Athletic trainers learn new advances during casting workshop

A day-and-a-half-long casting- and splinting-skills workshop for athletic
trainers was held at UW-Eau Claire thanks to a gift to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation from Dr. Troy Berg of Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and his wife, Corinne.

This hands-on workshop develop athletic trainers’ knowledge and ability to apply casts and splints and prepared them to take the National Association of Orthopaedic Technologists Exam.

Fifteen athletic trainers participated in the interactive workshop taught by NAOT staff. Eleven of the participants were UW-Eau Claire alumni.

“It was a way for alumni to come back to campus to receive training on a topic of
interest,” said Robert Stow, director of the athletic training education program at UW-Eau Claire. “In addition to alumni there were also several UW-Eau Claire students who participated.”

The workshop cost $100 and included study materials for the certification exam. The workshop also provided 11 continuing education units.

“We charged the nominal $100 fee in the belief that this investment will pay greater dividends professionally in the future for the participants,” Stow said. “Additionallyit allows us to expand the Bergs' gift to hold a suturing workshop in the near future.”

The workshop also was a great opportunity for the UW-Eau Claire staff to develop their knowledge, Stow said.

“We can extend use of the information to the classroom and use it over and over
long after the workshop,” Stow said.