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Trainer Spotlight: Dakota Gelsheimer SM East 9/20
By Sports Medicine and Performance Center Staff Dakota Gelsheimer joined The University of Kansas Health System in 2017. She’s currently the interim head athletic trainer at Shawnee Mission East High School. Gelsheimer is an integral part of the athletic program at the school. She works alongside the student-athletes, coaches, parents and doctors to ensure athletes can perform at their maximum potential while staying safe and injury-free. While she never has a “typical” day, she spends much of her time working with athletes on injury rehabilitation, monitoring practices and providing healthcare at games.
“While working through rehabilitation with the athletic trainer, I learned about the art and skills of the profession,” said Gelsheimer, a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Kansas Athletic Trainers' Society and Missouri Athletic Trainers' Association. “I immediately fell in love and knew from that moment on that I wanted to become an athletic trainer.” For Gelsheimer, there are many rewards to working at Shawnee Mission East. She enjoys guiding her athletes through the injury recovery process and watching them grow as people, as well as educating them about their injuries so they are more equipped to avoid them in the future. “I make sure to always sit down with them and explain their diagnosis and treatment in depth so that they can understand it,” said Gelsheimer. Gelsheimer is at the school full time, available for the daily healthcare needs of the student-athletes and developing important relationships. “Being there full time helps because the athletes learn to open up to you and to trust you,” said Gelsheimer. “They are more honest with someone they see and interact with every day. I’m showing the athletes that I am reliable and there if they need me.” For more sports medicine articles and information on the Sports Medicine & Performance Center at the University of Kansas Health System, go to sportstmedicine.kansashealthsystem.com or follow @KUSportsMed on twitter.
The University of Kansas Hospital Sports Medicine Archive
 
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Originally from Springfield, Mo., Gelsheimer played soccer at Independence Community College before earning a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from Washburn University and a master’s degree in education from Central Methodist University. But it was while playing soccer at ICC and dealing with an injury that Gelsheimer developed a love for sports medicine.