SLU Press Release on CAATE Accreditation

May 05, 2010

Carrie Bebermeyer

314.977.8015

bebermcl@slu.edu

Athletic Training Education Program Accredited

Doisy College Praised for Collaboration, Facilities

Less than two years after admitting its first student, Saint Louis University's athletic training education entry-level master's program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Students learn a hip assessment test.

The SLU program is one of 369 CAATE accredited programs nationally and one of only 23 accredited entry-level master's programs in the country. In order to be accredited, a program must first teach and evaluate each course and graduate its first class.
"We had our first student on campus in the summer of '08. This spring, we're graduating our first student," said Tony Breitbach, Ph.D., director of athletic training education at Saint Louis University. "The amount of support from SLU and the Doisy College of Health Sciences, in particular, was a huge factor in our success, and it was a noted strength in the site visit report.
"We are sharing resources across the medical campus with some very strong programs, including physical therapy."

The CAATE report noted the program was uniquely positioned on a medical campus within a collaborative, interprofessional environment. SLU's state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory spaces shared with the program in physical therapy, as well as the new Chaifetz arena, were also mentioned as strengths of the program.
SLU's athletic training education program is well positioned to see exponential enrollment growth in the near future, according to the site visit report from the CAATE. In addition, a 10-year forecast by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places athletic training among the top ten jobs that are expected to grow over the next decade.

Breitbach vouches for increased interest in the field.
"Recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics project a 37 percent increase in the need for athletic trainers over the next decade," Breitbach said. "It's a promising career for students who love sports and want to work in healthcare, and it's a good bet in this economy.
"Those with degrees in athletic training education not only work for professional sports teams, but also are hired in some surprising places beyond the playing field, including the military, performing arts and industry."

Long a leader in educating health professionals, Saint Louis University offered its first degree in an allied health profession in 1929. Today the Doisy College of Health Sciences offers degrees in physical therapy and athletic training, clinical laboratory science, nutrition and dietetics, health informatics and information management, medical imaging and radiation therapeutics, occupational science and occupational therapy, and physician assistant education. The college's unique curriculum prepares students to work with health professionals from all disciplines to ensure the best possible patient care.

Athletic Training Student Recognized at Athletics Straight-A Luncheon

 

Athletic Training Student JJ Hannigan, a track and field athlete at SLU, was one of 53 Billiken student-athletes recognized at the Straight-A luncheon at Chaifetz Arena.  He was honored for the second consecutive year. JJ is a junior and enters the professional phase of the program this summer.  His faculty guest was Dr. Tony Breitbach, SLU ATEP Program Director.

 CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE STORY

Seventeen-year-old Phillies fan tasered during game

It's certainly not the first time a "Taser event" has been controversial, but it's the first time police have Tasered a Phillies fan.

In this case, what makes the event contentious is the age of the miscreant. In the 8th inning, with 44,817 fans watching at Citizens Bank Park, a 17-year-old male ran around the outfield in the eighth inning. The Phillies fan was tasered when he refused to surrender to authorities.

Appearing on KYW Radio Tuesday, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsay said that "it was inappropriate for him to be out there on the field. Unless I read something to the contrary, that officer acted appropriately. I support him 100 percent."

Meanwhile, Phillies spokeswoman Bonnie Clark said the following in a statement: "This is the first time that a Taser gun has been used by Philadelphia police to apprehend a field jumper. The Police Department is investigating this matter and the Phillies are discussing with them whether in future situations this is an appropriate use of force under these circumstances. That decision will be made public."

It's expected that the Phllies fan who was tasered will be charged with criminal trespass. The police would not release his name because he was underage. While no confirmation exists that he was truly a Phillies fan, the T-shirt he was wearing seems to indicate that.

Watch an amateur video of the event:

Neo-Nazi group wants May 5 to be "Report an Illegal Day"

The National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, has begun circulating fliers which aim to change May 5th into "Report an Illegal Day."

The date picked is no mistake: it's Cinco de Mayo.

According to a local news report, the group's website states that the National Socialist Movement wants each member to hand out 25 fliers. A Phoenix police office told the local station they are looking into the flier.

Watch a video report: