Creature convenience in the clinic

The latest staff in Roanoke College’s Jim Buriak Athletic Coaching Clinic has an affable demeanor, is exceptionally caring in his operate with college students, and even wears a adorable vest.

But once in a although, he does lie down on the position.

Milo, whose official title is pupil-athlete wellness supporter, can be excused the occasional place of work nap because in addition to currently being a very challenging employee, he is a extremely superior boy. As a licensed treatment doggy, Milo has swiftly become an adored addition to the teaching clinic, where by he sidles up to college students for pets and requires their minds off the pressures of getting a university student-athlete.

“I satisfied Milo at the starting of the fall semester, and he has normally been there to set a smile on my deal with,” reported Morgan Micallef ’23, a member of the women’s basketball workforce. “Especially when I have had a prolonged day of courses and I am not in the suitable point out of thoughts to have a excellent practice, he immediately calms me down and places me in an wonderful mood.”

Milo and Gabi Oney ’17, his operator and the head athletic coach in the education clinic.

Milo’s mother, Head Athletic Coach Gabi Oney ’17, adopted Milo even though performing as an athletic trainer at a higher faculty in Washington point out. She had moved throughout the country for the job and a new experience, but living alone – considerably from household in Ohio and close friends in Virginia – turned out to be more challenging than she considered. She didn’t know what to expect with an grownup rescue doggy, but she hit the jackpot with Milo. “He has been a godsend,” she reported.

Oney, who gained a diploma in athletic coaching at Roanoke and an superior master’s in the identical discipline at the University of South Carolina, returned to Roanoke in 2020 to run the Athletics Medicine Office and control a group of athletic trainers. She is also the key athletic coach for the wrestling, men’s volleyball and golf groups. Just about every working day, 40-50 students pay a visit to the clinic to function with athletic trainers, who focus in stopping, diagnosing and dealing with injuries.

Milo 1st came to get the job done with Oney earlier this tutorial year “a little little bit as a joke,” she said. She figured with the tension of lessons, methods, video games and the post-COVID landscape, it could not damage to have a fluffy animal in the clinic for pupils to pet. Following approval from her supervisor, Director of University student Health and fitness and Counseling Providers Sandy McGhee, Oney brought Milo to get the job done – and he speedily became the star of the clinic.

That’s when Oney made the decision to make Milo a accredited instruction animal and a more lasting addition to the clinic staff. “Sometimes our occupation looks casual,” she mentioned, “but we are really healthcare pros, and this is technically a medical facility, so I wished to make positive we ended up not being lax. He has tested time and yet again that he is respectful and liable.” 

Milo takes a break when Oney is effective with wrestler Michael Policarpio ’26.