SLU AT Program Advisory Board Plays an Important Role in Strategic Planning

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program has a Program Advisory Board of 12 external community stakeholders that has a valuable role in program improvement.  Currently the SLU Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, the Athletic Training Program and the Program in Physical Therapy are engaging in department and program level strategic planning facilitated by Dr. Jennifer Giancola.

On the evening of April 4, 2018, the AT Program Advisory Board participated in this process and provided valuable feedback through a SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) Analysis activity.

2017-2018 SLU AT Program Advisory Board

Matt Bayes, M.D. - Bluetail Medical Group (community & clinical partner)

Jonathan Burch, ATC - Saint Louis University - Department of Athletics (clinical partner)

Julie Davitz, MHS, PT, ATC  - SSM (alum & community partner)

Scott Kaar, M.D. - Saint Louis University - SSM/SLUCare Sports Medicine (community partner)

Rick Larsen, MS, ATC - Washington University (community & clinical partner)

Aaron McBride, MPT, ATC - Apex Network Physical Therapy (community partner)

Jason Muchow, MHA, ATC - Mercy Sports Medicine (community & clinical partner)

Paul Nativi, DMD - Nikodem Dental & Saint Louis University, Team Dentist  (community partner)

Laura O’Connor, MPT, OCS - Athletico (alum & community partner)

Mike Overturf, ATC, PES - Athletico (community & clinical partner)

Fred Shinn, MS, PT - ATI Physical Therapy (community & clinical partner)

Becky Stigen MS, ATC - Affton High School (community & clinical partner)

L. Tyler Wadsworth, M.D. - SLU Athletic Training Program Medical Director

Congratulations to 2016 SLU AT Program Award Honorees!

The Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program has announced the 2016 Program Awards. These awards go to graduating Master of Athletic Training students who are nominated by faculty and their preceptors.  The Program Awards committee review the nominations and determine the award honorees.  Members of this committee are: Dr. Mike Markee (chair/faculty), Dr. Tim Howell (faculty), Dr. Paul Nativi (advisory board member), Lizzy Kienstra (alum/preceptor) and Kevin Clear (staff/NATA Journals).

Demeisha Crawford with Dean Wilson and Dr. Breitbach

Academic Excellence Award

Criteria: Highest GPA in AT Program Professional Phase

Honoree: Demeisha Crawford (Phoenix, AZ)

Community Service Award

Criteria: Significant participation in community service through entire academic career. Nominated by students (including self), faculty or staff.

Honoree: Demeisha Crawford (Phoenix, AZ)

Rachel Spika with Dean Wilson and Dr. Breitbach

Professional Service Award

Criteria: Significant participation in service to the profession through entire academic career. Nominated by faculty or staff.

Honoree: Rachel Spika (Apple Valley, MN)

Angelina Vitale and David O'Loughlin with Dean Wilson and Dr. Breitbach

Clinical Excellence Award

Criteria: Excellence in clinical performance. Nominated by faculty, staff or preceptor.

Honorees: David O'Loughlin (Kenosha, WI) and Angelina Vitale (St. Louis, MO)

SLU AT Program Advisory Board Conducts Fall Meeting

On November 20, 2013, the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program Advisory Board met at Cafe' Ventana near the SLU Frost Campus.  This group provides essential community feedback regarding the program and is invaluable in program planning and improvement.  The program is very fortunate to have such a wealth of expertise available in the St. Louis region.

Anthony Breitbach, Julie Davitz and Laura O'Connor

Randy Craig, Tim Howell and Jennifer Baine

Tyler Wadsworth, Bridget Quirk, Mark Reinking and Mike Markee

Laura O'Connor and Kitty Newsham

Matt Bayes and Paul Nativi

2013-14 SLU AT Program Advisory Board Members

Jason Bennett PhD, PT, SCS, ATC
Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy

Jonathan Burch ATC
Saint Louis University Department of Athletics

Randy Craig PT, ATC, MS
PRORehab Physical, Sports and Occupational Therapy

Julie Davitz PT, ATC, MHS
Rehab 1 Network

Matt Bayes, MD
Blue Tail Medical Group

Scott Kaar MD
Saint Louis University Orthopedics

Rick Larsen MS, ATC
Washington University in St. Louis Department of Athletics

Aaron McBride MPT, ATC
PRORehab Physical, Sports and Occupational Therapy

Paul Nativi DMD
Saint Louis University and part time private practice

Laura O'Connor MPT, ATC, CSCS
PRORehab Physical, Sports and Occupational Therapy

Fred Shinn MS, PT
Monroe County Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine

Tyler Wadsworth MD
Saint Louis University and Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

SLU AT Student Gets Unique Summer Experiences in St. Louis

Busy Summer with the Billikens
By: Alexandria Sawyer (SLU MAT Class of 2013)

This summer I am completing my athletic training internship at Saint Louis University (SLU). I have always known that I wanted to work with Division I athletics in my professional career. So, naturally, working at SLU was ideal for me. It did not take long for me to realize that working at SLU this summer could open up doors for other learning opportunities. On my second day, I assisted head athletic trainer, Jonathan “JB” Burch ATC, LAT, with welcoming the staff of USA Gymnastics for the Visa Championships. The USA-G medical staff was very friendly and such great teachers. Working with past, present, and future Olympians was no doubt an awesome experience. 

Alex Sawyer in the mouthguard lab at SLU's Center for Advanced Dental Education.

Working at SLU also allowed me to attend the National Athletic Trainers' Association Annual Meeting and Symposium, since the lovely city of St Louis was selected to host this year. I attended lectures and volunteered at the trade show. It was so motivating to be around certified athletic trainers, newly certified athletic trainers, and students like myself. The most important lecture I attended was “Providing Dental Coverage at Athletic Events - Be Prepared” (presented by the Academy for Sports Dentistry). This lecture was important to me because I would later help Dr. Paul Nativi and Theresa Hummel, MS, ATC, LAT make mouth guards for some women’s basketball and field hockey players. Although I was not allowed to take the impressions, I was allowed to participate in every other detail that is put into making a mouth guard, from heating the material over the impression to polishing the mouth guard to the final fitting. This was such an awesome learning experience and I am so grateful that Dr. Nativi allowed me to work alongside him.

Alex Sawyer trimming the mouthguard with a heated knife.

In addition to these experiences, I have been working closely with each SLU athletic trainer (JB, Theresa, Miya Sullivan, MS, ATC, LAT, and Angie Wills, MS, ATC, LAT) to monitor and treat the men’s and women’s basketball and soccer, field hockey and volleyball teams during summer workouts. I have also been working to get the Simtrak injury monitoring software up and running. So far this summer had been very busy yet rewarding. I am looking forward to what is left to come.

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.