L E A DE R S MA DE
Logan University is a community of extraordinary leaders. Learn how these individuals are making an impact in their own communities, careers and beyond. As an assistant professor at Graceland University (GU) in Lamoni, Iowa, the most rewarding moments for JAMES GEISELMAN, DC (’15), MS (’17), DACBN, Dr. James Geiselman CCSP, ICSC, CES, CNC, NREMT, EMT-P do not come from his own endeavors; rather, he feels most accomplished when his students succeed. “A highlight of my career is watching my students grow not only in athletics and academics, but also seeing them take the lead in their learning,” Dr. Geiselman said. “Their passion reminds me why I do what I do.” At GU, Dr. Geiselman also supports the NAIA Men’s Wrestling team as its chiropractor. “I love working with athletes because they are highly motivated to get better, so they’re receptive to feedback and are always willing to do what it takes,” he said. One such student-athlete is Drew Sams, who has excelled both on the mat and in the classroom. Drew’s work studying nutritional deficiencies for adolescent wrestlers resulted in a published paper in the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Council on Nutrition quarterly journal, Nutritional Perspectives. “Writing a scientific paper can be a daunting task, and it’s truly a labor of love,” LOGAN.EDU/GIVE
Dr. Geiselman said. “When Drew picked his topic of deficiencies in wrestling, it was personal to him, and he wanted it to be thorough.” The topic of nutrition is especially important to Dr. Geiselman, as he is the interim director for GU’s Master of Nutrition and Human Performance program and also serves as the director of membership for the ACA’s Council on Nutrition. “Nutrition is a field I believe everyone benefits from,” he said. “With each patient who comes in, you are put in a position that directly impacts their lives. Educating patients on nutrition is important because it allows you to empower them to make better decisions.” Dr. Geiselman fondly reflects on his time as a student at Logan and looks forward to returning each year for Symposium. “It’s really important to make connections while you’re in school,” he said. “I’m still in touch with classmates from Logan, and we go to each other when we have challenges. It can be so impactful to have a fellow alumni sounding board.” Earlier this summer, JASMINE T. AGNEW, MTS, MHIIM, RHIA, CRCR, CSBI, SSBBP, MCCT™, CAHIMS, a student in Logan’s Doctor of Health Professions Jasmine T. Agnew Education (DHPE) program, gave a presentation
titled “Aligned with Industry: Developing Competency-Based Curriculum Approaches with Real-World Relevance” at the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) virtual Assembly on Education (AOE) as well as at the Mississippi Health Information Management Association’s virtual convention. “This was the first time I spoke at a national conference like this, and I am so grateful for the opportunity,” Jasmine said. “My DHPE coursework and my professors at Logan really had an impact on the topic I chose and the research I did to complete this proposal.” For more than 20 years, Jasmine has worked in health information technology in a variety of roles. She decided to pursue her DHPE from Logan when she transitioned from the workforce into academia. “Just because you’re educated doesn’t mean you’re an effective educator,” Jasmine said. “I needed to learn skills to help me successfully teach students the information I already knew, so I looked for a program that would do just that. I loved Logan’s course objectives, and the DHPE program felt like a perfect fit for me.” Jasmine is currently the program chair for the health information management program at Western Governors University (WGU). “In my current role at WGU, I hear from a lot of employers who tell me recent college graduates often do not have the ‘soft skills’ needed to thrive in the workplace,” Jasmine said. “They know all the information they learned from their textbooks, but they struggle with skills like project management and decision-making. My presentation at the AOE focused on the importance of ensuring students are proficient in those soft skills before entering the workforce.” LOGAN UNIVERSITY • SUMMER 2021 5
