*NOTE: This is part of a series of stories written by Lock Haven University graduate students about their athletic training full-immersion externships this spring.
Erika Myers is from Dover, Pennsylvania, and completed her undergraduate degree at Lock Haven University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science with a minor in sport and exercise psychology.
This spring, during her second year in the athletic training master's program at LHU, she completed a semester-long externship at the University of Tennessee working specifically with the softball team under the direct supervision of Samantha Charters MS LAT, ATC.
Throughout this externship, Myers was exposed to a great deal of chronic shoulder injuries. Due to COVID-19, she lacked some clinical experience with overhead sports and felt she needed to improve her upper extremity evaluation skills. This rotation made her much more comfortable with not only chronic shoulder injuries but the overall anatomy and physiology of the shoulder. Having the opportunity to evaluate and rehabilitate many acute shoulder injuries assisted her shoulder evaluation skills and was an exceptionally positive experience for her.
The externship at the University of Tennessee provided her with insight revolving around how all aspects related to athletic training are executed at the SEC division I level. She had previous clinical experiences at the division II collegiate and high school level; therefore, she was able to perceive the difference between each setting.
Myers had the privilege to travel with the softball team to one of their SEC series versus the University of Georgia.
"(It was) exhilarating to see how treatments were performed while traveling in that environment," Myers said. "I learned how to accommodate athletes at that level and experience an SEC series, which has always been a dream."
Myers was also involved in the SEC swim and dive championships, which allowed her to use her skills in various ways. Being able to see such elite athletes competing under one roof was an awesome experience for her. She learned how to use various modalities that she had never been exposed to at previous rotations including an AlterG treadmill, A hydroworx underwater treadmill, Hivamats, diathermy, and much more.
She enjoyed communicating and collaborating with other health care professionals, which included the team physician, nutritionist, massage therapist, and strength and conditioning coach. They offered insight into the athletic training profession, which will further assist her in the future.
When asked, Myers would advise any athletic training student deciding whether to complete their externship in a different state or not to step out of their comfort zone and apply for that externship to fulfill any desire that they may have. She said she personally would have never imagined that she would be involved in such an elaborate and high-level program at UT to fulfill her graduate student needs. However, she is extremely appreciative of the skills and experience she has gained throughout the externship.
