Commonwealth University-Lock Haven athletic training graduate student Zack Chowansky, of Ringtown, returned to familiar grounds this year, completing his clinical internship at his alma mater, North Schuylkill High School, before graduating this spring.
Chowansky, who first developed an interest in sports medicine under the mentorship of North Schuylkill athletic trainer Megan Yesalusky, LAT, ATC, chose to stay close to home to further his training.
Following his graduation from North Schuylkill, Chowansky pursued a 3+2 athletic training program at Millersville University, where he deepened his clinical experience working with Lock Haven University alumni Ryan McGovern ’14 and Katie Parmer ’04.
In addition to his time on the sidelines and in the training room at North Schuylkill, Chowansky completed clinical hours at Integrated Orthopedic Specialists (IOS) in Pottsville. There, he worked under the guidance of Dr. Jason Phillips and Brandon Oswald, PA-C, gaining hands-on experience in orthopedic care and rehabilitation.
“Having clinical responsibilities at both NSHS and IOS made me stronger as an athletic trainer and healthcare provider,” Chowansky said. “Every day was a new experience and a new opportunity to learn from standout providers. I was able to refine my skills as a student healthcare provider in a setting that I was comfortable with, while also being challenged on a daily basis.”
At IOS, Chowansky’s mornings were spent completing musculoskeletal evaluations, reviewing imaging, developing treatment plans, and assisting with surgical consultations.
“Zack was an excellent student,” said Phillips. “He quickly became an integral part of our clinic, grasping complex orthopedic concepts with ease and was clearly a critical thinker. He developed a great rapport with our patients and brought a tremendous amount of inquisitiveness to the clinic.”
In the afternoons and evenings, Chowansky returned to North Schuylkill, where he worked alongside Yesalusky and Leah Pastal to provide care for student-athletes across multiple sports, including wrestling, basketball, baseball, softball, and track and field.
“Having that built-in connection with Meg made this immersion seamless,” Chowansky said. “It was like I never left, except I was no longer a student-athlete—I was a student healthcare provider assisting her.”
Chowansky completed more than 250 clinical hours at North Schuylkill. One of the most meaningful experiences during his internship was providing continuity of care to an injured softball player. After an initial on-field evaluation, he followed the case through to a physician consultation and MRI confirmation at IOS.
“Extremely unfortunate for the athlete, but for the first time in my professional career, I was able to perform full circle care for an individual,” Chowansky said. “It was a great feeling knowing that I learned the skills and competency to practice and provide care with independence and confidence someday.”
Looking ahead, Chowansky plans to continue his education at CU-Lock Haven in the physician associate studies graduate program.
“The clinical immersion placement exceeded my expectations,” he said. “Lock Haven has truly been a blessing to me, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store.”
