Professor Paul Geisler, director of Ithaca College’s Athletic Training Education Program, was recognized by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association with a 2019 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. The award honors those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to leadership, volunteer service, advocacy and distinguished professional activities as an athletic trainer.
A practicing athletic trainer since 1987, Geisler joined the faculty in IC’s Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training in 2006. He has contributed to at least 20 scholarly articles, given dozens of peer-reviewed presentations nationally and internationally, and served on numerous professional committees and editorial boards, including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Executive Committee on Education. He also served as a volunteer athletic trainer at several international sporting events, including the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
“It’s exciting to be recognized for many years of service and various contributions to the profession,” Geisler said. “Overall, I’m most proud of the impact I’ve had on how athletic training education has evolved over the last 14 years.”
Geisler was one of 19 to receive the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award at the 2019 NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium, held June 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Only three athletic trainers were recognized from NATA’s second district, which includes Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
Geisler thanked and IC professor emeritus Kent Scriber and University of Delaware professor Thomas Kaminski for their support and mentorship throughout his career. He stressed that his successes are shared with the athletic training faculty at IC.
“In a very meaningful way, this is also a group award,” he said. “I have a great group of faculty here in our department. Most of what I’ve done is a byproduct of great teamwork and dedication to the profession and our students.”