Jacob Diestelmann ‘08 arrived at UW-Madison with aspirations of studying psychology, earning a B.S. in Psychology and Political Science. Though he initially planned to attend graduate school right after undergrad, he was denied admission. Undeterred, he reapplied the following year – and got in.
So what was the difference? His grades and entrance exam scores hadn’t changed.
During his year off, Diestelmann worked as a resident care technician at Mendota Mental Health Institute. This experience deepened his firsthand experience with mental illnesses and behavioral health care, allowing him to better articulate his passion for the field in his second round of graduate school applications: the why.
His work at the Mendota Mental Health led to a key realization: “I don’t just keep going to school because I’m expected to,” Diestelmann reflected. “I go because this issue matters to me– I can make an impact.”
His renewed focus and commitment paid off. Diestelmann completed his master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the UW-Madison School of Education and later earned a PhD in the same field. “Going from undergrad to my master’s program to my PhD program, it wasn’t like I always knew I’d be a psychologist someday,” he said. “I was just figuring out what I liked.”
Today, Diestelmann is a faculty psychologist at the Marshfield Clinic Health System, where his work spans outpatient psychotherapy, integrated primary care and behavioral health consultation. He collaborates with primary care doctors to combine medication management with behavioral interventions, making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. “Helping to directly or systematically make change with people is what fulfills me,” he shared.
His journey was shaped by pivotal mentors and opportunities, including a research project with a UW-Madison professor that bolstered his application to his PhD program. The project was part of a National Science Foundation grant and focused on working with middle school students around STEM careers. His training also included an internship at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse, NY, and a fellowship at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin where he works to this day.
A standout achievement during his training was working with the Gender Affirmation Program at the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI. He carried this expertise to Marshfield, where he helped launch their very own Gender Affirmation Program. As the program’s main psychologist, Diestelmann also consults with international professionals in gender care on a regular basis and is driven by his belief in fairness, justice, and doing what’s right.
“What I find most meaningful about my work is the difference I get to make,” he said. “To directly help underserved and marginalized people, both individually and systemically, is an amazing thing.”
Diestelmann advises undergraduate psychology students to embrace flexibility and resilience in their academic journeys. “You’re allowed to change your mind,” he said. “If something matters to you, focus on turning your ‘ifs’ into ‘whens.’”
Diestelmann’s psychology journey highlights the value of persistence, nonlinear paths, and saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities.
“You can’t be the master of the future,” Diestelmann said. “So when the randomness and happenstance occur, know you can always say yes and see where it takes you.”
Written by Kate Lewicki