Dr. Geissinger received his medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. With his postgraduate training temporarily interrupted during the Vietnam conflict, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a general surgeon. He then returned to Northwestern to complete a residency program in neurological surgery, which included one year of medical neurology at the University of Iowa. Geissinger then practiced his specialty for over 20 years in Tallahassee, Florida, during which time he was also the primary author of a number of scientific papers and book reviews published in the neurological literature.

At the peak of his career as a surgeon an accidental needle puncture in the operating room infected him with hepatitis B; thereby, prematurely forcing him to give up neurosurgery. This diverted the doctor to the pursuit of another challenging career—cattle ranching, a second childhood dream. Finally, when later approaching the retirement years, his lifelong passion of woodworking became refined to that of an artisan of museum quality furniture.

Geissinger's accomplished medical career was honored in 2012 when he received the prestigious I. B. Harrison award from the Capital Medical Society of Florida. Despite life’s adversities, his achievement of excellence in the fields of medicine, agriculture and art was recognized by his being profiled in the exclusive Tallahassee Magazine (Sept/Oct 2013). The article was entitled: Dr. Jim Geissinger? Renaissance Man of Tallahassee and a Regional Pioneer of Neurosurgery.

Dr. Geissinger and his wife, Elaine, live happily in North Florida, and enjoy time together at their bayside home on beautiful St. George Island.

“Geissinger’s memoir appeals on several levels: Medical students will likely find the advice useful, while readers with an interest in neurosurgery will appreciate the book’s focus on pioneering methods”
– Kirkus Reviews