SLU AT Student Enhances Clinical and Communication Skills at Parkway South HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway South High School

By:  Madeleine Bresnahan (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

I am in my last semester at Saint Louis University and will be receiving a Master of Athletic Training degree in May. I have been fortunate to spend this entire year at Parkway South High School with Mike Tzianos, M Ed, ATC, from Mercy Sports Medicine. Mike has been an awesome mentor to me. He has given me a lot of freedom this year to evaluate and treat athletes under his supervision. This freedom has helped me to develop my skills and is preparing me for after graduation.

Along with developing and perfecting my skills Mike has taught me a lot. He is always teaching me techniques and skills that are unfamiliar to me. One of the major skills Mike has helped me develop this year is communication with athletes and with parents. Specifically talking with parents had been something I hadn’t done until coming to Parkway South.  I have learned a lot from just watching Mike on how to educate parents on their child’s injury. I have been able to talk to parents myself to improve my communication skills. I also have enjoyed interacting with Ashley, an undergraduate AT student at Lindenwood University.

Overall, my experience at Parkway South and with Mike has been awesome! I am getting great clinical experience and learning at lot. 

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 Conduct Workshop on Sports Medicine Skills for 2nd Year Medical Students

Athletic Training Sports Medicine Night with SLU 2nd Year Medical Students

By: Bridget Bushong (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Society hosted a sports medicine night with second year medical students who have an interest in sports medicine. This workshop had three stations, run by Professional Year 2 (PY2) and 1 (PY1) students in the AT program, for the students to rotate through during the event. The stations included concussion testing, ankle taping and emergency spine boarding. While the PY2s were the group leaders, there were also several PY1s assisting during the sessions as well as undergraduate students who were models for taping and spine boarding.

This event is a great way to collaborate with other medical professionals and increase patient care by having an interprofessional team assisting with the care. While ATs are specifically trained to diagnosis, treat and manage concussions, apply assistive taping and handle emergency spine boarding situations it is important for other medical professionals to understand and be able to assist if necessary. The 2nd year medical students had great questions during each session that showed they were extremely interested in the sports medicine field. 

Overall this event was a huge success for spreading knowledge about the athletic training profession and building interprofessional teamwork. The group leaders for the concussion session were Killian Hollo, Adam Long and Paul Lamb. Group leaders for the taping session were Madeleine Bresnahan, Erin Fabbri and Rory Cusack. Taping Models were Claire Ditman and Cheyenne Meinershagen. The group leaders for the spine boarding were Bridget Bushong, Jenna Ginsberg and Ben Wildman, models included Mitchell Buerck and Allison Stefan.

A big thank you to all of those who participated in the event!

SLU AT Student Enjoys Clinical Experience at Parkway South HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway South High School
By:  Maddie Bresnahan (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

This year I get the opportunity to be at Parkway South High School with preceptor Mike Tzianos ATC who is at South through Mercy Sports Medicine! I enjoy learning under Mike's guidance, he is an experienced athletic trainer with so much knowledge to share with me. I get to spend the afternoons with Mike and become accustomed  to working in a high school and treating high school athletes.

I’ve already learned so much this semester! I constantly get to practice my athletic training skills. I tape, evaluate, and rehab athletes daily and I get great feedback from my preceptor to improve my skills. He also is always teaching my new skills and helpful tips to improve myself.

I love my clinical site this semester! And I am excited to continue learning and practicing athletic training skills.

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 Engage with Faculty Courtside at Nike Elite 100 Basketball Camp

Every June for the last 17 years, the campus of Saint Louis University has welcomed approximately 100 of the top men's basketball student-athletes aged 16 and under from across the country for Nike's Elite 100 Basketball Camp. 

The SLU AT  Program provides medical care for the camp, which creates a great opportunity for Faculty, Staff and Students to collaborate in a clinical context.  

At this camp, the licensed faculty and staff AT's empower the students to "learn by doing", making the most of the opportunities to interact, debrief and reflect on the experience.

During this year's Elite 100, the NBA draft was held, and many of the former players from the camp were drafted by NBA teams.  NBA legend Rasheed Wallace served as a coach at the camp.

We appreciate this opportunity to engage and learn in an enjoyable setting.

SLU AT Student Builds Clinical Skills with Dr. Tyler Wadsworth and SLU Alum at Saint Louis Medical Clinic

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Saint Louis Medical Clinic

By: Maddie Bresnahan (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

This summer I have the opportunity to work with a SLU Athletic Training alumna, Heather Koch, MAT, LAT, ATC and SLU AT Program Medical Director Tyler Wadsworth MD. I get to spend my summer mornings in the Saint Louis Medical Clinic where I see all kind of orthopedic conditions as well as learn more about general medical conditions.

I’ve grown very comfortable taking vitals and obtaining medical histories. I am also learning so much as I watch Dr. Wadsworth use evaluation and treatment techniques that we have not yet learn in class. 

I get the opportunity to look at and discuss patient’s diagnostic imaging, assist Dr. Wadsworth in giving different types of joint injections, observe the doctor when performing acupuncture, and learn how a doctor’s office operates. 

I am enjoying my summer clinical experience very much. And I am excited for what the rest of the summer brings.

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

SLU AT Student Appreciates the Diversity of Clinical Experiences at Lindenwood-Belleville

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindenwood University-Belleville
By: Madeleine Bresnahan (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

This semester I am fortunate to get clinical experience with the Lindenwood University-Belleville's Rugby team. I get to work with their talented and knowledgeable athletic trainer, Sarah Hayden, MS, ATC. I been able to work with the athletes in the athletic training room, performing all different kinds of treatments. I also have the opportunity to work with them on the field during practices and games. I’ve had a taste of how a college athletic training room works and I really enjoy it.

I have learned so much at this semester so far. I have learned a lot of different stretching and PNF techniques. I have also learned a bunch of different manual therapy techniques that I get to practice. Along with learning new things I get to practice and continue to develop my evaluation, rehabilitation, and taping skills. Sarah is constantly teaching me something new or helping me perfect my existing skills.

I’m learning so much and having such a good time. I love my clinical site this semester!

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 Enjoys Learning in a Busy Setting at Marquette HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Marquette High School
By: Madeleine Bresnahan (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

This semester I get the opportunity to spend a bunch of my time at Marquette High School. My preceptor is their knowledgeable athletic trainer Mathew Petersen, ATC from Athletico. I’ve been able get experience in their athletic training room and got to know the workings of a busy high school. I’ve also been able to work with and get to know many of the athletes.

I’ve learned a lot this semester so far. I’ve learned how to evaluate athletes and their injuries. My preceptor is constantly teaching me new special tests and always explaining things to me as I watch him during an evaluation. I’ve had a lot of experience looking at different athletes and their injuries. I am also constantly practicing my taping skills. I get to tape ankles and wrists daily. My preceptor has showed me new taping techniques that I have been able to put to use.

I love my clinical site. I’ve already learned so much. It will be hard to leave next semester.

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.

New SLU AT Students Enjoy Interaction with SLU Alum/Preceptor at Westminster Christian Academy

New AT Student Blog Post - Maddie Bresnahan and Tara Honda (MAT Class of 2018)

The clinical site we have most recently visited was Westminster Christian Academy. The preceptor there is Hillary Orf ATC and the PY1 AT student is Ali Graham. Both of us have been to this site multiple times and really enjoy the atmosphere that WCA has. Through observing the care provided by Hillary and Ali, we have learned a lot through observation.

Some of the many things we have learned there include different taping techniques for ankles and wrists. We have also observed the actions athletic trainers take during different sporting events. We have witnessed preventive care before games and practices through heat and icing as well as post practice issues. One thing that stands out to us about WCA is that it is a combination of middle school and high school, so some athletes come from all age ranges with similar injuries.

With Hillary being a Saint Louis University graduate, she has given us lots of advice, tips and studying strategies to us succeed in this athletic training program. In addition, she is hired by WCA through Athletico. She has given us perspective how working as a certified athletic trainer is different for everyone, since she works at the office during the day and WCA at night. This is one of our favorite clinical sites and we are thankful Hilary and Ali let us observe there for much.

This is one of a series of blog posts written by students entering the professional phase of the SLU AT Program as a part of MAT 3000 - AT Student Development II.

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.