By: Lauren Smith (MAT Class of 2024)     My clinical rotation at Alton High School has been going great so far this semester. My preceptor Andy Renner ATC, LAT, gives me a lot of freedom to evaluate athletes, provide treatment, and take athletes through therapeutic exercises. I am also very fortunate to have access to various therapeutic modalities like Marc Pro, cupping, and Graston tools. All the opportunities that have been provided to me have allowed me to adapt and get creative with my skillset. There is always the chance to grow in my knowledge and skills when I am at Al ..read more

By: Yu-Heng (Stanley) Hu (MAT Class of 2024)     My time at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville has been exceptional. This semester, I started my clinical experience at SIUE. Even though it is a 30-minute commute from SLU, it is totally worth it. As SIUE is an NCAA Division 1 college, many athletes come to the training room every day, providing me with a great opportunity to practice and gain hands-on experience. This is also my first time being with a D1 basketball team, which is an exciting experience watching and assisting in high-intensity games. Additionally, I have ..read more

By: Marissa Uecker (MAT Class of 2024)     My clinical assignment with Pattonville High School has been a great learning experience. My preceptor, Alex Hubbs, has given me the opportunity to expand and develop my skills through hands-on practice with injury evaluations, therapeutic intervention, and patient education. Alex treats me almost as if I am a third certified athletic trainer at Pattonville. He gives me the autonomy to make clinical decisions regarding rehab and injury evaluations and provides feedback to help me learn and grow. This experience has significantly impa ..read more

By: I-Chen (Hugo) Lee (MAT Class of 2024)     This is my final clinical rotation before graduation, and I am delighted to be assigned to SIUE. SIUE boasts a wealth of athletic trainers who offer diverse perspectives. What I appreciate most is that all the preceptors treat us as colleagues. They encourage us to tackle tasks we feel confident in, and when there's a shortage, they offer advice in a remarkably polite manner. Fortunately, there are two AT graduates from SLU here, so they truly understand our needs. I want to extend special thanks to our main preceptor, Lupe. S ..read more

By: Justin Epperly (MAT Class of 2024) During the spring semester of 2024, I have been assisting Elena Melillo ATC, MAT, LAT. My prime responsibility has been coverage of the SLU women’s soccer team. This previous season, the fall of 2023, the women’s team won their 6th consecutive A-10 championship and achieved a historic playoff run, reaching the sweet 16 of the NCAA College Cup. The furthest the team has reached in SLU history. It was an amazing honor to serve not only the players, but coaches, team physicians, physical therapists, and all other members of our interprofessional team alon ..read more

By: Jennifer Hassler (MAT Class of 2024) This semester I am fortunate to be completing my clinical rotation at Lutheran High School South with my preceptor, Laura Shellaberger MHS, ATC, LAT, CES. This is my second semester here and being able to experience the transitions between seasons at the same site has allowed me to gain experience with several administrative tasks that I am not usually a part of as a student. As a PY2 that will graduate in a few short months, Laura provides me with autonomy to grow my confidence and practice making decisions by giving me space to complete the first ev ..read more

By: Claire Love (MAT Class of 2024) For my final clinical rotation I am at Webster Groves High School with long time SLU AT preceptor, Sean Wright, ATC. Spending my last semester here at Webster has been exactly what I need as I prepare to transition from student to certified. From the very moment I walked in Sean has challenged me in every possible way. He gives me freedom to evaluate, create rehabs, and have conversations with coaches. But he is always there to encourage me, and help me if I have any questions or come across something I am not sure how to handle. He has been an incredible ..read more

By: Caroline Miller (MAT Class of 2024) For my final clinical experience, I was given the opportunity to further my athletic training skills with STL City Academy teams. Going into this experience, I told preceptors Cam Cripe and Nate Maynard my goals for my final rotation, and they have done nothing but help me achieve them. I am given autonomy in everything I can do from creating rehab plans to evaluating field injuries. Rehab especially was an aspect of athletic training that I went into this experience feeling unconfident in and it has become an area that I feel extremely comfortable in ..read more

By: Brandon Pavon (MAT Class of 2024) So far this semester I have had the privilege of gaining experience with the Women’s basketball team at Saint Louis University under the preceptorship of Alaine Rhodes. This experience has been fantastic so far as I have had plenty of learning opportunities thus far as well as having the opportunity to sharpen my skills in clinical evaluation, use of modalities, and rehabilitation treatment. These experiences help me gain confidence in my ability as well as grow off of past experiences to help me become a more well rounded professional in order to benef ..read more

By: Mark Romero (left) and Carlton McDonald-Jordan (right) (MAT Class of 2024) Our PY2 year has allowed us the opportunity to grow and learn in a competitive Division 1 environment alongside our preceptor Jonathan Burch. We are grateful for the relationships we’ve made with SLU Men’s Basketball players and staff, and those formed with the entire Athletic Training staff at SLU. This season has given us ample opportunity to tackle physical and mental challenges that prepare us as future healthcare professionals. Now, nearing the end of the road, we can attest that our confidence in our clini ..read more