December 02, 2024

Meet Megan Shafferkoetter

Athletic Trainer 

Where are you from? 

I am originally from Union, MO, but moved to Jefferson County in 2020, and currently live in Crystal City, MO. Crystal City has an underground kayaking experience that is pretty cool! 

What brought you to Washington University Orthopedics?

I was working as a high school athletic trainer, and as much as I loved that, the hours were getting to be a lot. After doing research, I refused to leave where I was for anything other than WashU.

How do you support the department? 

I am an athletic trainer on the sports medicine team.

What aspect of your work do you find most interesting and rewarding? 

My favorite part of being an athletic trainer is building relationships with the patients and seeing them get back to what they love. WashU has given me the opportunity to see this from a new perspective and learn a lot of new information and skills to aid in this return.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? 

Outside of work, I am either watching sports (hard core Blues and Chiefs girl), reading, or listening to music. Everyone will tell you that I am a diehard Swiftie. And playing with our two dogs, Luna and Ranger.

What's the best advice you ever received?

Take things one day at a time. And if it feels too much, one hour at a time. Still too much, one minute at a time.

If you weren't in healthcare, what would you like to be doing?

Running a bookstore with coffee, dogs, and crafts with my mom. To be surrounded by those things all day, every day, would be a dream. 

Anything else you'd like to share?

My family and I run a nonprofit called Share Jake's Smiles, in memory of my younger brother, Jakob, that works to end the stigma behind mental health and suicide. We just had our annual trivia night and raised around $13,000. We help support families who have lost loved ones to suicide, pay for music therapy for kids and teens with anxiety and depression, and spread smiles through the community through things like a stocking drive we do around Christmas. We have donated to first responders, ER workers, and service men and women working through the holidays.

Learn why patient's choose Washington University Orthopedics, request an appointment online or call (314) 514-3500.