Clinical education
New athletic training lab provides students with dedicated facility
9:50 a.m., May 29, 2014--The new Athletic Training Education Laboratory at the University of Delaware is almost enough to make senior Devon Leahy wish she could stay at UD for another year or two. But while Leahy is off to a graduate program at the University of Florida, the next generation of students in the program will reap the benefits of the new facility for years to come.
Located on the second floor of the Human Performance Laboratory on UD’s South Campus, the new lab was equipped and put into use during the spring 2014 semester.
Campus Stories
From graduates, faculty
Doctoral hooding
When the Department of Physical Therapy and the Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic moved to the new Health Sciences Complex on UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus, a variety of equipment was donated to the AT program, including plinths and Hi-Lo tables for students to use in practicing clinical skills. In addition, some new equipment, such as taping tables and whirlpool tubs, was purchased for the facility.
“Having a dedicated teaching lab has greatly enhanced our AT student learning,” says Tom Kaminski, professor, who directs the AT education program. “This new facility has everything we need to instruct our students in all of the basic therapeutic modalities, from taping and hydrotherapy to ultrasound and advanced rehabilitation techniques.”
“Previously, our students had to use the UD Athletics training rooms for their lab work,” he adds. “While we were grateful to have that space available for education, the scheduling and logistics were often challenging.”
Resources and equipment in the renovated space include:
- Six Hi-Lo tables and nine plinths;
- Hydrotherapy room with two hot/cold whirlpool tubs, hydrocollator, and ice machine;
- Four taping stations;
- Storage room for CPR and first aid equipment; and
- Medicine balls, free weights, and fitness balls.
“It’s great to have our own space,” says Leahy, who had the opportunity to use the new facility for only one semester. “The new athletic training teaching lab is available to students in the program all the time now for studying and practicing skills that are important for our major.”
Article by Diane Kukich
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson