Leaders Made

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, 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,”

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 Dr. James Geiselman 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’S STAFF COUNCIL

has a passion for bringing the university’s commitment of serving to light. Despite the challenges the pandemic posed this past academic year, the staff council carried on with its annual volunteering event.

“Staff members were excited to be giving back to the community regardless of what it looked like,” Academic Success Coach Stacia Rosen said. “It speaks volumes to the kind of staff we have at Logan.”

During the spring trimester break, 25 staff members participated in the 2021 Virtual Volunteering event, donating time to one of four causes: writing letters to current and past service members for Operation Gratitude, writing thank-you notes to the health care workers on the COVID-19 floor at St. Luke’s Hospital, working with Junior Achievement to create three-minute career videos with local students, or completing a DIY service project of the staff member’s choosing.

“It was rewarding to send thank-you cards to the COVID-19 floor at St. Luke’s because, while they may be exhausted from enduring this hectic life for 18 months, they need to know their efforts have not gone unnoticed,” said Ashley Nickell, MEd, associate director of federal enrollment reporting & Title IV compliance. “As I told them and fully believe, not all superheroes wear capes … some wear scrubs!”

This was the first year that Staff Council pivoted its event to be virtual to adhere to the latest restrictions.

“These gifts, with messages of hope, resilience and appreciation, meant a great deal to team members at the front line of our hospital’s COVID-19 response and provided time for self-care during very busy and challenging days,” said Sharon Mertzlufft, vice president and executive director of network development, marketing and community affairs at St. Luke’s. “We are humbled by Logan’s Staff Council’s generosity and compassion as our respective organizations work each day to improve the health of our community.”

Logan’s Staff Council typically meets once a month to connect and discuss ideas about how to improve staff life at Logan. For many members, the annual volunteering event provides a chance to escape from their everyday schedules and give back to the community.

“Volunteering is an opportunity for me to take some time from a busy routine and help someone else. My dad served one tour in Vietnam with the Marines, so I could relate to the project for Operation Gratitude,” Senior Application Programmer Analyst Kristi Hill said. “I hope that whoever receives the cards will smile and know that someone at home in the U.S. is thinking of them and is grateful for their service to our country.” Other Staff Council members took on their own service projects that they planned from start to finish. For example, Professional Development Coordinator Wendy LaBenne collected nonperishable food items for a donation to the St. Louis Food Bank.

“I hope through contributing to the St. Louis Food Bank that a family who is experiencing challenging financial times can feed their family. I love the St. Louis community, and this is one small way in which I can give back,” Wendy said.

Brittany Bailey, record coordinator at Logan, worked on a DIY project with her daughter who loves arts and crafts. Together they created “squishys,” which work like stress relief balls. They donated several, along with sack lunches and care packages, to a nursing home, an elementary school and a homeless shelter.

“Giving back means blessing others who are not as fortunate and appreciating the world around you,” Brittany said. “Giving back reflects love and compassion and is morally the right thing to do.”

Professional Development Coordinator Wendy LaBenne prepares her donation for the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Record Coordinator Brittany Bailey and her daughter created an assortment of “squishys,” similar to stress relief balls, for a nursing home, school and homeless shelter.