Paul Geisler
Dean, School of Sciences & Health Professions
- Health Professions Education
Paul Geisler, EdD, AT Ret. is a native of Lakeville, MA, and current resident of Boston. A retired certified athletic trainer for 36 years with clinical and professional experiences in high school, college, clinical, corporate, and private settings, and over two decades directing athletic training education programs at Georgia Southern University and Ithaca College. He is deeply interested in the development and assessment of the medico-clinical thinking processes of novice and experienced clinicians, the development of adaptive expertise, progressive and meaningful curriculum design, capability-based education, and authentic programmatic assessment. He is credited with over 170 national and international publications and presentations concerning clinical and educational based questions and challenges in athletic training practice and health professions education.
He is the recipient of two manuscript awards from the Journal of Athletic Training and the Athletic Training Education Journal for his scholarly work. For his professional contributions to the field of athletic training, he is the recipient of the NATA Athletic Training Service and NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Awards. His long-term educational accomplishments were recognized in receiving the NATA Executive Council on Education's Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award in 2021. From Ithaca College, he has been awarded two Dean's Awards for Excellence & Innovation in Teaching, a Dean's Excellence Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Teaching and Learning, and the Ithaca College Faculty Excellence Award.
He admits to being an enthusiastic but slow road cyclist, an amateur shutterbug of nature, people and structure, an aspiring wine snob and amateur foodie, and an unabashed promoter of equal rights, justice, and authentic democracy for all living souls. He and Susan, his life partner, and wife of over 3 decades are grateful and fulfilled parents of two amazing sons – Nicholas, a writer living in Los Angeles, CA and Benjamin, a photographer and artist living in Brooklyn, NY.
His previous positions include:
- Tenured Professor & Director, Athletic Training Education, Ithaca College, NY (2005-2021)
- Assistant Professor & Director, Athletic Training Education, Georgia Southern University, GA (1998-2005)
- Athletic Trainer, Georgia Southern University Athletics, Baseball (2000, 2001)
- National Director, HealthSouth Sport Program, Birmingham, AL (1993-1996)
- Athletic Trainer, Orlando Thunder, World League of American Football (1992)
- Athletic Trainer, Trinity Preparatory High School, Winter Park, FL (1991)
- Visiting Lecturer, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1990-1991)
- Athletic Trainer, Durham Academy, Durham, NC (1998-1991)
- Athletic Trainer, National Center for Sports Medicine and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, Arlington, VA (1987-1988)
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Sports Medicine with Honors, Marietta College (OH)
- Master of Arts, Exercise Physiology, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Doctor of Education, Curriculum Studies, Georgia Southern University
License/Certification
- AT, Retired (1987-2023)
Professional Affiliations & Memberships (Past & Current)
- Associate Editor & Pearls of Practice Column Editor, Athletic Training & Sports Healthcare
- Manuscript reviewer, Journal of Athletic Training
- Manuscript reviewer, International Journal of Athletic Training & Therapy
- Manuscript reviewer, Focus on Health Professions Education (New Zealand)
- Editorial Board Member and Manuscript Reviewer, Athletic Training Education Journal
- Volunteer Athletic Trainer, 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and 1994 World Cup
- Member, World Federation of Athletic Training & Therapy
- Founding Chair, NATA EducATionalist Community Cabinet
- Chair, EATA Education Summit
- Member, EATA Research Committee
- Chair, EATA Research Abstract Sub Committee
- Member, NATA Professional Education Committee
- Member, NATA Executive Council on Education
- Member, European Board of Medical Assessors
- Member, Association of Medical Education, Europe
- Adjunct Faculty, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
- Member, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Doctorate Health Sciences Advisory Board
- Member, National Athletic Trainers' Association
Paul Geisler in the News
Dr. Paul Geisler Named Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions
In January 2024, Dr. Paul Geisler, formerly Professor of Health Professions Education, Associate Dean of Health Sciences, and Interim Associate Dean of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, accepted a new position as Interim Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Professions. He will become the official Dean following the School’s formal renaming on July 1, 2024.