Lock Haven athletic training student completes athletic training externship with Saint Francis University

During her final semester of Commonwealth University-Lock Haven's Master of Science in Athletic Training program, Taylor Johns, of South Fork, completed a full-immersion externship learning from licensed athletic trainers at Saint Francis University (SFU) in Loretto.

Johns, who also received a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Lock Haven, worked with the NCAA Division I university with primary responsibilities providing healthcare to student-athletes on the football and women's lacrosse teams and also helping with men's and women's soccer, women's swimming and bowling.

Johns' clinical preceptors at Saint Francis were Conner Warren and Kosie Shepherd-Porada. Warren is the head football athletic trainer, with other sport assignments of women's lacrosse and bowling. Shepherd-Porada is the assistant football, cross country and track field athletic trainer.

"Both Conner and Kosie made great impacts on my experience at SFU, along with the other members of the sports medicine staff," Johns said.

During her externship, Johns provided care to dozens of athletes, including rehabilitation of both chronic and acute injuries as well as treating patients who recently underwent surgery. She was also exposed to the administrative duties of an athletic trainer, including insurance claims, medical documentation, budgeting and supply ordering.

"This clinical externship, as well as my other clinical rotations in Lock Haven's athletic training program, have prepared me well for my transition into professional practice," Johns said. "My interactions and experiences with coaches, athletes and other members of the sports medicine staff solidified my choice in athletic training as a career."

Following graduation, Johns began her employment as an assistant athletic trainer at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York.

"I am confident my education and hands-on training over my time at Lock Haven has more than prepared me for the future as an athletic trainer," Johns said.