A Mild Voice of Reason

About Jason

Jason E. Gillikin

Contact Information

• PO Box 230065, Grand Rapids MI  49523-0065
• 616.929.0845
• jason * ~at~ * gillikin.org
• AIM/jgillikin01
• Yahoo/jgillikin01
• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
  
  

Biography & Personal Trivia

• Jason was born in Grand Rapids in September, 1976 and has continuously resided in the region, including stints in Marne, Walker, Kentwood and Kalamazoo.  He presently is located in G.R.’s upper west side.
• Politics:  Center-right Republican — hard right on economic questions, libertarian on most social issues (except abortion — opposed), mildly neocon on defense and foreign affairs
• Religion:  Fairly serious Roman Catholic in an intellectual/contemplative sense, with a passion for correct liturgy and experience with diocesan liturgy and volunteer chaplaincy work in prisons and hospitals
• Sexuality:  Bisexual (a 4-to-5 on the Kinsey Scale) — and yes, I’ve dated both men and women
• Eating:  Indian, Italian, sushi
• Drinking:  Always up for port or single-malt scotch; prefer sweet wines, especially Moscato, and will never pass by a sweet, delicious mocha
• Smoking:  Occasionally, a fine cigar (e.g., a Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3)
• Personality:  Myers-Briggs type INTJ or INTP (fluctuates depending on mood); tends toward the analytical but is generally serene and not slavishly beholden to mere preferences; strong intellectual bent with a dry/sarcastic humor
• Sports and Recreation:  Runner, cyclist, martial artist (uechi-ryu karate and escrima), scuba diver (PADI-certified open-water diver)
• Hobbies:  Reading, writing, board games, fine dining, conversation over coffee, travel, visiting museums
• Books:  Mostly history (especially 20th century) and moral philosophy; fan of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series
• Magazines:  First Things, National Review, The Weekly Standard; The Economist; Blue Water Sailing; Sport Diver; Outside
• Newspapers:  USA Today (regularly); The Wall Street Journal (occasionally)
• Music:  Medieval polyphany; contemporary alt-rock; baroque — see Jason’s Playlist post for details
• Film:  Action, Sci-Fi, Horror, War, Epic Fantasy

Education & Professional Development

• B.A., philosophy/ethics and political science (minors in history, Latin, comparative religion), Western Michigan University (2003)
• M.A., theoretical and practical ethics, Western Michigan University (in progress — currently on hiatus) — research emphasis on political metaethics and the problems of moral evil
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, National Quality Certification Board (2006; recertified through 2011)

Summary Work History

• Customer service representative for regional retailer and for a Michigan bank
• Golf course groundskeeper/payroll coordinator
• Contract consultant — IT services for local governments in West Michigan
• Administrative assistant to the president of a major local family foundation
• Newspaper columnist, section editor, copy chief, and editor in chief
• Healthcare statistician/quality-improvement analyst for front-end revenue-cycle operations for large integrated health system
• Freelance writer and communication-services consultant

Publications & Presentations

• Entry on “interpenetrated design” published in the Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods (Sage Publications, 2008,  P. Lavrakas, editor)
• Presentation on “ethics as a contributor to a culture of quality” delivered at the annual educational conference of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (San Diego, 2006)
• Essay on inclusive language published in America Now (5th ed.), a college-level writing textbook (2002)
• Dozens of news stories and hundreds of editorials and bylined opinion columns published in the Western Herald, a daily non-lab newspaper (circ. 12,500) affiliated with Western Michigan University (2000-2005)
• Papers delivered on Revenue Cycle Management for the 2008 Joint Statistical Meetings and ASA/ASQ Fall Technical Conference.

Memberships

• Pacific Crest Trail Association (2010)
• Academy of Healthcare Revenue (2009-)
• American Evaluation Association (2007-2008)
• American Statistical Association (2006-)
• American Society for Quality (senior member) (2006-)
• National Association for Healthcare Quality (2006-)
• Society of Professional Journalists (2006-)

Professional Service

• Publications officer, Quality and Productivity section of the American Statistical Association (2009); Q&P Webmaster (2010)
• Web redesign team, Quality and Productivity section, American Statistical Association (2008-10)
• Board of Reviewers, Journal for Healthcare Quality (2008)
• Editorial team, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2009)

Volunteer & Civic Engagement

• Lay Catholic chaplain, Diocese of Grand Rapids/Michigan Department of Corrections (2007-2008)
• Habitat for Humanity of Kent County, MI (2007-)
• Worship coordinator, Diocese of Grand Rapids (2007-2008)
• Secretary, Biomedical Ethics Committee, Spectrum Health (2005-2009)
• Member, Diversity Council, Western Michigan University (2004-2005)
• Member ex officio, board of directors, Western Herald (2004-2005)
• Lay Catholic Eucharistic minister, Spectrum Health – Pastoral Care Department (2003-2009)
• Chairman, Liturgy Commission, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (2002-2009)
• Member, board of directors, WIDR 89.1-FM (2002-2003)
• Member, executive committee, Committee to Revise the Institutional Mission, Western Michigan University (2001-2002)
• Coordinator, Student Legal Assistance Program, Western Michigan University (1999-2001)
• Precinct delegate (elected), Ottawa County, MI (1998-2000)

Photos (formal)

Photo [TIFF format, 200 dpi, 4x5", 24-bit RGB]