‘MTSU On the Record’ tapes up, stays hydrated to learn about athletic training

Drs. Kristi Phillips, left, and Helen Binkley of MTSU's Department of Health and Human Performance are the scheduled guests on the Aug. 3 edition of the “MTSU On the Record” radio program, airing on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. (MTSU file photo)

Drs. Kristi Phillips, left, and Helen Binkley of MTSU’s Department of Health and Human Performance are the guests on the Aug. 3, 2021, edition of the “MTSU On the Record” radio program, airing on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. (MTSU file photo)

Two stalwart MTSU educators who refused to let the COVID-19 pandemic slow down their students’ degree tracks were the guests on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Drs. Kristi Phillips, a master instructor, and Helen Binkley, a professor, from the Department of Health and Human Performance first aired Aug. 3 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can listen to their conversation via the Soundcloud link above.

Gina K. Logue

Experiential learning in high school training rooms and physical therapy centers is part of an athletic training major’s learning experience. The professors said hands-on, up-close nature of the work made finding ways to keep the students and clients safe a challenge as the coronavirus spread.

It wasn’t easy to find places that would accept the students in the middle of the spring 2020 semester, when reliable information was at a premium.

However, by summer, with proper protocols in place, the students could find placements with various entities. MTSU Athletics was especially glad to have the students working with them.

“They (athletic trainers) were thankful that the students were there because they didn’t know how they were going to handle all the athlete testing,” Binkley said.

Phillips said the faculty learned a lot from the experience that they can apply to their ongoing instruction.

“(Videoconferencing) has been … used to check in with students at their clinical sites,” Phillips said.

“I have been using this as a mechanism to visit with students and their preceptors this summer (as they) complete their practicums in their hometowns. I can see using Zoom in these ways this fall and even into the future.”

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.