SLU Pre-professional AT Student Finds Inspiration from AT's at her Alma Mater - Stagg HS in Chicago

New AT Student Blog Post - Allison Stefan (SLU MAT Class of 2020) 

I am a junior student in the SLU AT Program from Chicago. As time is winding down in my pre-professional portion of the program and the professional phase fast approaches, I am looking forward to my future endeavors. In the past three years I have gained valuable knowledge from the great opportunities I have experienced in our program. From direct observation hours at Track Meets here at SLU to touring the Cardinals Athletic Training room, I feel I am prepared to take on the professional phase starting this summer. 

One memory that has motivated me to keep pushing through, is over spring break I returned to my high school to observe Certified Athletic Trainers, Kat Hermanas ATC, Reggie Castillo ATC, and Sharon West ATC at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. It was such an amazing feeling coming back to the Athletic Training room I once was treated at as a student-athlete and where I realized what I wanted to do with my life. The rush of student-athletes crowding the Athletic Training room when the sound of the last bell rang brought back a flood of meaningful memories.

Over the course of the week, Reggie, Kat and Sharon enlightened me of new techniques that they implement in practice. From observing multiple ankle and knee tapings for the girls’ soccer team, to icing sore shoulders of the baseball players, and rehab/ strengthening program for an ACL tear recovery, I got to witness multiple tasks I will be doing in the future at my clinical sites.  Kat, Reggie, and Sharon demonstrated great practice by having the student-athlete repeat back the instructions they provided them, taking good SOAP notes for documentation, and having the injured student-athletes complete rehab notes pages logging the exercises they were doing. 

I had a wonderful time spending a full week in an Athletic Training setting which was a promising feeling that I chose the right path for a career. I got to play around with different types of tape/ equipment, observe strengthening and stretching techniques, and ask questions about how the AT got to where they were today, all things we have been practicing these past three years. My favorite was when the student-athletes would come up to me and ask me about their injury. Even though I couldn’t help the student-athletes at that point, knowing that I will be able to assist in the near future was encouraging. 

Overall, I could not have asked to observe better AT’s during my direct observation week at Stagg High School. I am both eager and nervous starting the professional phase in a few short weeks, but look forward to continuing down the path to reach my career goal as an Athletic Trainer. 

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 Pre-professional AT Student Gets Eye-Opening Look into Her Future as an Athletic Trainer

New AT Student Blog Post - Caitlyn Thomas (SLU MAT Class of 2020)  

I am wrapping up my third year in the SLU Athletic Training program, and this year has been eye-opening in terms of my future as an Athletic Trainer.

I was able to participate in Direct Observation hours, which was super helpful in gaining a little bit of a better understanding of what I am about to get myself into next year with Clinical Practicum, and potentially what my future career could look like. I was fortunate enough to get hours at Fontbonne University, John Burroughs School, a SLU club hockey event, the NCAA and SEC Gymnastics Championships, and the NCAA Bowling Championships.

My favorite places that I went and got direct observation hours at were John Burroughs Scool, and the Gymnastics Championships. At JBS, Caitlin Gibson (PY2) and Danielle Jabczynski (PY1) offered me so much advice on how to approach my upcoming classes, they walked me through why they did what they did when treating an athlete, and they told me about their different experiences at other clinical sites. During the Gymnastics Championships, I was able to hangout in the Athletic Training tent and observe our SLU PY students, as well as different team’s Athletic Trainers, provide care to the gymnasts. I loved the atmosphere of the gymnastics events, and would potentially be interested in working with gymnasts in my future.

I am anxious/excited/nervous about the upcoming semesters in the SLU AT program. So far, I feel like my classes have prepared me to succeed, but it’s going to be a whole new experience to be starting clinical in the fall and finally getting some hands-on experience. First off, however, I have to take the so-called “hardest class” of our program: Gross Anatomy. I’m nervous and excited at the same time for that class. I know I won’t have much of a Summer, but at least I’ll be putting in work along with my fellow classmates.

Here’s to the future!

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 Pre-Professional AT Student Reunites with her High School AT's to Prepare for Professional Coursework

New AT Student Blog Post - Hannah Daily (SLU MAT Class of 2020)

I am a current junior in the SLU Athletic Training program. Throughout my past three years of the program I have engaged in numerous science courses including: organic chemistry, physics and exercise physiology. This program has allowed me to explore much of what SLU has to offer through sciences as well as elective courses in which I have been able to obtain a minor in Spanish and concentration in IPE. Before enduring the upcoming professional years of the program, I have also been able to enjoy the city of St. Louis in my spare time by going to countless festivals, tourist attractions and local eateries near campus. I have also been able to experience the MoATA conference and be a part of the SLATS executive board as class representative. Thus far this program has been challenging yet rewarding and this semester I have been able to get a taste of what the upcoming years have to offer.

During this spring semester I have been lucky enough to observe a few different clinical sites including: Webster Groves High School, NCAA Bowling and SLU Track and Field. These sites have helped to gear my idea as to what type of athlete I want to work with later on in life. In particular, over my spring break I was able to meet with Central Illinois athletic trainers Matt Munjoy ATC and Brie Cimino ATC who let me tag along during the week. Brie is the head athletic trainer at Central A&M high school where she has been able to form close relationships with her athletes as well as the great administrative staff and team coaches. She showed me the ropes of what it is like to be a certified athletic trainer and work with high school athletes during the after-school rush and long evenings at sporting events. Through this experience I formed great connections with Matt and Brie while learning about the small town high school experience. 

This was a great opportunity and I am looking forward to my last two years as a professional phase student in the SLU AT program.

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 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

SLU AT Students Enjoy Contributing to a Championship Season at Webster Groves HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster Groves High School
By:  Matt Eifert and Sarah Menzuber (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Webster Groves High School is filled with a variety of competitive athletes and a supportive community behind them. The basketball team’s success over the last decade has paved a road for future champions and opened the gym doors to a growing fanbase.  Our preceptor Sean Wright ATC ensures that these high schoolers perform to their fullest extent.

Most times the athletic training room can be cramped with athletes of all shapes, sizes, and levels of competition.  Working with WGHS students is a rewarding experience, the AT Room is always filled with injured athletes and their entourage after school. The players adhere to rehab plans; knowing that the AT staff is looking out for their best interests. The  men’s basketball team started districts at the beginning of March, and repeated as state champions!

All while enjoying the excitement of districts, spring sports just started up as well.  We are excited to meet new athletes and watch their programs succeed.  We have been working with a lot of athletes on preseason injury prevention and treatment, so they can be well conditioned to produce optimal performance.  These high school athletes have been amazing to work with and create relationships with.  They are all very motivated to rehab their injuries and return to play as soon as possible, which makes our job exciting and well worth the time put in.

Learning from Sean has also been a great experience, and we know we will leave Webster Groves at the end of the semester with new skills and perspectives to help us grow in our knowledge and confidence as Athletic Training students.

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 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 Benefit from a Wide Range of Clinical Opportunities at Lindenwood-Belleville

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindenwood University -Belleville

By: Ben Wildman (SLU MAT Class of 2018), Jazmon Carroll, Cody Hutson, and Chris Mecherle (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

The college experience at Lindenwood University - Belleville has been an amazing experience thus far. Shifting from a high school to a college has been an adjustment, but the plethora of modalities, staff, and diligent, hard-working student athletes has been a pleasure to be around. Life in a larger athletic training room has its challenges such as: staying organized, staying clean, and addressing less than full functioning appliances. However, it also has its perks including: more space for rehab, extra plinths, increased storage space, a more inviting atmosphere for student-athletes, and much more. The benefits outweigh the inconveniences by far, and we have never had a problem performing treatments before and after practices due to lack of space. The staff, athletes, and AT students have definitely appreciated its utility.

One of the main differences between being a athletic training student at a high school compared to a college is the number of sports teams you are assigned to. In a college setting, you typically are given one, maybe two or three sports, while you are the athletic trainer for all teams at a high school setting. At Lindenwood, we were all assigned to one sport. One of us is with wrestling, one with rugby, another is with baseball, and one with Men and Women’s ice hockey. By being with different sports, this is giving us the opportunity to have different experiences despite being at the same clinical site. This also provides us with opportunities to learn from our peers as we share techniques and teachable moments when we are all together. We are grateful to be given the chance to share a learning environment with our peers in the Lindenwood-Belleville Athletic Training Education Program. We are very lucky to have opportunities to mentor and learn alongside them.

Ben Wildman (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

As a PY2, I continued my clinical experience at LU-B after football season by joining the men and women’s ice hockey teams under the mentorship of Tim Woodstock, MS, ATC/LAT. Tim and I spend our afternoons at the Meramec Shark Tank where the teams practice and provide Athletic Training services for games on Friday and Saturday nights. Both of our teams have successfully secured bids to their respective National Championship Tournaments, which are played over spring break. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of their trip and their quest for the title of National
Champions. I really enjoy being around the student-athletes as they all have very diverse backgrounds. We have student-athletes that hail from Europe, Canada, and Australia. Each student-athlete brings unique experiences and talents to their teams. Being at the ice rink has forced Tim and I to become creative with our intervention strategies as well as our equipment and space. There is never a bad day at the rink as we are always having fun and learning every single day.

Jazmon Carroll (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Going into my second clinical rotation at LU-B, I have been placed under the mentorship of Lauren Randazzo, MA, ATC, CSCS. Everyday during the week, Lauren and I, along with another AT student at Lindenwood, facilitate rehabilitations, prepare athletes for practice, and then head up to both men and women’s wrestling practices. Being a part of the wrestling team at LU-B has been an unexpectedly great experience. Coming in, I was not familiar with wrestling in the slightest bit, but now I have gotten really into the sport. On February 17th, LU-B hosted the Men’s Wrestling AMC Conference Championships. Despite it being a fifteen-hour day, it ended up being an amazing opportunity where I was able to learn a lot. At the end of the day, three of our wrestlers placed second, while one of them advanced to Nationals. Not only is there success on the men’s team, but one of the athletes on the female team recently became the National Champion. As previously stated, this experience has been a great one, and everyday I am learning and having fun. I am so grateful.

Cody Hutson (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Never would I think that I would be helping out a sport such as men’s rugby. It is such an aggressive sport that I was honestly intimidated by. But I have had the opportunity to get to know a couple of the athletes and they treat me with respect and like part of their close-knit family. While I have had the ability to work with good athletes, I have been even luckier to have Sarah Hayden MAT, ATC as my preceptor. She is always available to answer any questions I may have and has enough confidence in me to wait until I ask for guidance or consider my answer as a possible option even if it isn’t her first choice. I am not always confident in myself but having someone behind me as a guide towards on hand learning is definitely the most beneficial way for me to learn. I am having a great amount of fun with the people that surround me at this clinical site and I cannot wait to see what else this semester has in store for me there. 

Chris Mecherle (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Experience with the baseball team at LU-B began as a slow recovery for many injured players at the start of the season. Under the guidance of Stephen (Curtis) Wilkerson MS, ATC we have been able to successfully rehabilitate many of the previously injured players back to their full potential. We have spent more time this year at baseball practices than spent in previous years, and it has given us the chance to get to know the guys more and examine what makes some individuals more prone to injury. Being around Curtis, the other Lindenwood students, and the members of the baseball team has been a very rewarding experience, since we can all put forth our knowledge to keep the team healthy. Be it at double headers, practices, or in the AT room, injury prevention and rehabilitation are always being performed.

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 Builds Clinical Skills Through Interactive Learning at Christian Brothers College HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Christian Brothers College High School
By: Wyatt Whitegoat (MAT Class of 2018)

Being at Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School for the academic year has been a wonderful opportunity! At CBC, I am currently covering volleyball, track and field, and baseball. My preceptor, Kristen Jeans ATC, LMT, who works at CBC through Mercy Sports Medicine, provides an immersive and interactive learning environment, which has allowed me to gain confidence, knowledge, and skills both academically and clinically.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Kristen has been able to enhance and improve my manual therapy skills. Thus far, I have learned various techniques that have been beneficial during my evaluation and rehabilitation approach for athletic injuries. As a strong believer of manual therapy, I have learned essential skills that I will continually apply in my clinical practice.

Having the opportunity to build my skills under the guidance of a remarkable preceptor, like Kristen, is magnificent! Kristen provides the time, motivation, and passion to teach me new skills, despite the busy hours in the training room. As a student, it is great to have a clinical instructor that is willing to discover and learn new skills. At CBC the ability to learn and grow as a clinician is mutual for Kristen and I, which has been the most rewarding experience for me!

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 Benefits from Hands-on Approach Facilitated by Preceptor at Lindbergh HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Lindbergh High School
By: Ryan Frantz (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Last semester, I was in a collegiate setting with a plethora of modalities available. Now, I am in a high school setting with minimal modalities so adjustments were necessary for me to transition in to the new setting. The lack of modalities requires a more hands-on approach which, in my opinion, requires more one-on-one interactions with the athletes, and because of that, getting to know the athletes has been much easier. It has also allowed me an opportunity to work on my skills with evaluation, taping, and rehabilitation. Sometimes, however, these can get quite overwhelming being that there is one athletic trainer and hundreds of athletes who may need our care.

My preceptor, Danielle Zee-Cheng, ATC, has challenged me to understand the dynamics of athletic training. She allows me to evaluate every athlete that comes in, and afterwards, asks a multitude of questions pertaining to what I did/didn’t do and why I did/didn’t do it. She told me she wants me to understand my thoughts and solutions, which I believe is going to benefit me greatly long-term because she requires me to verbally interpret my thoughts and articulate them in a way that makes sense to us and the athlete. All of this is going to be great practice for my evaluation and my communication skills with, not just the athletes, but with health care providers, as well. She has also allowed me to practice my documentation skills of each evaluation I do, which is another skill I lack that she is helping me improve on.

Having hundreds of athletes, one athletic trainer, and a small space/limited tools to work with, things can get overwhelming, but the interactions I have had thus far with Danielle, the athletes, and members of the Lindbergh school district have made it an enjoyable experience. Lindbergh has a rich, winning tradition that I’m glad to be a part of, and I’m hoping the spring sports season is something to look forward to.

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 Support of Preceptor and Student-Athletes at Bishop DuBourg HS

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Bishop DuBourg
By:  CJ Butler (SLU MAT Class of 2018) and Justin Ullom (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

Compared to the fall season, Bishop DuBourg High School does not have as many winter sports, so there are not as many events during the winter season. However, this allowed us to form an close relationship with our preceptor Nathan Jarman ATC, from SSM-SLU Hospital, the athletes participating in sports.

These relationships we formed seemed to help make any evaluations and rehabilitation programs we did go much smoother, as we were able to build trusting relationships with the individuals on the teams. There were no significant injuries during the season, luckily, so most tasks that were completed were simply helping with chronic pain issues and muscular fatigue injuries often associated with the end of the season in any sport.

We also were able to work with the girls soccer team in their off-season development in order to prepare them for the eminent season. We spent weeks working on their cardiovascular endurance and their form for various lifts before we eventually progressed into working sprints and letting them lift with weight. Prior to tryouts for the season starting, we were able to get in about two good weeks of strength training to those players that were showing up.

As tryouts for spring sports have started, we are now beginning to work with the boys basketball team with a strength training program. It will be interesting to see if they can make the same amount of progress that the girls team did. We look forward to working with a more variety of sports this spring, as well as helping out with strength training programs for any off-season teams.

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 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 Student Finds a Valuable Mentor in Preceptor at De Smet Jesuit HS/Mercy Sports Medicine

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - DeSmet Jesuit High School
By: Alex Hubbs (MAT Class of 2018)

Gaining clinical experience with Dan Herrin, ATC, MAT, LAT, at De Smet Jesuit High School under Mercy Sports Medicine has been pivotal in my final stages of transition to practice. A slower winter season has allowed me to focus on in-depth rehabilitation for multiple athletes, and continuing to improve evaluation skills. Multiple MSHSAA and club sports have provided a wide variety of athletes, as well as an array of orthopedic injury.

An alum of the SLU AT Program, Dan has been a valuable mentor in my final semester as a MAT student. His professionalism and compassion towards all athletes and the staff are admirable traits I hope to carry into my own practice soon. Dan’s guidance has been advantageous in my transition to practice, and he has helped improve the skills necessary to become an exceptional healthcare provider. De Smet’s community approach to academics and athletics has been a welcoming experience, and a tremendous environment to learn and grow in.

Experiencing healthcare under Mercy Sports Medicine has allowed me to observe a tremendous team-based approach to sports medicine, and has demonstrated a great model for providing excellent care towards all athletes we treat. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow clinically at De Smet Jesuit, and with Mercy.

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 Thrive in the Close Knit Environment at John Burroughs School

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - John Burroughs School
By: Danielle Jabczynski (SLU MAT Class of 2019) and Caitlin Gibson (SLU MAT Class of 2018)

Our time at John Burroughs School (JBS) has been great this semester! The coaching staff communicates and trusts our judgement with returning athletes to play. This allows us to not feel pressured to have the athlete return too early. Our preceptor, Dean Tiffany ATC (also the Assistant Athletic Director) shows us how to effectively communicate with the coaching staff to make sure everyone is on the same page. By having the support from coaches, this allows for a comprehensive rehabilitation program including, but not limited to: core stabilization, flexibility, strengthening, neuromuscular training and sports specific exercises. With all these aspects in mind, we are able to have athletes return to play feeling confident and stronger than before.

This is a great environment for us to continue to expand our skills and knowledge in. With spring sports picking up, there is never a quiet moment in the athletic training room. It is great to be at a school with the close knit environment that JBS has. By continuing to work with the same athletes on a regular basis, we are building strong relationships that allow them to put their trust in us as well.

We are excited to take on the spring season with Dean to watch these motivated athletes progress, whether it be through their sport or rehabilitation.

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 are Excited to Learn in a Busy College Setting at Webster University

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Webster University
By: Maggie Rowell and Cat Chua (MAT Class of 2019)

We are both students in the 1st Professional Year of Saint Louis University's Master of Athletic Training Program. Our Spring 2018 clinical rotation is with Webster University Athletics. We previously were placed at high schools and are transitioning into the college AT room atmosphere. Webster University is a NCAA Division III school located in Webster Groves, Missouri. It is a liberal arts school with approximately 2,500 undergrad students who take pride in their athletic population. Within the past year, Webster has sent their women’s soccer, women’s basketball and men’s baseball to compete in the NCAA Division III Championship Series. We are working with preceptors Jennifer Popken (MS, ATC) and Martin Fields (LAT, ATC).

We were limited in the modalities available in our previous high school settings. At Webster University, we have gotten the chance to utilize GameReady, Electrical Stimulation, Hydrocollator, Ultrasound, and a HivaMat. It has been a great hands-­‐on experience working with different modalities and knowing when to apply each one in the rehabilitation process. Additionally, we have gotten the opportunity to evaluate athlete’s injuries by performing a full evaluation including general history taking, manual-­‐muscle testing, palpation, joint play and special testing. After assessing the athletes, we interact with our preceptors for additional tips, changes to the process, and any additional feedback. It is a great learning environment that encourages us to think on the spot and fully apply what we've learned in the classroom in the clinical setting.

In the upcoming months we will be taking care of spring season athletes such as baseball, softball, tennis, and outdoor track and field teams. An interesting aspect about these upcoming teams is they all practice off site, which makes scheduling very important for rehabilitation and treatment. We are both very excited as the women’s basketball just won the SLIAC conference championship and are headed to the NCAA tournament this week! With only two AT's and over 300 athletes, it has been a very busy AT room.

We are excited to continue our clinical education process and grow as Athletic Training students with the Webster Gorlocks.

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 the Importance of Communication at Chaminade College Prep

SLU AT Clinical Site Spotlight - Chaminade College Prep

By: Jesse Schmitt (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

At Chaminade College Prep, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from head athletic trainer Scott Kugler, ATC. Scott is a great mentor, who gives me a lot of freedom when it comes to evaluating and rehabilitating student athletes. During my time at Chaminade I have learned that patience and communication are vital. When I first started all I wanted to do was evaluate and diagnose athletes, because becoming a better evaluator was one of my goals for the semester. I quickly learned from observing Scott, and doing a few evaluations of my own, that it’s not about only one thing. In order to become a better evaluator I needed to slow down and make sure that I had gained all the information necessary to move on to the next step of the evaluation process. It was an important building block for me because learning this new skill allowed for me to not only provide an accurate diagnosis, but it also allowed for me to rule out other differential diagnoses. I’m still learning new tricks of the trade, but I feel that personally I get better with every evaluation because I’ve learned to challenge myself.

I have also learned how important it is to be a good communicator. By observing Scott, I have been able to pick up on some key conversations he has with his athletes, coaches, administrators, and other athletic trainers. I’ve learned that it is important to be able to explain what it is we are doing, seeing, or feeling to athletes that have questions because it allows for them to buy-in to what we are doing. I’ve also learned that keeping a dialog with the coaches about players’ health, how a rehab is going, or certain preventative measures athletes should be taking both in season and out of season. I have also picked up on conversations Scott has had with administration or other athletic trainers about different ways to update the Chaminade athletic training room, and why these upgrades might be necessary.

Overall, my time at Chaminade has been quite a learning experience. I try to challenge myself each day by asking Scott different questions and trying to pick his brain about what it takes to be a certified athletic trainer. Chaminade is a great environment for students like myself to gain knowledge and expand upon their 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.

7th Annual SLU AT Speaker Series Provides an Inspiring Message About "Living a Major League Life"

The 7th Annual Saint Louis University Athletic Training Speaker Series and Recognition Ceremony took place on Monday, February 19, 2018 in the Huh Auditorium of the SLU Center for Global Citizenship.

This year's keynote speaker was Sue Falsone PT, MS, SCS, ATC, CSCS, COMT with a presentation titled "Live a Major League Life, On and Off the Field" where she talked about her unique career path which included a six year stint as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers where she was the first woman in that position for any of the 4 major professional sports.

Following the keynote, Ms. Falsone joined a panel of SLU faculty members Dr. Lisa Dorsey and Dr. Tassos Kaburakis along with Kristin Folkl-Kaburakis.

Prior to the presentation, the SLU Alpha Iota Chapter of Iota Tau Alpha, the National Athletic Training Honor Society inducted new members Alexander Hubbs, Nicholas Fanselow and Katherine Perko.

The SLU AT Program Director Anthony Breitbach PhD, ATC and Fr. Robert Murphy SJ also took a few moments to remember Brandi Burgett, a 2017 SLU Master of Athletic Training graduate, who passed away in December 2017.

Earlier in the day, Sue Falsone presented to SLU AT Students on "“Bridging the Gap from Rehab to Performance”.

Overall, the entire day was an inspiring and informative experience for all involved!

To see more photos go to the Doisy College of Health Site on Flickr: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/slu_healthsciences/sets/72157663914288637/with/26512284008/

The event was also on Facebook Live, links to the videos from the event:

Part 1 - https://www.facebook.com/SLUAthleticTraining/videos/1974854632544257/

Part 2 - https://www.facebook.com/SLUAthleticTraining/videos/1974882772541443/

Part 3 - https://www.facebook.com/SLUAthleticTraining/videos/1974915209204866/

SLU AT Students Give Roosevelt HS Students a Day with the Billikens

Roosevelt High School Athletic Training Club

By: Cat Chua, Rory Cusack and Paul Lamb (SLU MAT Class of 2019)

On January 23rd, we took the Roosevelt High School (RHS) Athletic Training Club for a field trip to Saint Louis University (SLU). This club, sponsored by the Saint Louis University Athletic Training Program and funded through an Ethnic Diversity Enhancement Grant from the National Athletic Trainers' Association Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee is designed to nurture interest in athletic training and the health professions for students at RHS.  Kemba Noel-London MAT, ATC CES coordinates the RHS AT Club along with student mentors from the SLU AT Program.

First, we took the students on a tour of the SLU athletic training room. They learned about different modalities and treatments performed in the room. They also got to meet one of the basketball players. After the tour of the training room, the students went onto the basketball court to take some pictures before the game. Then we went to Grand Hall to eat dinner. We showed videos of injuries to the students and had conversations about what an athletic trainer does in those situations. Before going to the basketball game, the students got a tour of the Simon Rec Center. At the game, the high school students got to sit in the student section where they cheered along with the rest of the SLU students and fans, received cheer items from the people leading the student section, and even met the Billiken! The basketball game field trip was a great success and so much fun for all of us.

The students were able to experience the athletic training from from an athlete’s point of view and were able to ask many questions to both the Athletic Trainer and a few athletes. The students were extremely curious as to how an Division 1 athlete juggles basketball, course work, and social life. They asked how they athlete got their scholarship and how hard they worked in high school. The students then were asking us what our thoughts on how they can get to be like those D1 athletes, or the process of walking on to a team. The students from Roosevelt are all athletes themselves, and know what hard work it takes to stay on a team and be successful. As Athletic Training students, it gave us a chance to answer questions that we normally wouldn’t get in an athletic training facility, but from high school students that are genuinely interested in what it takes to be a healthcare professional or an athlete and what life is like in college. 

Moving forward in the semester, we plan on further exposing the students to the different roles and providers on a sports medicine health care team. Over the next few meetings, the students will have the opportunity to learn more about sports performance and how athletes prepare for a game through a discussion on eating like an athlete as well as preparing for a game through a presentation on training like an athlete. An additional field trip to the SLU Anatomy Lab will be an excellent chance for club members to understand topics we’ve discussed during club meetings in a more hands-on setting. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to get the high schoolers engaged in sports medicine, and present them with opportunities to see the many ways in which it can impact their lives and the lives of the people around them. Our field trip to the SLU basketball game helped advance that goal, and with so many exciting topics ahead of us, it’s hard not to be enthusiastic about what we’ll accomplish the rest of the year with the Roosevelt High School Athletic Training club!