COL Kimberly M. Geslak
May 2022
Kimberly M
Geslak
,
BSN, MSN
Critical Care Nursing Section
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston
,
TX
United States
COL Geslak has positively impacted the lives of nurses on a significant scale and through her extensive contributions has transformed Army Medicine.
Colonel Kimberly Marie Geslak is recognized for having distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements for over 26 years. Her dedication, intelligence, and team building resulted in multiple gains for Army Medicine. Most recently, as the Chief of Critical Care Nursing Services at Brooke Army Medical Center Responsible for the largest DOD and only Level 1 Trauma Center's Critical Care Section, COL Geslak strategically led her team through the overwhelming demands of COVID surges, a remarkably successful TJC survey with zero widespread observations, and the arduous transition of the electronic health record to MHS Genesis.
Despite the persistent mission demands, COL Geslak selflessly contributed her knowledge to academia by editing a chapter in two editions of Pass CCRN, a nationally recognized study guide for critical care nurses. She also previously served in this position from December 2016 to April 2019. As the Deputy Commander of Inpatient Services at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center from April 2019 until August 2021, COL Geslak was responsible for the entirety of inpatient services comprised of 151 inpatient bed capacity with a Level III Trauma Center and Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
She developed an expansion plan in response to the COVID pandemic, ensuring over 130,000 beneficiaries could be served during a national crisis. She expanded the scope of practice for Licensed Practical nurses, allowing them to administer IV medications, and also increasing readiness for the 68C. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, COL Geslak was instrumental in reducing transfers to the network by increasing the capabilities of the ICU and streamlining multiple hospital processes. The team received the 2020 DHA HRO award for Leadership Engagement. At the enterprise level, COL Geslak represented the Army Nurse Corps while serving on the Defense Health Agency Tele-Critical Care Committee, the Tri-service Nurse Readiness Working Group, and the Joint KSA Working groups from 2019 until May 2022.
She led a sub-working group responsible for identifying joint KSAs for critical care nurses. A valued asset, she provided information and feedback to each group as the critical care nursing expert while keeping the field up to date on projects and pending changes. A respected and trusted leader, COL Geslak was selected to serve as the Consultant to the Army Surgeon General for Critical Care Nurses in 2019. As the consultant for over 500 66Ss, she developed the new individual critical task list (ICTL), ensuring it met Training and Doctrine Command standards. The ICTL list enabled Army leaders to track and report 66S readiness, contributing to operational readiness and transparency while identifying gaps in readiness opportunities.
As the consultant, she managed all Enroute Critical Care Nurse deployments in collaboration with the 66T consultant, and prior to the Army transformation and the initiation of the MTOE assigned personnel (MAP) concept, she managed all 66S deployments. COL Geslak served as the Assistant Deputy Commander for Nursing at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell Kentucky, from Jun 2015 to December 2016. In this role, she was responsible for inpatient operations in a 41-bed hospital. She was responsible for supervision and implementation of national nursing standards of practice for more than 300 active duty, reserve, and civilian staff working in inpatient and outpatient nursing within the hospital and Soldier Health Services serving a population of over 72,000 beneficiaries.
As a result of targeted efforts, the Tricare Inpatient Satisfaction Survey scores increased notably during her tenure as the ADCN. COL Geslak made immeasurable contributions to the 66S (critical care nurse), AOC. As a deputy director and then director of the critical care/emergency trauma nursing course from May 2012 to Jun 2015, she was responsible for training over 300 66Ss. During this time she was instrumental in the development of a new curriculum to ensure education matched current practice in medicine and current operations in a deployed environment.
In recognition of her contributions to the Army Medical Department, she was awarded the prestigious O2M3, 9A identifier, and in recent times, bestowed with the 2021 Army Nurse Corps Association Senior Leader of the Year award. Undeniable COL Geslak has positively impacted the lives of nurses on a significant scale and through her extensive contributions has transformed Army Medicine. Her legacy will have a profound and lasting impact on the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.
Despite the persistent mission demands, COL Geslak selflessly contributed her knowledge to academia by editing a chapter in two editions of Pass CCRN, a nationally recognized study guide for critical care nurses. She also previously served in this position from December 2016 to April 2019. As the Deputy Commander of Inpatient Services at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center from April 2019 until August 2021, COL Geslak was responsible for the entirety of inpatient services comprised of 151 inpatient bed capacity with a Level III Trauma Center and Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
She developed an expansion plan in response to the COVID pandemic, ensuring over 130,000 beneficiaries could be served during a national crisis. She expanded the scope of practice for Licensed Practical nurses, allowing them to administer IV medications, and also increasing readiness for the 68C. In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, COL Geslak was instrumental in reducing transfers to the network by increasing the capabilities of the ICU and streamlining multiple hospital processes. The team received the 2020 DHA HRO award for Leadership Engagement. At the enterprise level, COL Geslak represented the Army Nurse Corps while serving on the Defense Health Agency Tele-Critical Care Committee, the Tri-service Nurse Readiness Working Group, and the Joint KSA Working groups from 2019 until May 2022.
She led a sub-working group responsible for identifying joint KSAs for critical care nurses. A valued asset, she provided information and feedback to each group as the critical care nursing expert while keeping the field up to date on projects and pending changes. A respected and trusted leader, COL Geslak was selected to serve as the Consultant to the Army Surgeon General for Critical Care Nurses in 2019. As the consultant for over 500 66Ss, she developed the new individual critical task list (ICTL), ensuring it met Training and Doctrine Command standards. The ICTL list enabled Army leaders to track and report 66S readiness, contributing to operational readiness and transparency while identifying gaps in readiness opportunities.
As the consultant, she managed all Enroute Critical Care Nurse deployments in collaboration with the 66T consultant, and prior to the Army transformation and the initiation of the MTOE assigned personnel (MAP) concept, she managed all 66S deployments. COL Geslak served as the Assistant Deputy Commander for Nursing at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell Kentucky, from Jun 2015 to December 2016. In this role, she was responsible for inpatient operations in a 41-bed hospital. She was responsible for supervision and implementation of national nursing standards of practice for more than 300 active duty, reserve, and civilian staff working in inpatient and outpatient nursing within the hospital and Soldier Health Services serving a population of over 72,000 beneficiaries.
As a result of targeted efforts, the Tricare Inpatient Satisfaction Survey scores increased notably during her tenure as the ADCN. COL Geslak made immeasurable contributions to the 66S (critical care nurse), AOC. As a deputy director and then director of the critical care/emergency trauma nursing course from May 2012 to Jun 2015, she was responsible for training over 300 66Ss. During this time she was instrumental in the development of a new curriculum to ensure education matched current practice in medicine and current operations in a deployed environment.
In recognition of her contributions to the Army Medical Department, she was awarded the prestigious O2M3, 9A identifier, and in recent times, bestowed with the 2021 Army Nurse Corps Association Senior Leader of the Year award. Undeniable COL Geslak has positively impacted the lives of nurses on a significant scale and through her extensive contributions has transformed Army Medicine. Her legacy will have a profound and lasting impact on the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.