Tuesday, November 15, 2022

SLU's Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, and Nutrition and Dietetics Programs are awarded 1818 Grant


We are excited to announce a new SLU Community Partnership through the 1818 Grant titled Lifting Safely To Build A Better Future! SLU Physical Therapy Student Association, SLU Athletic Training Society, and SLU Dietetics Association are partnering with Lift For Life Gym! Lift for Life Gym is a non-for-profit organization that provides a safe after school environment for at-risk St. Louis City children, where they can participate in group workouts, complete homework, and eat dinner each evening. Lift for Life Gym provides an enriching environment that promotes holistic health and wellbeing for St. Louis Youth. Through this partnership, students from SLU’s Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, and Nutrition and Dietetics programs will be in the community with these youth, providing education on safe exercise and stretching techniques, nutrition, and tips for managing wounds and injuries, as well as introducing the gym members to these Allied Health Professions! We hope that this program results in a longstanding partnership between Lift for Life Gym and Saint Louis University and cannot wait for it to take place! Thank you to all that worked on the planning, writing, and presentation of this grant, we appreciate your hard work, and thank you SLU for selecting our proposal out of 55 other applicants! 
Link to the article

Friday, November 4, 2022

Dr. Carol Beckel Enjoys Her Visit To Some Of Our Clinical Partners Before ELC 2022



"Dr. Carol Beckel Enjoys Her Visit To Some Of Our Clinical Partners Before ELC 2022"
By Carol Beckel PT, PhD
Prior to the start of the 2022 Education Leadership Conference, Dr. Carol Beckel, took the opportunity to visit with several site coordinators in the Milwaukee area as well as some national Site Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCE):

Fox Rehabilitation: Ronni Wagner and Debra Prox
Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy: Angie Domnitz
Athletico Physical Therapy: Allison Kosinski
ATI: Liam Michener and Kurt Gegenbacher
ProHealth Rehabilitation of Wisconsin: Megan Haley
Concentra Medical Center: Sarah Ebenhoe
Select Physical Therapy: Andrea Reed



Dr. Beckel enjoyed the opportunity to visit our clinical partners either in person on-site or via Zoom. If you are a clinical partner and would like to set up a visit with Dr. Beckel, please contact her at slu_pt_clin_ed@health.slu.edu

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

SLU SSM Health PT Women's Health Resident talks about lifelong learning


pictured:  Laura Erb, PT, DPT and Bri Mulhearn, PT, DPT

SLU SSM Health PT Women's Health Resident, Dr. Bri Mulhearn, talks about lifelong learning
By Bri Mulhearn, PT, DPT

I started my residency in August of 2022. My experiences in the first 2 months have already made in impact on how I present myself as a physical therapist. Being a resident is a unique, explorative, humbling, but rewarding experience. It has allowed me to discover where my passions lie within the field of PT. It has fostered curiosity and allowed for me to focus on my role as a lifelong learner. It has also opened up different opportunities as a PT besides direct patient care that I had not considered at this point in my career.  


It can be overwhelming going into a 16-month residency program, and now with only 14 months left I can say that it is still a little overwhelming. I have learned a lot about myself in the few short months I have been involved with the program. I have learned that I enjoy being an educator, where my passions within PT lie, and that I have so much room to grow as a clinician. Being in a Women's Health Residency Program already puts me in such a niche area of PT, but within that niche there are so many routes to go and so much to learn, which I love. The field of women's and pelvic health is constantly evolving with the new research coming out. The program has worked with me to create an environment where I am able to explore my interests and help me to figure out what I want to do with my career.  

The term "lifelong learner" is heavily applied to my experiences as a resident. I have learned so much from mentors and from students that I have interacted with in these first few months. I have learned to stay curious and continue to ask questions. 



The learning environment in residency is much different from PT school as it is more collaborative, allows for open discussion, and challenges my own views on different topics within the field of PT. Being a TA for the first year PT students at SLU has taught me how much I have truly learned in all my education up to this point in my career. 


I have learned to have grace with myself, like I do with the students as they are learning new things. That is why I think it is so humbling to be a resident. Transitioning from a full time clinician to a resident made me realize how much there is to learn and how important education is, at any point in one's life. This realization has also helped me discover a passion for educating others, be it the community, students, or colleagues.  



My overall experience as a resident, while it may seem like a lot, has been nothing short of eye opening. I am looking forward to the future in the program and watching myself grow as a not only a PT, but as a person.  


For more information on the SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Women's Health program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-womens-health-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Jill Imgarten at jimgarten@ssm-select.com OR the SLU Director of Residency Education, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.

For more information on the SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

SLU SSM Health PT Orthopedic Resident reflects on "favorite things"


SLU SSM Health PT Orthopedic Resident, Dr. Mark Welegala, reflects on "favorite things" 
By Mark Welegala, PT, DPT

I am a member of the 2022-2023 SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program. My experience thus far has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. Over the last two months, I have had the opportunity to work as a lab instructor, practice in an outpatient PT setting, and receive mentorship during live patient treatment sessions.  Pictured above with me is Pam Abbott, PT, DPT, OCS, (SLU Alumni, 2011) Residency Faculty member and member of the SLU DPT entry-level faculty.  Laura Erb, PT, DPT, SLU-SSM Health PT Women's Health Resident (SLU Alumni, 2021)  and Allie Wilson, PT, DPT, SLU SSM Health PT Orthopedic Resident.  
At the clinic in which I practice and at SLU, I am surrounded by clinical specialists who are always willing to provide any support needed to help me be successful. One of my favorite things about this residency program is their Jesuit Mindset.  (Just this past year, SLU celebrated the Ignatian Year:  https://www.slu.edu/mission-identity/ignatian-year.php )   

                       
I have been impressed with to level of excellence, professionalism, and kindness from each person that I have interacted with from the program. I am looking forward to advancing my skills as an educator, clinician, and researcher as I work to produce scholarly contributions for our profession. I am amazed each day at the number of opportunities for growth within this residency program!

For more information on the SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.

For more information on the SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Women's Health program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-womens-health-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Jill Imgarten at jimgarten@ssm-select.com OR the SLU Director of Residency Education, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.