SLU AT Students and Faculty Team Up at Nike Basketball Camp

Saint Louis University's Simon Recreation Center serves as the host site for one of the nation's top basketball events each June.  

Nike invites some of the country's top high school freshmen and sophomore basketball players to the Elite 100 Basketball Camp to help them develop their skills on and off the court.  Many of the top players currently in the NBA participated in this event over the years.

Once again this year, on June 7-10, 2018, SLU Athletic Training Program faculty and students worked side by side to provide medical care for the camp.  

This provides a great clinical connection for our program, and has emerged into a tradition and gives them a common experience over the years.

We appreciate this opportunity each year to empower our students in a fun and exciting clinical environment.

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.

AT Students Get Unique Experiences from the Special Events on the SLU Campus this Summer

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Nike Elite 100 Basketball Camp and USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials, St. Louis, MO

By: Danny Smith (MAT Class of 2017)

This summer, I have had the opportunity to work at a few athletic events outside of my summer field experience.  I have been fortunate enough to work alongside my classmates, professors, and other health professionals at the Nike Elite 100 basketball camp and the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials. Both of these events were held on the campus of Saint Louis University and the SLU Athletic Training Program played an integral role in providing health care at these events.

At the Nike Elite 100 camp, I was fortunate to get to work with many of my fellow classmates. Through this experience, we were able to put many of the skills we have learned in the classroom into actual practice.  It’s amazing to see how far we all have come in the past year.  Just last year we were learning about the body’s structures in gross anatomy, and now we are able to use our knowledge to provide treatment and care to injured athletes.

At the camp, we took player measurements such as weight, height, wingspan, and reach.  We also were available to tape players before each playing session.  When the players were on the court, we stood courtside in case an injury occurred and when one did, we used our injury assessment skills while under the supervision of our professors.  Getting to work alongside all of our professors was one of the best aspects of this experience.  Over the past four years we have been able to learn from their expertise, but through this camp we were allowed to see them use their skills in real life situations.  

I was lucky enough to spend a few days at the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials at Chaifetz Arena. At this event, our program played a supportive role to the USA Olympic Medical Staff.  It was a joy to get to see the techniques used by the medical staff to help the hopeful Olympians to compete at their best.  This experience also gave me the opportunity to network with athletic trainers and physicians from across the country.  I was able to ask about how they became involved with the USA Gymnastics Team Medical Staff and the journey it took to get to such a position. Additionally, this opportunity gave me experience with a sport that I do not get to cover in my typical clinical rotations.

Through both the Nike Elite 100 camp and the USA Gymnastic Olympic Trials I have been able to assist elite level athletes.  I have gotten a glimpse of the athletic training services these athletes need in order to achieve success.  

It is experiences like these that help the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program stand out as one of the best in the country.       

SLU AT Faculty and Students Team Up to Provide Medical Care for Prominent Nike Basketball Camp

Since 2000, Saint Louis University's Simon Recreation Center has served as the home to one of Nike's most prestigious basketball camps.

The Nike Elite 100 Camp brings 100 of the top basketball players 15 years to participate in 4 days of competition and instruction along with leadership training. Many future NBA players have participated in this camp as a high school athlete.

The SLU AT Program faculty and students have also been providing AT services for this camp since the program admitted its first group of students in 2008.  It has provided a great opportunity for SLU AT students and faculty to work together at a fun event.

SLU AT Faculty and Students Team Up to Provide Care at Prestigious Basketball Camp

Faculty and students of the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program teamed up to serve as the medical team for the Nike Elite One Hundred basketball camp on June 12-15, 2014.  This year marked the 15th year of the camp at SLU, which takes place at the Simon Recreation Center on SLU's Frost Campus.

This camp annually invites 100 of the top men's basketball players aged 16 and under from across North America for four days of basketball and leadership development.  Many past participants went on to become college All-Americans; and play in the NBA and other professional leagues around the world.

SLU AT Faculty and Students with St. Louis native, NBA player and Nike Camp alum Bradley Beal.

The best part of this camp is that it allows SLU AT faculty and students to interact clinically in a fun and busy athletic health care environment!

SLU AT Faculty and Students Team Up at the Nike Elite 100 Camp

Saint Louis University has been the home of the one of Nike's most exclusive basketball camps since 2000.  Originally called the Nike Hoop Jamboree, it is now called the Nike Elite 100 Camp.  It is called the Elite 100 camp because 100 of the top basketball players 15 years and under are invited to participate in it.  The 2012 NBA Draft featured 8 former participants from this camp in its top 10 picks.

SLU AT Students on the first day of camp - Back Row: Dan Herrin, Jessica Buschjost, Heather Koch and Emily Grace; Front Row: Angelo Bongiorno and Andrea Auclair.

SLU AT faculty and students have also been providing AT services for this camp since the program first brought in students in 2008.  It is a great opportunity for SLU AT students and faculty to work together at a fun event.

The breaks in camp provided great teaching opportunities as Dr. Tim Howell reviews anatomy with SLU AT students AJ VanderVorste, Andrea Auclair and Heather Koch.

SLU AT Student Wraps Up a Busy Summer!

A Summer to Remember!

By: Bridget Quirk (SLU MAT Class of 2013)

Bridget Quirk (MAT Class of 2013) received a 2012 NATA Foundation Scholarship this summer.

Over the course of the summer, I was fortunate enough to experience not one, but three amazing opportunities. My triad of experiences included: providing medical coverage for Nike Elite 100, helping the MAT class of 2014 with their summer courses, and interning with Dr. Matt Matava at Washington University Orthopedics. There are an overwhelming number of career paths in the field of athletic training to consider as I begin my final year of the program. This summer, I had the unique opportunity to explore the role of an athletic trainer as an educator and as a physician’s extender.

I kicked off my summer in a traditional athletic training setting: the basketball courts. My classmates and I provided medical care to the Nike Elite 100 athletes under the supervision of the SLU athletic training faculty. We stayed busy taping and stretching the athletes before each practice. We were also responsible for assessing, treating, and documenting any injuries that occurred throughout the weekend. I have worked with high school basketball in the past; however, this experience was standout. The nation’s top 100 high school freshman and sophomore basketball players were invited to this skills development event. This elite-level of training brought about a high intensity atmosphere, which added a new dynamic to the experience.

Most of my summer days were spent working with the MAT class of 2014 as they entered the professional phase of the program. I was the teaching assistant for their summer athletic training course as well as a private and group tutor for gross anatomy. Although it was still a challenging class, I enjoyed gross anatomy much more the second time around. I was able to apply concepts from my kinesiology and musculoskeletal assessment courses to the cadavers, which reinforced my understanding of the material. Nonetheless, I spent quite a bit of time reviewing the textbook and identifying structures in the cadaver lab. The most enjoyable part of this experience was getting to know the incoming graduate class. The entire group is enthusiastic about the profession and eager to begin the program, especially now that they have survived gross anatomy. Over the course of the summer, the MAT students developed a basic skills set in preparation for their first clinical rotation. They will put these skills to use this week when football camp begins at their assigned high school or college. I am excited to hear about their first clinical experiences this fall.

The highlight of my summer was my internship with Dr. Matt Matava at Washington University Orthopedics in Chesterfield. Dr. Matava is the head team physician for the St. Louis Rams and Washington University athletics, and the assistant team physician for the St. Louis Blues. He specializes in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, particularly injuries involving the knee and shoulder joint.

For the first few days, I observed Dr. Matava as he examined patients in the clinic. Most of these patients complained of activity-related injuries. After taking a history, evaluating the injury, and analyzing the radiographs, Dr. Matava would advise the patient on the suspected diagnosis and recommended course of treatment. He used a combination of laymen’s terms, analogies, and 3D anatomical models to effectively communicate with the patient. As soon as I became familiar with the clinic, Dr. Matava would allow me to see the patient first. I was responsible for taking a thorough history and documenting it appropriately. I would then present the case to Dr. Matava and suggest a possible clinical diagnosis. Often times, Dr. Matava came up with relevant history questions that I did not think to ask the patient. His feedback allowed me to greatly improve and refine my history taking skills throughout the summer.

Over the course of my internship, I became proficient in recognizing the signs and symptoms of common knee and shoulder orthopedic conditions. However, the most valuable piece of information I learned from this experience was the primacy of the patient. Dr. Matava constantly stressed the importance of interpersonal communication and showing interest in the patient’s activities and goals. This experience gave me insight to the role and responsibilities of an athletic trainer working as physician’s extender.

Washington University Orthopedics provides an excellent learning environment for graduate and medical students. The medical staff I worked with was amazing. Not only did I have the opportunity to learn alongside Dr. Matava’s medical residents and fellow, but also I was able to learn from them. They shared personal experiences, explained patient cases, and encouraged me to ask questions. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to learn from Dr. Matava and his colleagues. I look forward to staying connected with Dr. Matava and the Washington University sports medicine team as I start my fall clinical with Washington University athletics.

Students in the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Education 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. 

AT Faculty, Staff and Students Cover National Events on SLU Campus

The week of June 7-10, 2012 was a busy one on the Saint Louis University campus and the SLU Athletic Training faculty, staff and students were mobilized to participate in the events!

The top men's and women's gymnasts in the USA competed in the VISA Championships at Chaifetz Arena to determine who goes on to the US Olympic Trials.  Local coverage for the event was sponsored by SLUCare and coverage was coordinated by SLU Head Athletic Trainer Jonathan Burch.  SLU Sports Medicine physicians and SLU AT faculty, staff and students worked with the USA Gymnastics Sports Medicine team to provide coverage for the event.

Meghan Gehrs ATC (SLU MAT Class of 2011) and Katie Schneebeck (SLU MAT Class of 2013) at the balance beam.

For the 13th straight year, Nike has hosted the top 100 high school freshman and sophomore boy's basketball players in the Simon Recreation Center at SLU.  Over the years, this camp has included many future college and NBA players and the SLU AT Program provided medical coverage for the event. SLU AT Program Director Tony Breitbach served as the Medical Coordinator for the event.

SLU MAT Class of 2013 students pictured during a break at the Nike Elite 100 Camp: Vice DiRenzo, Ryan Vallo, Sarah Schaefer, Bridget Quirk, Adriana Black, Alex Sawyer and Rachel Cocek.

The busy camp provided the students with many great learning opportunities!

SLU AT Faculty and Students Cover Prestigious NIKE Event

SLU Athletic Training Education Program faculty and students worked together to cover the NIKE Elite 100 basketball camp.  Previously known as the NIKE Hoop Jamboree, it has been held on the SLU campus since 2000.  Numerous current NBA players have attended the camp over the years when they were high school freshmen and sophomores.

The description of the event from the NIKE website:
Previously known as the NIKE Hoop Jamboree for the past 12 years, the NIKE Elite 100 has been the nation’s premier basketball event for elite underclassmen. This year, NIKE, along with the St. Louis Eagles Basketball Club, is inviting the country’s best basketball players to St. Louis for four intense days of competition. The goal for the NIKE Elite 100 is to give the best players the opportunity to develop their skills and to grow their game to heights never imagined. The NIKE Elite 100 is held on the campus of St. Louis University, in the heart of mid-town St. Louis and just minutes from the renowned Gateway Arch.

Pictured above is a group of the SLU faculty and students who worked the Elite 100 event.  NIKE provided the medical staff with gold uniform shirts so they could easily be identified at the event.