculty Members and Students Have a Fun and Busy Month of Basketball

The Athletic Training Program at Saint Louis University partners with the Missouri Valley Conference to coordinate medical coverage to the basketball tournaments they host in March each year.  This year, this not only included their conference tournaments in St. Louis and St. Charles, it also included the NCAA Men's Basketball 2nd and 3rd Rounds at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.  This provides a great learning opportunity for our students, where they get a chance to administer a large event with multiple stakeholders.  Additionally it provides our students with networking opportunities with numerous future colleagues in athletic training.

Faculty members Tim Howell and Kitty Newsham with AT students Jess Buschjost and Angelo Bongiorno at the NCAA 3rd Round games on March 23, 2014 at Scottrade Center.

AT students Cat Costello, Jess Buschjost and Angelo Bongiorno with faculty members Tim Howell and Mike Markee  at the NCAA 2nd Round games on March 21, 2014 at Scottrade Center.

AT students Blake Hudspeth and Michelle Cybulski courtside for MVC MBB Tournament at Scottrade Center.

AT students Tony Mosello and Jess Buschjost courtside for MVC MBB Tournament at Scottrade Center.

AT Program Director Tony Breitbach courtside with students Michael Aaron and Hilary Stepansky
for MVC WBB Tournament at Family Arena.

AT students Ju Kim, Mary Rhatigan, Jose Mendez and Michael Aaron on site
for MVC WBB Tournament at Family Arena

SLU Chapter of National Athletic Training Honor Society Inducts Newest Members

Saint Louis University's Alpha Iota Chapter of Iota Tau Alpha, the National Athletic Training Honor Society, inducted new members on February 10, 2014.  The ceremony took place in the Wall Auditorium in the Education Union on the SLU Medical Center Campus.  Following the ceremony, there was a presentation on "Mental Health and the Athlete" by Timothy Neal ATC and Michael Ross PhD. 

Over 120 students and professionals attended the keynote presentation.

Timothy Neal and Dr. Michael Ross during the keynote presentation.

Mr. Neal is the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine at Syracuse University. He is prominently involved in the development of position statements and policies for athletic trainers with regard to management of mental health in athletes.  Dr. Ross is a professor in the Department of Psychology at SLU. He serves as the Faculty Athletics Representative and teaches a course in the AT program titled: "Psychology of Sport and Injury".

2014 Iota Tau Alpha Inductees

UNDERGRADUATE MEMBERS

Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015)

Nana Fujishiro (MAT Class of 2017)

Collin Peterson (MAT Class of 2017)

Stephanie Ross (MAT Class of 2017)

Rachel Spika (MAT Class of 2016)

GRADUATE MEMBERS

Jessica Buschjost (MAT Class of 2014)

Hilary Stepansky (MAT Class of 2015)

John Runde (MAT Class of 2014)

SLATS, the SLU AT student association, provided pizza after the ceremony.

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School

Webster Groves High School - Home of the Statesmen!
By: Michelle Cybulski (MAT Class of 2014), Kayla Kelley and Michael Aaron (MAT Class of 2015)

We currently have our clinical education experience at Webster Groves High School with their athletic trainer Sean Wright, ATC. Working with Sean, all the coaches, and their athletes has been an enjoyable educational experience for us. From day one we were welcomed and treated as vital members of the sports medicine team. The coaches and athletes at Webster Groves are very respectful, cooperative, supportive, and we feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to work with them.

SLU AT students at the Webster Groves-Francis Howell football game.

This fall we worked with football, boys soccer, field hockey, cross country, girls tennis, girls volleyball, and softball. We’ve had the opportunity to cover the varsity football team all the way to the semifinals and have upheld the crazy, WGHS tradition of ATs wearing shorts to every varsity football game.  We hoped to get the chance to travel with them and wear our shorts one more time for the state championship game at the Edward Jones Dome, but we are proud of the team on their great season!

Michelle Cybulski, Sean Wright ATC, Michael Aaron and Kayla Kelley

We’ve also began working with the winter sports athletes for girls and boys basketball, and wrestling.
Sean has been the athletic trainer at Webster Groves High School for 8 years, and you can tell how much his help is appreciated by all the coaches, athletes and their parents.  Sean is a great teacher and he’s very passionate about the field of athletic training; we are fortunate to have him as our preceptor. Sean also teaches health and offers two levels of athletic training classes to his students at WGHS. These students accompany us to games to help out and learn about athletic training.  It’s a nice opportunity for us to test our knowledge by teaching them what we have learned and answering their questions about athletic training.

The best part about working at WGHS and with Sean is how much we get to help out and be hands on. He lets us do as much as our comfort levels allow, giving us guidance as needed, and we are very grateful for this.

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.

AT Faculty Member Combines Teaching With Health Care at SLU Ice Hockey Games

It’s not just cool --- it is ice cold!
By: Timothy G. Howell Ed.D, ATC, CSCS

I love being a Billiken! As the clinical education coordinator for the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program (ATP), a position I have held for almost three years, I have a vested interest in AT Student (ATS) success. My primary role in the ATP is to make certain we have the right types of preceptors and clinical sites to ensure ATS are getting some great opportunities to practice the skills they are learning in the classroom in a real-time athletic training environment.

SLU AT students Michael Aaron, Claire Botting and Angie Vitale on the bench at a SLU Ice Hockey game.

One such environment has a playing surface of between 14-24 degrees.  An ATS, either PY1 or PY2, can sign-up with me to provide athletic health care when I provide home game coverage for the SLU Club Ice Hockey Team. It is a great opportunity for me to see first hand what skills athletic training students are taking with them from the classroom to the field (or in this case the ice.) I get to interact with the ATS outside of the classroom as their preceptor, not their faculty member nor their clinical education coordinator, but someone who, beyond the dasher boards, can help refine an athletic training students skills and abilities.