NU Athletic Training Students

Neumann University athletic training majors got an up close and personal view on how another country provides athletic training. Dr. Kathleen Swanik, associate professor of athletic training, traveled to Dublin, Ireland, with 11 students last January.

The students attended lectures at Dublin City University, University of Dublin, and University College of Dublin. They received one credit for the travel program.

“We attended a few lectures on the landscape of sports medicine in Ireland. I asked the kids to compare programs,” Swanik said.

In addition to the lectures, the students had opportunities for hands-on learning too.

Rob Tagle, a senior AT major, enjoyed seeing the famous Irish sites likes the Cliffs of Moher, but the highlight of the trip was the hands-on opportunities.

“My favorite day was when we learned how to play Gaelic Sports such as Hurling and Gaelic Football. They claim hurling is the “fastest game on grass” and requires a unique skill set. It was basically lacrosse, baseball, field hockey and soccer molded into one sport,” Tagle explained.  

The trip gave Tagle the chance to compare athletic training programs between the United States and Ireland.

“I got to meet and sit in on lectures from healthcare professionals that are very similar to athletic trainers. They are very skilled with manual therapy techniques and are very hands on. It’s great to see how similar professions from different countries can learn from another,” he said.

While the weather didn’t fully cooperate, the students did not pass on any opportunities to learn and explore.

“We did get to see all the major site-seeing areas and we learned more history than they probably ever learned about America. I was really proud of all of them. They really got engaged in the experience. They just jumped in with both feet and really opened themselves up to learning,” Swanik said.