Graduating MAT Students Present Capstone Projects

Students in the 2010 Saint Louis University Master of Athletic Training (MAT) class presented their capstone projects in an open house on April 28, 2010.  The capstone is the culmination of a scholarship sequence which is directed by Dr. Kitty Newsham, which takes place during the final year before graduation.

 Ilene Chambers presented a poster on Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.

 Heather King developed a Compendium of General Medical Conditions in Athletics.

 

 Eric Sass developed a instructional video on upper extremity Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF).

Kellie Black reported the findings of her research project on over-the-counter (OTC) medication use in intercollegiate athletes.

Learning by Doing in the SLU ATEP

Classroom experiences are linked with experiential learning in many courses in the SLU ATEP.  In MAT 616 "Enhancing Athletic Performance", instructor Lori Khazen ATC, CSCS integrates her lectures with skill instruction.

The emphasis in MAT 616  this week for the students in lecture was to discuss the fitness component of power and its link to the sports of volleyball & basketball.  For both, they discussed the logistics/rules of the sports, technical skill and fitness necessities, and breakdowns of each position, including the special physical requirements and mechanics for each.  The students then went into the Chaifetz Arena Pavilion with SLU coaches to actually practice the skills they learned in the classroom.

 

SLU Men's Basketball Coach Alex Jensen and instructor Lori Khazen work with the class on their shooting technique.

 

Student Eric Sass takes a big swing at the volleyball net, from a feed by SLU Coach Andy Halaz.

Jonathan Burch, SLU Assistant Athletic Director/Athletic Trainer conducted demonstrations on the use of the Swim-Ex at Chaifetz Arena with students in MAT 550 "Rehabilitation in Athletic Training".  In these demonstrations, the students not only "got their feet wet"....they actually participated in aquatic exercise in the Swim-Ex.

Jonathan Burch explains the use of the Swim-Ex control to students Ann Schmerbauch and Emily Monahan.

SLU athletic training student Emily Monahan performs aquatic exercise guided by SLU athletic trainer Jonathan Burch.

Women's Final Four in St. Louis a Great Experience!

On Tuesday April 7, 2009, the NCAA women's basketball season came to a conclusion at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Congratulations to the University of Connecticut Huskies as they finished an undefeated season by beating the Louisville Cardinals.

Our staff and students had a great time serving as the medical staff for the event!

Check out a short "behind the scenes" video on YouTube.

Medical team picture before the final:
FRONT ROW - Heather King, Ilene Chambers, Kellie Black and Darcy Downey
BACK ROW - Eric Sass, Dr. Tony Breitbach, Dr. Matt Matava, Dr. Paul Nativi

We are off and running!

Our office suite is now open and looking good! On Wednesday, May 21st we started MAT 501, Principles of Athletic Training, the first professional phase course to be taught in the program. The students are enthusiastic and things are going well...


The Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training had a barbecue to welcome this year's students into the Professional Phase of the AT and PT programs. The day was beautiful and the food was delicious! Our new faculty member, Darcy Downey, was in town to go house hunting (which was a success by the way)...she stopped in at the barbecue to get acquainted!


Group photo of the AT professional students and faculty:
Darcy Downey, Kellie Black, Ilene Chambers, Heather King, Eric Sass & Tony Breitbach.

An end and a new beginning!

The END of the school year...

The Doisy College of Health Sciences pre-commencement celebration took place on Thursday, May 15th at Chaifetz Arena. I was invited to be the Master of Ceremonies (I hope I didn't make TOO many mistakes) and AT student Kellie Black received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree. I enjoyed meeting her entire family at the reception after pre-commencement.


Chaifetz Arena proved to be a dazzling new home for our ceremonies.


And a NEW BEGINNING!

This week Kellie and three others will start the Professional Phase of the Athletic Training as our first class of students in the program. They are all transfers, two from other programs at SLU and two from outside of SLU. The other students starting Gross Anatomy and Principles of Athletic Training this week are Heather King (SLU), Ilene Chambers (SIU) and Eric Sass (Elon).

We are very excited to have such fine students in our first class and I look forward to having us all grow and develop together!