CU-Lock Haven athletic training student splits semester-long clinical training at St. Luke’s University and WellSpan Health

During her final semester in the athletic training master’s program at Commonwealth University–Lock Haven, graduate student Ari Newlen, of Lock Haven, completed a semester-long clinical immersion in outpatient orthopedics.

Newlen spent eight weeks at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem and eight weeks at WellSpan Health in Lewisburg, where she gained hands-on experience working alongside physicians and a variety of health care professionals in clinical orthopedic settings.

While at St. Luke’s, Newlen worked closely with residency-trained athletic trainers, gaining exposure to the advanced specialized training athletic trainers can pursue within physician practice settings.

Across both sites, Newlen worked with a wide range of patient populations, from pediatrics to older adults. This experience expanded her understanding of orthopedics beyond the traditional athletic population and emphasized the importance of patient-centered care.

During her clinical immersion, Newlen performed orthopedic evaluations, collaborated with an interdisciplinary health care team to develop assessments and plans of care, guided rehabilitation exercises, assisted with casting and splinting and completed clinical documentation. She also had opportunities to observe surgical procedures in the operating room, gaining additional insight into orthopedic care and how athletic trainers can contribute to surgical and physician practice settings.

“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities Commonwealth University–Lock Haven has provided me, as well as the mentorship from my professors and preceptors throughout this experience,” Newlen said. “The opportunity to work in outpatient orthopedics with diverse patient populations strengthened my clinical skills and reinforced the importance of continuing to grow the athletic training profession within outpatient orthopedic settings.”