Athletic Training Staff
Kayla Bisinger, MM, LAT, ATC
Email: kayla.bisinger@kirkwood.edu
Phone number: 319-398-4909
Kayla Bisinger begins her second year with Kirkwood as the Head Athletic Trainer employed through Performance Therapies. Before working with Performance Therapies, Bisinger worked as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Dubuque with their women’s volleyball team, women’s basketball team, and men’s and women’s outdoor track teams. She graduated from the University of Dubuque in May of 2021 with a master’s degree in sports management.
In 2019 Bisinger graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. While at the University of Northern Iowa, she worked with the University of Northern Iowa football, wrestling, softball, and track teams, Hawkeye Community College, and various high school teams in the Cedar Valley area.
Nick Mergen, PT, DPT, ATC
Nick Mergen, PT, DPT, ATC is entering his second year working with Kirkwood Athletics. He graduated from the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at the University of Iowa in 2016. Prior to that, he attended Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training in 2014. Nick has worked at Performance Therapies since 2017 with an emphasis on orthopedic and sports rehabilitation. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the University of Iowa’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. During his time at Performance, Nick has gone on to complete additional training in a variety of areas, receiving certifications in Dry Needling, the Selective Functional Movement Assessment, and baseball pitching evaluation through OnBaseU. Additionally, he is an Exos Performance Specialist and is certified in the Fitness Pain-Free system. In his free time, Nick enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and cheering on Hawkeye athletics.