Location

Dublin, Ireland

Program Description

Spend the week immersing yourself in Irish Sports Medicine, culture and structured tourism activities. Learn how the history of Gaelic Sports influence culture. Learn common injuries and management techniques for injuries in Gaelic Sports and Rugby. Learn how Athletic Training fits into the Irish healthcare system. Tourism activities include a walking history tour of Dublin, Hop on/off bus and a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher. Predeparture required readings/quiz, remaining course work will be integrated into Spring Clinic courses includes a daily journal, answer to a question of the day, video project and final reflection.

Learning partners work hard to create interactive learning experiences integrating both lectures and lab based activities into their presentations. This includes learning about injury and mechanisms common in Gaelic Sports and the opportunity to learn additional management stratetgies. Compare on and off field injury management, assessment techniques and loading. Observe clinical sessions, watch live sports and learn by doing.

Sport in Ireland has had a significant impact on country’s history and in some cases struggle for both independence and identity. Irish Sport provides great contrast to many other countries in that they play traditional Gaelic Games such as Gaelic football & Hurling as well as non-traditional games imported from Britain such as soccer, rugby & cricket. Boxing, equestrian and cycling are also sports in which Ireland has found success and they continue to grow their Olympic sports program. This study abroad program will educate students on the history & culture of Gaelic Sport while simultaneously taking them inside the European model of club sports. They will have the opportunity to interact with healthcare providers and learn the common injuries associated with Gaelic Sports and professional rugby as well as injury prevention, management and rehabilitation strategies. Learning from leaders in the field of Sports Medicine in this small country provides students the opportunity to build their professional network and develop critical insight regarding their own professional practice. Immersion into a different culture is an ideal opportunity to experience and grow in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Location Description

From an academic perspective, Ireland offers a fantastic opportunity for students to visit and study the Model of Sport, Sport Medicine, History & Culture. Ireland has a truly fascinating history and culturally rich people. Sport in Ireland has had a significant impact on country’s history and in some cases struggle for both independence and identity. Irish Sport provides great contrast to many other countries in that they play traditional Gaelic Games such as Gaelic football & Hurling as well as non-traditional games exported from Britain such as soccer, rugby & cricket. This program will educate students on the history & culture of Ireland Sport while simultaneously taking them inside the European model of club sports. Students will receive firsthand exposure to facilities and healthcare providers at various venues, clubs, universities and sporting organizations.

Athletic Training, as a profession, is unique to the United States. However, the National Athletic Trainers Association, in conjunction with its’ strategic partners (Board of Certification and Commission for the Accreditation of Athletic Training Education) have a reciprocity agreement with Canada and Ireland which allows healthcare providers with similar educational training, to sit for the Certified Athletic Trainer credentialing exam in each others’ countries. Dublin City University (DCU), one academic partner for this program, offers one of the three Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists (ART)(equivalent program) in Ireland and is in the process of working toward CAATE accreditation (US accrediting body). Students will learn directly from the DCU program director and team physician and well as numerous other healthcare professionals. Students will learn on-site at numerous athletic facilities (sport clubs), in classrooms at various universities and in laboratory facilities and have the opportunity to interact socially with physiotherapy and ART students.

Director

Connie Peterson | peterscl@jmu.edu | Health Sciences

Accommodations

Accomodations will be in the 3-star Skylon hotel where students will each have their own bed in 2-4 person rooms with their own bathroom and a small refrigerator. The hotel includes a hot all you can eat breakfast bar daily and is located next to a grocery store.

City center is a 10 min bus ride away with bus stops close to the hotel. Students will be provided with a city transport pass that allows them freedom to explore on all public transportation modes.
There are restaurants, coffee shops, a park and 3 of our learning experiences within walking distance.

Breakfast daily will be at the hotel. We will provide 2 additional dinners and one lunch. Remaining meals are on your own.

Additional Items to Consider

No visas required, minimal language challenges, lovely, welcoming people. Please check your personal cell phone plan before departure. We will use What's App to communicate while in Ireland so phone should have at least minimal capacity.

One pre-departure meeting, in Harrisonburg, HBS building - date TBD. Online reading and quiz to be submitted by December 20.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Graduate Students

Prerequisite: Students must be enrolled in the Masters of Science in Athletic Training Program

Application Process