SLU AT Students Get a Diverse and Dynamic Learning Environment with Billiken Athletics

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Saint Louis University
By: Erin Fabbri, Rory Cusack, Grant Hollander, Matt Murphy, Adam Long, and Dimitri Kilian (SLU MAT Class of 2019), Donielle Francis, Ryan Dale and Pat O’Neill (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

The Saint Louis University Department of Athletics provides a wonderful clinical experience for all of us!

Currently three 2nd year (PY2) students and six 1st year (PY1) students with the Billikens and we have been given the opportunity to get experience with multiple Division 1 sports teams during their winter and spring seasons. Our preceptors are: Jonathan Burch, ATC, Ben Heimos, ATC, Lizzy Kienstra, ATC, Petra Knight ATC and Tammy Pastor ATC.  They have allowed each of us to have very unique clinical experiences and has exposed us to a diverse group of athletes and other health professionals.

As PY2s, we have enjoyed two wonderful semesters a SLU, which has been great for our development as future athletic trainers. We have learned so much from our respective preceptors and they have done a great job of preparing us for the real world. Our preceptors have helped us and allowed us to develop our skill set and gain more confidence by increasing our responsibilities and allowing us to learn through hands-on experience. We have also enjoyed getting a chance to interact and help mentor the PY1s. We know and understand exactly what they are going through, so we welcome the opportunity to help them grow.

As PY1s, we cover basketball, baseball, swimming and diving, and track and field. We have learned more about rehab, modalities and how to work with other athletic trainers. At this clinical site we have been exposed to more resources such as laser therapy, SwimEx, AlterG and Normatec, which can improve and expand our skill set. We have the opportunity to develop better relationships with the athletes by being able to see them daily. We have had a great experience thus far by both the preceptors and PY2s helping us build a better understanding of athletic training.

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 Appreciate the Opportunity to Gain Clinical Experience with Billiken Athletics

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Saint Louis University Athletics

By: Ryan Dale and Donielle Francis (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

We have the privilege of being placed at Saint Louis University for our PY2 Clinical site. We are currently in the midst of the fall season here at SLU and Donielle is assisting mainly with women’s soccer with Lizzy Kienstra, MAT, ATC, and Ryan is assisting primarily with men’s soccer with preceptor Ben Heimos, ATC. This placement has afforded us the opportunity to work in a collegiate Division 1 setting and be exposed to a diverse group of athletes. 

Donielle: This year I get to learn from preceptor Lizzy Kienstra, a SLU MAT grad. I am assisting her with the Women’s Soccer team, which is currently in season, as well as assisting the Women’s Basketball and Swimming and Diving Teams as they prepare for their upcoming seasons. I have been able to assist Lizzy in all aspects of injury evaluation, treatments and rehab plans. This has given me great hands on experience and instant feedback which is helping me feel more and more confident in my abilities. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year to continue to hone my skills at SLU!

Ryan: I have the incredible opportunity with Ben Heimos, ATC and the Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer team. Being able to assist the Athletics Department that I once represented as an athlete is an honor. My experience has been truly great so far; I like the increased responsibility, and ability to be hands-on to practice my skills. Ben allows me to work within all the domains of athletic training, and the athletes trust me to provide them with the best possible care. I have also enjoyed working with and learning from all the other ATs at Chaifetz. I am excited to continue to grow as an Athletic Trainer alongside so many knowledgeable mentors.

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 Well-Rounded Experience in DC at Georgetown University

SLU AT Summer Field Experience Spotlight - Georgetown University
By: Donielle Francis (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

This summer, I had the opportunity to complete my summer field experience in Washington DC with Georgetown University. I was able to split my time working with both the football team and the women’s basketball team while they are in the middle of their summer conditioning and lifting programs. I also observed the interprofessional care and interaction between the athletic trainers, coaches, team physicians, and strength and conditioning staff as it pertains to the health and wellbeing of the athletes.

While working with football, I was under the direction of Associate Athletic Trainer Travis McCormack MA, ATC. I was able to assist and/or observe team physicals, rehab programs, inventory, insurance and purchasing of supplies. I was also able to participate in reviewing emergency care and spine boarding with the GU staff.

The second half of my summer was spent with women’s basketball, under the guidance of Associate Athletic Trainer Shannon O’Donnell MS, ATC. With Shannon, I have been able to gain more experience in different modes of therapy such as cupping, ultrasound, microcurrent and manual therapies. Getting time to just  sit down and chat with both Travis and Shannon during the summer about the life of an athletic trainer and all their different roles and responsibilities was all invaluable information to me. They both always made sure to talk me through their roles and tasks and the reasoning behind why and how they do the things that they do.

I truly had a very well rounded experience here at Georgetown. I appreciate the sports medicine staff and athletes at Georgetown for being welcoming and allowing me to ask questions, observe and improve my overall skills.

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

SLU AT Student Finds a Welcoming Clinical Site at Parkway West High School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Parkway West High School
By: Donielle Francis (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

This semester, I have the pleasure of continuing my clinical experience at Parkway West High School, learning under the guidance of Matt Berning, ATC from Mercy Sports Medicine. I arrived at West amid the winter sports working with basketball, wrestling and swimming and diving. We are now in full swing with the spring sports which includes baseball, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, water polo, volleyball and tennis. This has given me the opportunity to work with sports that I have never worked with. Transitioning from a college clinical experience to a high school experience has been significantly different yet very beneficial. I have been able to methodically work on enhancing my injury evaluation skills, taping, as well as diving into more rehabilitation protocols.

Parkway West has been a very friendly and welcoming environment. I have been treated like a valuable member of the team from day one. Matt has showed me how important it is to have good working relationships and communication with all involved, from the Athletic Directors, to coaches, players and parents. Also, with Matt being a part of Mercy Sports Medicine, I have seen the benefit of having coordinated sports medicine care with the physicians, orthopedists, physical therapists and athletic trainers. The communication ensures that all are on the same page which is very beneficial to the student athlete.

I am truly enjoying my time at West so far and I look forward to continuing my semester here and developing my 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 Collaboratively Learn about, from and with AT Students at Lindenwood-Belleville

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindenwood University-Belleville
By: Madeleine Hauck (SLU MAT Class of 2017) and Donielle Francis (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

Throughout our experiences, it can be challenging to work with your peers even when they are within your own program.  Our clinical site this semester has not only challenged us to work collaboratively and helpfully as first (PY1) and second (PY2) year professional students from the SLU Athletic Training program, but to also work with Athletic Training Students from a different program.  This was definitely a daunting thought when we first arrived at Lindenwood-Belleville, but from the first day any fears we had were calmed.

The Athletic Training Staff, consisting of faculty and Graduate Assistants, were very welcoming. They wanted us to feel comfortable and that we are one of them rather than an outsider.  Gathered in a room full of Lindenwood Athletic Training students, they all made an effort to have conversations with us, introduce themselves, and let us in on the banter. Within a few days, we were able to feel at home and we are very grateful for that.

Our experience has been very unique due to this dynamic.  We can learn from the Lindenwood students, and we hope they have been able to learn from us.  It is great to see what a different perspective or learning technique can do to enhance your own knowledge and abilities.  All of our preceptors are somehow involved in the education process at Lindenwood, which makes them great advocates for our learning and enhancement of skills.  They ask us questions, give us feedback, and teach us new techniques on a daily basis.

Working with Football comes with its own set of challenges, but we feel we have been able to meet those well.  When we look past our experience as just being long hours and many injuries, we can see that it is actually a great opportunity for exposure to a multitude of treatments.  We have been able to come up with rehab plans, tape, brace, apply modalities, work with acute care situations, and help with documentation.  We are really excited about the opportunities we have had to grow as students and professionals.

From a PY2 perspective, I (Mada) have had more autonomy this year than in the past.  The staff at Lindenwood gives me space to show my skills and abilities.  These new responsibilities have helped my confidence in clinical decision making grow.  It is also helpful in my development of relationships with the athletes as they now feel more comfortable coming to me because they trust my decisions to help them.  I have been able to see patients through the whole rehab process, formulating and modifying treatments as we go.  I am very happy and thankful this sense of autonomy and professionalism.

From a PY1 perspective, I (Donielle) have been able to utilize what I am currently learning in the classroom and have started to immediately use those skills. When you can learn something in the classroom during the day and see it in the training room that evening, the puzzle pieces really start to come together! Most importantly, I have a better understanding as to what it is like to be an Athletic Trainer in a collegiate setting. There is collaboration taking place between your own staff, team doctors, coaches, players, opposing Athletic Trainers, Emergency Personnel and referees, just to name a few. Lindenwood University Belleville has been a very beneficial clinical site to aid in my development as an athletic training student.

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.