Students from Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, a private university in Osaka, Japan, visited USF Health March 24 to learn more about how American athletic trainers care for injured athletes.   Approximately 20 Japanese athletic training students and two faculty members learned from 12 USF faculty and staff and  57 USF athletic training students. 

“Having our students from USF and Japan interact together demonstrated very clearly that effective communications skills are a valuable asset to have if one aspires to be a competent healthcare provider.” said Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, FACSM, FNATA, associate professor and vice chair for the Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and executive director of the Sports Medicine & Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute. “Our athletic training students were very impressive and even more professional during all of our collaborative activities.”

Above: Students “log roll” iStan to access the simulator’s airway.
Below: Faculty member Barbara Morris, MS, ATC, supervises removal
of the facemask to gain access to the airway.

The students from Japan learned American techniques of taping, bracing and on-field emergency care, including mock emergency exercises using iStan, a high-fidelity simulator, in the Center for Advanced Clinical Learning at USF Health.  iStan, wearing full football gear,  was programmed to simulate an athlete who was unconscious and not breathing, with a potential spine injury.  The computerized mannequin helped students learn how to assess and care for an unconscious athlete who is wearing gear. 

“It was amazing to watch the interaction and group dynamics that occurred among the students.  They were able to problem solve as a group and work towards a common goal despite the language barrier. It was a great opportunity for both the students from USF and the students from Japan,” said Micki Cuppet, EdD, ATC, director of athletic training education for the Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

During their three-day visit to USF, the students attended workshops in the new Dr. David Leffers Athletic Training Education Suite, and the Center for Advanced Clinical Learning, in addition to observing the USF Sports Medicine staff care for the Bulls at the Athletics Building and fields.  Their visit was part of a five-day trip to Tampa where they toured local professional sporting venues, and met with other private groups to gather additional skills that will help them to better treat injured athletes in Japan.

Above: Athletic training students from Japan listen to heart sounds on the simulator Harvey.
Below: Director of Athletic Training Micki Cuppett, EdD, ATC, (second from left)
instructs students in the differences between normal and abnormal heart sounds.

– Story by Susanna Martinez Tarokh and photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications