SLU AT Program Faculty and Alumni have a Big Week in the Big Easy

Each year, the NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo provides a great opportunity for professional development and fellowship.  This year's meeting was no exception and the city of New Orleans provided a great site for convention's festivities!

One of the highlights of the NATA Convention is our Alumni Reception!  Over 50 alumni and friends attended this year's reception at the Olde NOLA Cookery on June 27th.

There were several educational presentations with SLU connections:

Katie Sniffen MS, ATC presented research from our interprofessional DPT/MAT Therapeutic Modalities course.

Program Director Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC presented a poster on his interprofessional collaboration research.

SLU AT alum Tyler Wood MS, MAT, ATC presented his doctoral research from the University of Illinois.

Gatorade premiered a short film entitled "First on the Field" highlighting the experience of the NFL's first female athletic trainers.  SLU AT alum Hilary Stepansky MAT, ATC is featured in the video and served on a panel discussing her experiences with the Los Angeles Rams as one of six female AT's in the NFL.

The video of the presentation is available here:
https://www.pscp.tv/GPerformancePartner/1yNGaXDoyEqKj?t=1m56s 

SLU AT Student Appreciates a Special Opportunity at the ASAHP Annual Meeting

Professional Development Experience at the ASAHP Conference in New Orleans

By: Collin Peterson (SLU MAT Class of 2017)

I recently had the privilege of attending the National Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) conference in New Orleans this October.  Thanks to the nomination and sponsorship from my Program Director, Dr. Anthony Breitbach, and the Dean of the Doisy College of Health Sciences, Dr. Mardell Wilson, I was selected as one of seven students from various health professions and universities to develop a plan and infrastructure to start a national ASAHP student organization.  I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity that the SLU Doisy College of Health Sciences has made possible. This experience has also helped shape my career path as a future athletic trainer.

It was extremely rewarding to be a part of such a select group of highly motivated students and to see the overwhelming support and enthusiasm the ASAHP Board of Directors gave us for our efforts developing the ASAHP Student Assembly.  As the only athletic training student in the group, I enjoyed seeing how my athletic training experiences go beyond the clinical site and have helped shaped my collaboration and problem solving abilities.  

In addition to working with my team, I moderated presentations that included great work on Interprofessional Education from SLU’s Dr. Leslie Hinyard, Eileen Toomey and Dr. Breitbach. I also listened to several inspirational speakers on the future of healthcare education and networked with accomplished professors and deans such as Dr. David Perrin and Dr. Chris Ingersoll, former editors of the Journal of Athletic Training.

Seeing all the great research being done and interacting with leaders in higher education so passionate about helping students, it reaffirmed my recent decision to pursue a Ph.D. so that I can contribute valuable research and impact students the way the SLU Athletic Training Program has impacted me. I want to reiterate my gratitude to the Doisy College of Health Sciences for giving me such an enlightening and influential opportunity that has helped shape my professional future as an athletic trainer.            

SLU AT Faculty, Staff and Students Participate at NATA Meeting in New Orleans

The National Athletic Trainers' Association 62nd Annual Meeting and Symposium took place at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 20-22, 2011.  Saint Louis University Faculty, Staff and Students participated in the event.  On  Monday, June 20th: Dr. Tony Breitbach served as a moderator for the feature presentation "The Athletic Trainer and the Law" and Dr. Kitty Newsham presented a Peer-to-Peer presentation on "Competency Assurance: the Changing Face of Recertification" sponsored by the Board of Certification.

Many of the SLU AT Education Program's Clinical Instructors and several students also attended.  It was great opportunity for fun, fellowship and professional development.  Next year's meeting will take place in St. Louis on June 26-29, 2012.  Saint Louis University looks to be a very active participant in the event.