Co-op the CAHS way

Co-op the CAHS way

Athletic training student shares five tips for a rewarding clinical placement experience

Maddison Dixon is a second-year master of science in athletic training (MSAT) student at the University of Cincinnati from Dayton, Ohio. She earned her bachelor of health science at UC, where she served as a College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) ambassador and as president of REHABcats, UC's athletic training club.

So far in her MSAT program, Maddison has completed clinical rotations at Mount St. Joseph University, St. Xavier High School and Loveland High School, along with additional experiences at Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and the Cincinnati Ballet. This spring, she will complete her final clinical rotation with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign women's gymnastics program.

At UC, students may be familiar with cooperative education (co-op) as a way to gain professional experience before graduation. For many CAHS students, clinical placements serve a similar purpose by preparing them for licensed, certified or other patient- and client-facing professions. Professional and accreditation requirements often require supervised clinical education as part of their degree.

Instead of stepping into a traditional co-op role, they practice skills in settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, rehabilitation centers and community organizations while working alongside qualified professionals. Clinical placements give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real patients, clients and communities. They also help students build confidence, understand different practice settings and develop the professional skills they will need after graduation.

How placements are selected, scheduled, and completed varies by program and location, and students may have different levels of choice in the process. After working in several clinical settings, Maddison shares a few tips for making the most of the experience.

1) Have conversations about your goals

With your future career in mind, reach out to your clinical coordinator to share the type of experience you're seeking and what you hope to gain from your rotations. If there's a particular setting, population, sport or type of preceptor you're interested in, don't be afraid to voice it.

You may have more input into your experience than you realize. It's also never too early to start thinking about future rotations and to build connections with professionals in areas that interest you.

2) Be confident and step in

You'll likely gain more hands-on experience than you expect. Your preceptors know when to challenge you and when to step in, and they won't expect you to perform skills you haven't been prepared for - so be confident!

Volunteer, ask questions and take advantage of opportunities that arise. The more engaged you are, the more you'll get out of your placement.

3) Get organized and communicate

Balancing classes, clinical hours, work and your personal life can get complicated quickly. Plan ahead, set expectations with your preceptor early, and communicate consistently throughout your placement.

If you have a scheduling conflict, need clarification or are struggling to balance everything, speak up. Your preceptors know you're still a student and want to help you succeed.

4) Build strong relationships

Some of the most valuable parts of a clinical placement are the relationships you build along the way. Depending on your program and placement, you may spend a significant amount of time each week working alongside the same professionals.

In Maddison's case, that has meant sharing everything from Friday night wins to difficult conversations with athletes. Those experiences can turn connections into mentors and professional connections who continue to support you long after the rotation ends.

5) Try something different

Your clinical experience doesn't have to look exactly like everyone else's. Take advantage of opportunities beyond what's required. Whether it's working with a different population or assisting at events, these experiences could help you find a new passion.

CAHS students have gained experience in settings ranging from fire departments and adaptive sports programs to ballet companies and other specialized environments. Trying something different can strengthen your skills, introduce you to new professionals and even help you discover a career path you hadn't considered.

Maddison (Maddy) Dixon, co-author

Outreach and engagement intern , Office of Student Affairs

Related Stories