Texas EMS Conference Speakers
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You are viewing the speakers of Texas EMS Conference 2024. See the Call for Presentations page for information on submitting a lecture for 2025.

Keynote Presentation
Learning From the Past, Shaping a Brighter Future: Transformations in Emergency Medical Services
Donnie Woodyard
Executive Director
Interstate Commission for Emergency Medical Services Practice
Read Bio
Donnie Woodyard, MAML, NRP, WP-C, is the executive director of the Interstate Commission for Emergency Medical Services Practice and serves as a pilot and squadron commander for the Jefferson County (CO) Civil Air Patrol, leading 50 personnel and managing two aircraft for emergency aerial missions. Starting his EMS journey 30 years ago as a volunteer, Donnie’s career has included roles as a firefighter-paramedic, flight paramedic, and critical care paramedic. His leadership extended to being Louisiana’s State EMS Director, COO of the NREMT, and Colorado’s Chief of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services. Internationally, he founded Sri Lanka’s national EMS system and led disaster response efforts in South Asia, Africa, and Haiti. Donnie holds a master’s in management and leadership and is pursuing a Doctorate in Public Administration. An author and pianist, he is also a SCUBA Dive Master with over 800 dives. Residing in Denver, Donnie is committed to lifelong service and learning.

Closing Session
Be Where Your Feet Are…Building Your Own Resiliency
Scott Lail
Fire Chief
Cleburne Fire Department
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Scott Lail, EMT-P, FP-C, CFE, began his EMS career in 1992. Shortly after his arrival into pre-hospital medicine, he became a firefighter with the City of Cleburne, Texas. With his love for education, Scott became the EMS educator for his fire department and other local agencies in need. He also joined Tarrant County College in Fort Worth as an adjunct EMS faculty. In 1999, Scott became a flight paramedic with CareFlite in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas. For over 30 years, Scott continued to work both fire and EMS as well as Flight. He was promoted through each rank, including EMS Chief. He is currently the Fire Chief of the Cleburne Fire Department, a certified master firefighter, and still serves as an EMS instructor with the fire department. He recently “hung up his wings” after 19 years of service as a flight paramedic with CareFlite. Scott still holds his certified flight paramedic (FP-C) certification and maintains his flight status, just in case! In early 2022, Scott received a Gubernatorial Appointment from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC). Scott has lectured at state, national, and international conferences with a reputation as a dynamic speaker. He also appeared in an episode of “Miracle Detectives” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Heidi Abraham, MD, FAEMS
Sudden Loss of a Medical Director
Co-Presenter: Medical Director Cage Match: Let the Science Win the Day
Co-Presenter: Data Informed Clinical Guideline Development
Heidi Abraham, MD, FAEMS, has been the EMS medical director for a variety of agencies including rural, HEMS, suburban, and tactical EMS teams. She’s had two medical director colleagues pass away suddenly and has a wealth of knowledge to share on how to navigate these stressful situations. Dr Abraham is a regular speaker at state and national conferences, with special interests in pediatric EMS, tactical EMS, and alternate care/treatment in place.

Jennifer Achay, BS, NRP, FcEHS
Co-Presenter: Bridge Over Troubled Waters – The New World of Pediatric and Adult Vascular Access
Jennifer Achay, BS, NRP, FcEHS, is a recognized anatomist and lecturer. She is currently the laboratory director at the Centre for Emergency Health Sciences. Additionally, Mrs. Achay coordinates, and directly contributes, to her department’s robust research wing, and multidisciplinary procedural courses. Jennifer further has patient care responsibilities within the Office of Clinical Direction (pre-hospital emergency medical services) and the Acacia Medical Mission (a low income, gap clinical service) which are both within the Healthcare, Innovations and Sciences Centre. Mrs. Achay is completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Incarnate Word with her sights on medical school. Lastly, she remains passionate about her work in research and medicine and additionally maintains her paramedic and firefighting certifications.

Jason Adams, EMS Lieutenant, Tactical Paramedic Coordinator
Co-Presenter: Monsters of the Heart: Effects of Energy Drinks and Supplements on First Responders
Jason Adams, EMS Lieutenant, Tactical Paramedic Coordinator, since his fire and EMS career began in 1994, has spent most of his time as a full-time firefighter and paramedic for the Arlington Fire Department. He is currently an EMS lieutenant on shift, and the Tactical Paramedic Program coordinator. During his EMS career, Jason has also worked as an EMS instructor, a flight paramedic, an ER paramedic, a MIH paramedic, and a tactical paramedic. Jason is also a police officer, and regularly works on patrol when he is not on duty at the fire department.

Jay Barkdull, Paramedic, NAEMT, NEMSMA
Unit Video and Body Cameras: Does EMS Really Need Them?
Jay Barkdull, Paramedic, NAEMT, NEMSMA, has 40 years’ experience in EMS and fire service as an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, and administrator. He retired from the Houston Fire Department after a 37-year career. Jay is currently the deputy director for Harris County ESD No. 6 and has over eight years’ experience in body worn cameras and in unit video use. The Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) published his paper on body worn cameras “Can You See Me Now’ in 2019. In 2022 Barkdull worked with the Investigation Discovery channel to develop “Body Cam EMT” that presented actual body camera footage of patient care, paramedic, patient and family interviews.

Scotty Bolleter, BS, EMT-P, FcEHS
Bridge Over Troubled Waters – The New World of Pediatric and Adult Vascular Access
Scotty Bolleter, BS, EMT-P, FcEHS, is a respected paramedic, well-known lecturer, published researcher and inventor. He is responsible for the Office of Clinical Direction and chairs the Centre for Emergency Health Sciences in Spring Branch, Texas. Bolleter currently manages the clinical aspects of BSBEMS operations and the Centre’s multidisciplinary education and research facility. He has been involved in emergency medicine for over 30 years and has numerous patents in emergent, oncologic and orthopedic medicine. He has directed global education, coordinated research and worked on regulatory clearances for numerous medical devices and procedures. Bolleter’s resume includes ground, flight, faculty, supervisory and developmental rolls across Texas and around the world. His presentations, publications and accomplishments can be found in magazines, journals, textbooks and videos. Awards include the Texas EMS Person and Educator of the Year; the Utah EMS Associates Humanitarian Award, and recognition from the Texas Commissioner of Health for his work in pediatrics.

Ken Bouvier, NREMT, Paramedic
Caring for the Morbidly Obese Patient
Industrial Strength EMS
Rodeo Injuries – “Broken Cowboys and Cowgirls”
Ken Bouvier, NREMT, Paramedic, is the fire chief at Westwego, Louisiana Fire Department. He is a paramedic and professional speaker known both nationally/internationally. He began his fire/EMS career in 1975 as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and went on to become a career firefighter/fire chief/paramedic for Monsanto Fire Department until his retirement in 2012. Coincidingly, he worked for New Orleans EMS. In 2012 he became deputy chief of operations until retirement in 2019. He served as EMS commander for many of New Orleans major events including Mardi Gras, Super Bowls, hurricanes and managed the EMS crews. Bouvier was featured on the A&E television show NIGHTWATCH.

Richard Bradley, MD, EMT-P
Abdominal Trauma
Richard Bradley, MD, EMT-P, is board-certified in emergency medicine and emergency medical services and serves as the director of medical response services for TDEM and adjunct assistant clinical professor with the Texas A&M Health Science Center. He has retired from McGovern Medical School in Houston where he served as a professor of emergency medicine. He has served as an EMS medical director for multiple agencies and is a medical team manager for Texas Task Force One, Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) and is currently assigned as the medical officer for one of FEMA’s US&R Incident Support Teams. He is a Colonel in the Air National Guard and currently assigned as the California State Air Surgeon.

Lisa Broussard, University of Texas Certificate – Leadership Academy
Leading With Connection: Foundations of Relational Leadership
Lisa Broussard, University of Texas Certificate – Leadership Academy, has two decades of experience in professional leadership from various sectors including entrepreneurship, residential treatment organizations, and juvenile justice. Under her leadership, team members felt safe to use innovative problem-solving skills, share new ideas, and provide valuable feedback. As the director of leadership development for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Lisa created a comprehensive training program to develop leaders who valued connection over correction. This approach to leadership provided cultural change within the agency by strengthening team cohesiveness and improving team member resilience. Lisa has been a keynote speaker and presenter for a variety of conferences and conventions with the goal of empowering leaders to embrace the idea of leading with connection.

Dana Clarke, RN, BSN, EMT-P
From Beyond the Rotor Disc: Grammie’s Miracle
Dana Clarke, RN, BSN, EMT-P, started working in 911 EMS in 1984. She is currently a staff nurse at a Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) Urgent Care, as well as adjunct EMS faculty at RCH Services in Acworth, GA. Additionally, she is a peer counselor and a wellness champion for CHOA urgent cares. Ms. Clarke has staffed in multiple areas of nursing including adult and pediatric ER /ICU, pediatric transport, and Rotor/fixed wing flight. She has been involved in EMS education for over 30 years and has served as clinical educator for 2 flight services. When not administering patient care or teaching, she is a personal trainer and spin instructor. Ms. Clarke believes one ought to give what he/she expects by living the mantra “practice what you preach.”

Travis Clay, EMT-P
Look, Listen and Feel…Before You Grab That Monitor
Travis Clay, EMT-P, has been in EMS for over 20 years and is currently a district chief with the Montgomery County Hospital District. Travis is also a veteran law enforcement officer.

Emily Coe, MSW
Co-Presenter: Adult Protective Services: Protecting the Unprotected
Emily Coe, MSW, has worked for Adult Protective Services for 21 years and currently serves as a quality assurance specialist for Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding rural areas. During that time, she has also worked as a worker V and neglect subject matter expert. Emily has her master’s degree in social work from Texas A&M – Commerce and is on the Speaker’s Bureau for APS traveling to various communities providing information about the APS program. Outside of work Emily is busy with her family raising Black Angus Cattle.

Dan Cohen, AAS, EMT-P
Understanding Your Bipolar Patient
Dan Cohen, AAS, EMT-P, has been with Williamson County EMS for 19 years. He worked on an ambulance for just over 9 years and is currently a clinical practices captain while creating CE for first responders. His EMS journey began like many of his generation, watching “Emergency” as a 5-year-old. He took a career detour as a photographer working for clients like Time, Forbes, and BusinessWeek. He traveled by motorcycle for years. This led him to read a magazine article about paramedics on motorcycles. He has yet to combine motors and medicine. Instead, he’s found his niche blending photography and paramedicine to tell the story of WCEMS in Central Texas. He’s working towards a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling with the goal of providing services to first responders and other healthcare workers.

Angela Cornelius, MD, MA
Unveiling the Dark Secrets of the Endocrine System: A Horrifying Journey Through Hormonal Horrors
Dogma Don’ts
Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay Between Cyberterrorism and EMS
Co-Presenter: Medical Director Cage Match: Let the Science Win the Day
Angela Cornelius, MD, MA, is an associate medical director for the Office of the Medical Director with the Metropolitan Area EMS Authority in Fort Wort where her primary responsibilities are the Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH), Hospital at Home, and Medications for Opiate Use Disorder (MOUD) programs. She is an associate professor of emergency medicine (EM) with TCU/UNTHSC and LSU Shreveport who practices at John Peter Smith Hospital as core faculty for the Fort Worth EM Residency. She is boarded in EM, family medicine, and EMS. She has been active in disaster medicine and EMS for over 10 years and currently serves as Chair of the American College of Emergency Physicians Disaster Preparedness and Response committee and Air Medical section as well as Chair of the NAEMSP emergency preparedness committee. Current administrative projects include enhancing and creating more robust community paramedicine programs and EMS induction of buprenorphine.

Sarah Curry, MSN, NNP
Co-Presenter: Newborn Resuscitation Course (Hands-On Workshop)
Sarah Curry, MSN, NNP, is currently serving as a neonatal nurse practitioner at University Virgina Health.

Remle Crowe, Director of Research, ESO
Data Mythbusters: Inequities in Prehospital Pain Management
Co-Presenter: Revenge of the Nerds: Science in a Non-Boring Fashion
Remle Crowe, Director of Research, ESO, is an expert in using data to power quality improvement and research initiatives in EMS. From truck clutches to clinical care, she has shown how improvement in science and sound research methodology work to solve problems across fields. As an EMT with a passion for advancing EMS, she earned her PhD in epidemiology and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. Now, as director of research at ESO, Dr. Crowe routinely uses data to improve community health and safety.

Jeramie Davidson, EMT-P
A BLS Survival Guide
Jeramie Davidson, EMT-P, is a paramedic FTO for the MAEMSA/MedStar system with over five years of EMS experience. He became a paramedic in 2022 and has worked in the Dallas/Forth Worth area since obtaining his EMT certification.

Katelyn Dykas, RN, EMT-P, CCRN, CFRN
Spiral of Death: Ventilator Tactics and Pharmacology for Acute Decompensated Pulmonary Hypertension
Katelyn Dykas, RN, EMT-P, CCRN, CFRN, has been an EMT for seven years in a rural Michigan community. She has worked in the medical step-down unit, medical ICU, and later in PICU at the University of Michigan Hospital. During her time as a nurse, she went back and received her paramedic license via an RN to medic bridge program. Katelyn has worked with The University of Michigan Medicine’s Survival Flight for almost 2 years and is part of the outreach program.

Chris Ebright, B.Ed., NRP
I’ll Pass on the Salt: The Potential Harm of IV Fluid
Unique Patient Signs
When the Bite is Worse Than the Bark
Chris Ebright, B.Ed., NRP, is the lead instructor for The University of Toledo EMS program in Toledo, Ohio, where he provides all aspects of primary EMS education in-house, as well as continuing education for numerous EMS services in Northwest Ohio. Chris has been a nationally registered paramedic for 29 years, providing primary EMS response and critical care transportation. He has educated hundreds of first responders, EMT’s, paramedics, and nurses with his trademark whiteboard sessions, including students from the Cayman Islands, India, and Australia. Chris is also a recurring article contributor to the Limmer Education website, and has been a featured presenter at numerous local, state, and national EMS conferences over the past 17 years.

Esmeralda Florez, Licensed Social Worker
Co-Presenter: Community Paramedicine: The Benefits of Collaboration
Esmeralda Florez, Licensed Social Worker, serves as the licensed social worker for Hereford Regional Medical Center. She received her master’s from West Texas A&M in Canyon Texas. She is involved with many organizations within the community and serves as a vital component with the Community Paramedicine Program.

Chance Freeman, Director of Disaster Behavioral Health, Texas HHS
Co-Presenter: What do we do Now? Caring for First Responders After a Disaster or Mass-Casualty Incident
Chance Freeman, Director of Disaster Behavioral Health, Texas HHS, has worked in the field of disaster behavioral health since 1998 and has responded to over 28 federally declared disasters and a variety of emergency events such as the Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery project, the West Fertilizer Plant Explosion, church shootings in Sutherland Springs and White Settlement TX, school shootings in Santa Fe, TX and Uvalde, TX, and COVID19. He serves as the state behavioral health initiative advisor to the Terrorism and Disaster Network Committee and is the Vice-Chair of the Executive Advisory Board for the Texas Law Enforcement Peer Network where he advises organizational leadership for, growth, training, and the betterment of the services provided to the law enforcement professionals of Texas.

Tamsin Fuller, BSc(Hons), MInstP, MWES
Bad, Mad or Unloved? Kids and Their Mental Health
Male, Female or…
Tamsin Fuller, BSc(Hons), MInstP, MWES, is currently working in the defense sector and volunteers as an emergency responder for the London Ambulance Service. She has served as an EMT for St John Ambulance for 13 years and has been teaching EMS for just over a decade. Fuller has a bachelor’s degree in physics and is currently working on their master’s degree in computing.

Tony Garcia, APRN, AG-ACNP, FNP, CFRN, LP
Blood Product Resuscitation: Pre and Post Transfusion Considerations
Misadventures in Hemodynamics – Enhanced Understanding for Transport Clinicians
Tony Garcia, APRN, AG-ACNP, FNP, CFRN, LP, brings almost 40 years of experience in emergency services and healthcare. He is currently an ACNP intensivist for the UTSW department of anesthesiology, division of critical care and a flight nurse with CareFlite. He operates by two simple rules for life: embrace the suck and don’t let the swiss cheese holes align.

Kevin Gehrig, AEMT, EMT Instructor, FF
Leveraging Emerging Technologies in School Bus Transportation
Kevin Gehrig, AEMT, EMT Instructor, FF, School Bus Driver, has dedicated 44 years as an EMT-I, EMS instructor, fire instructor, and firefighter currently certified in Texas and has been a U.S. Coast Guard EMT and Pennsylvania EMT. Kevin is also a school bus driver for the Georgetown ISD. He has served with the Red Cross in shelters and in other capacities, including disaster services truck driver. Kevin has served fire and EMS as an assistant chief and EMT-I for more than 7 years with both Camelot and Weir Volunteer Fire for Departments. In his free time, Kevin founded Preparare, an organization that assists with training, full-scale exercises including hyper-realistic mass-casualty, and provides other emergency management consulting.

William “Buck” Gleason, EMT-P
Co-Presenter: Using the Model for Improvement to Improve Intubation Safety
William “Buck” Gleason, EMT-P, is the clinical quality manager for the Office of the Medical Director and the Metropolitan Area EMS Authority (MAEMSA) in Fort Worth, Texas. With over 15 years of experience as a paramedic, Buck has been pivotal in shaping and implementing the Clinical Quality Improvement program at MAEMSA, which includes MedStar Mobile Healthcare as well as thirteen participating municipalities and first-responder organizations. His primary focus lies in leveraging EMS data and the Model for Improvement to enhance clinical quality, system performance and patient outcomes.

Brandon Glenn, MPAS, PA-C, LP
Co-Presenter: Unit Video and Body Cameras: Does EMS Really Need Them?
Brandon Glenn, MPAS, PA-C, LP, serves as the clinical manager and paramedic practitioner for Harris County ESD #6 and is also a physician assistant for a Level II Trauma System in the Greater Houston Metro Region. Brandon has been a paramedic for over 15 years and has worked with North Channel EMS to implement the body camera system into the QA/QI program over the last three years.

Michael Gooch, DNP, APRN, CCP, FAASTN, FAANP, FAEN
Mastering Sedation Agents in Transport Medicine
Reducing Complications During Airway Management
Michael Gooch, DNP, APRN, CCP, FAASTN, FAANP, FAEN, is a critical care paramedic and emergency and flight nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in emergency and transport medicine. He practices at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, where he has completed over 1,600 patient transports during his tenure with Vanderbilt LifeFlight. Dr. Gooch is an assistant professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and a faculty member at the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Air and Surface Transport Nurses, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the Academy of Emergency Nursing.
A nationally recognized speaker and published author on various emergency and transport medicine topics, Dr. Gooch also serves as a column editor for the Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal.

Kelly Grayson, AGS, NRP, CCP
The Cellular Flashover: Breaking Down the Physiology of Oxidative Stress
Shock Explained: The Cardiovascular Triad
Treat the Monitor AND the Patient: Clinical Correlation of Monitor Waveforms to Patient Care
Steven “Kelly” Grayson, AGS, NRP, CCP, is a critical care paramedic with Acadian Ambulance in Southwest Louisiana, and an EMS educator for thirty years. He is the owner and founder of MEDIC Training Solutions, an EMS training and consulting firm. He is a passionate EMS advocate and a frequent EMS conference speaker, contributing author to several EMS textbooks, award-winning columnist for EMS1.com and EMS World Magazine, podcaster, and author of several books.

Kimberly Griffith, EMT-P, FP-C
Zyprexa as an Adjunct to Alternative Disposition
Kimberly Griffith, EMT-P, FP-C, is a founding member and current captain for Austin-Travis County EMS’s Mental Health Response Paramedic Team. Over the past three years she and her team have collaborated with qualified mental health providers to provide an innovative new response to patients experiencing mental health crises, with focus on maintaining the least restrictive safe environment of care possible in order to divert patients from unnecessary ER transport or law enforcement arrest. She has pioneered additional treatment and disposition options for patients that access 911 for mental health complaints and is a lead educator for the initial Mental Health Paramedic training process.

Amy Gutman, MD, FACEP
Fixing FUBAR: What to Do When the Sh-t Hits the Fan
Geriatric Trauma: When Your Patient Has Fallen and Can’t Get Up!
(Almost) Everything You Need to Know About EKGs but Were Afraid to Ask (Hands-On Workshop)
Amy Gutman, MD, FACEP, is a fiercely proud prehospital and hospital educator. She’s been blessed to have been in public service since 1987 when she started working as an EMT learning about service and dedication at an early age. Dr Gutman has been board certified in emergency medicine since 2008, with fellowships in prehospital care, resuscitation/critical care, and certifications in maritime medicine and administration. Throughout her career, she’s worked in EMS, fire-rescue, aeromedical care, maritime medicine, research, emergency departments and intensive care units all over the United States, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Amy has served as a medical director of both prehospital care and hospital departments. She loves helping to advance patient care and improve outcomes through quality education with her live and remote lectures taking her around the world for the past three decades.

Mickey Hanes, DNP, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CFRN, CCRN, FF, EMT-LP, TC-P, NREMTP
Beyond the City Limits: Unveiling the Hidden Crisis of Rural Health Care
Collision Course: Navigating Concussions in the Prehospital Arena
Mickey Hanes, DNP, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CFRN, CCRN, FF, EMT-LP, TC-P, NREMTP, is an emergency room and ICU registered nurse for the Baylor Scott Healthcare System. He has served with various fire departments throughout the state as a firefighter/paramedic and field training officer. He currently works within the Reward’s Staff North Texas Division which allows him to float to multiple emergency departments in the area. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from both Texas A&M and Texas Tech in nursing, education and emergency services. Hanes also holds a doctorate degree from Texas Tech University with continuation in the family nurse and emergency practitioner track.

William Hanson, NRP, FP-C, WEMT-P, BA
Pool Party: Treating Heat Stroke in the Field is More Important – and Easier – Than Ever!
William Hanson, NRP, FP-C, WEMT-P, BA, is an EMS training captain for Travis County Emergency Services, in Austin, Texas. He began his career as a combat medic for the US Army, and has worked as a professional ski patroller, a mountain guide, a flight paramedic, and a helicopter rescue specialist and crew chief for Travis County STAR Flight. He is an instructor of wilderness medicine for Wilderness Medical Associates, and trains firefighters, physicians, paramedics, nurses, and outdoor professionals.

Terry Hazlett, EMT-P
Community Paramedicine: The Benefits of Collaboration
Terry Hazlett, EMT-P, has 39 years of experience in pre-hospital care. She is currently the EMS director for Hereford EMS/Hereford Regional Medical Center and a volunteer firefighter for the Hereford Fire Department where she holds the positions of secretary and communications captain. In 2021, Terry was awarded the Texas EMS Administrator of the Year.

Garrett Hedeen, MS, MHA, LP
Why Do Ambulances Crash? Examining the Use of Telematics in EMS Safety
Garrett Hedeen, MS, MHA, LP, is currently the EMS safety specialist at Austin Travis County EMS. He is a licensed paramedic and previously served as manager of EMS in Bloomington, IN and as a safety officer for Indianapolis EMS after a decade in the field. Garrett has served as a subject matter expert in varying areas of EMS safety, an author for NAEMT’s EMS Safety Course, current NFPA Emergency Responder Health Technical Committee member, and EMS Safety Council member. He chairs the NAEMT EMS Workforce Committee and is a former board member. He has two master’s degrees in health administration and occupational safety.

Greg Henington, LP
Co-Presenter: Flip-Flops, Shorts, and Tee Shirts
Greg Henington, LP, has been in EMS for over 20 years in Terlingua Texas and currently serves as the Brewster county judge. He has a master’s degree from Texas A&M University and is well versed in rural/backcountry EMS and wilderness medicine.

Stacee Henrichs, LP, CPST-I
Co-Presenter: Kids on Board: Improving Pediatric Transport Practices
Stacee Henrichs, LP, CPST-I, has served as the assistant outreach education coordinator at Williamson County EMS for the past six years. She holds the distinction of being a Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor (CPST-I) and team lead for child safety program at WCEMS. In addition to CPST-I, Stacee is a certified American Heart Association CPR instructor, training center coordinator, Stop the Bleed instructor, co-producer of the Narcan Project, and an EMT instructor with Austin Community College, underscoring her passion for community health and safety.

Stephen Hines, Paramedic, BSc (Hons), Dip IMC RCS Ed, PGCMHE
In the Beginning There Was EMS
It’s Shocking How Small my AED Has Gotten!
Stephen Hines, Paramedic, BSc (Hons), Dip IMC RCS Ed, PGCMHE, has almost 30 years’ experience working in EMS as a paramedic and clinical tutor. He has worked in a variety of roles, including tactical command in the Emergency Operations Centre, teaching clinical support and telephone advice, and more recently in curriculum development. He is a published author and well-travelled international speaker.

Jeff Jarvis, MD, MS, EMT-P, FACEP, FAEMS
Airway Management in Cardiac Arrest: What Does the Literature Say?
Evidenced-Based Guidelines for Prehospital Airway Management
Improving Clinical Care Using NEMSQA Benchmarks
Revenge of the Nerds: Science in a Non-Boring Fashion
Co-Presenter: Medical Director Cage Match: Let the Science Win the Day
Jeff Jarvis, MD, MS, EMT-P, FACEP, FAEMS, is the chief medical officer and system medical director for the Metropolitan Area EMS Authority in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the host of The EMS Lighthouse Project Podcast where he reviews the scientific evidence that guides our EMS practice. Dr. Jarvis began his career in EMS over 30 years ago and remains a licensed paramedic today. His research interests include airway management and clinical performance measures. He is a proud father to two wonderful kids, husband of 33 years and a loyal Aggie.

Tami Kayea, MSML, LP, EFO, Master FF
Big Event in Town: Handling Mass Gatherings With Limited Resources
Tami Kayea, MSML, LP, EFO, Master FF, is the current fire chief of Sunnyvale Fire Rescue. She has extensive experience in mass gatherings of all sizes and purposes gained while spending 27 years with Dallas Fire-Rescue rising through the ranks to deputy chief. Kayea spent five years serving as DFR’s EMS chief and oversaw the Special Events Program.

Jay Kovar, MD, FACEP
Circling the Drain
Jay Kovar, MD, FACEP, is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr Kovar has served for 27 years as medical director for multiple EMS agencies and is the author of several peer reviewed journal research and educational materials. He has lectured at local, state, national, and international levels on multiple aspects of emergency care, receiving recognition and honors for those endeavors. Kovar currently serves as EMS medical director for PHI Air Medical Texas, Walker County EMS, St Christinas EMS, and as medical director for paramedic education with Lone Star College campuses at Cy Fair and Montgomery County. His practice philosophy is to develop advanced critical and emergency care from the prehospital contact to the emergency department setting, meshing initial patient contact to definitive care, through consensus building in the medical community.

Scott Lail, EMT-P, FP-C, CFE
Be Where Your Feet Are…Building Your Own Resiliency (Closing Session)
Scott Lail, EMT-P, FP-C, CFE, began his EMS career in 1992. Shortly after his arrival into pre-hospital medicine, he became a firefighter with the City of Cleburne, Texas. With his love for education, Scott became the EMS educator for his fire department and other local agencies in need. He also joined Tarrant County College in Fort Worth as an adjunct EMS faculty. In 1999, Scott became a flight paramedic with CareFlite in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas. For over 30 years, Scott continued to work both fire and EMS as well as Flight. He was promoted through each rank, including EMS Chief. He is currently the Fire Chief of the Cleburne Fire Department, a certified master firefighter, and still serves as an EMS instructor with the fire department. He recently “hung up his wings” after 19 years of service as a flight paramedic with CareFlite. Scott still holds his certified flight paramedic (FP-C) certification and maintains his flight status, just in case! In early 2022, Scott received a Gubernatorial Appointment from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to serve on the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC). Scott has lectured at state, national, and international conferences with a reputation as a dynamic speaker. He also appeared in an episode of “Miracle Detectives” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Erin Lincoln, MD, MS, EMT-P
Co-Presenter: Medical Director Cage Match: Let the Science Win the Day
Erin Lincoln, MD, MS, EMT-P

Rachel Lindsay, Paramedic
Unicorn Wrangling 101
Rachel Lindsay, Paramedic, is a native Texas and former paramedic/volunteer firefighter with decades of emergency management experience. Rachel has served in multiple incident management positions at the local, regional, and state level, including Operations chief for DSHS during the COVID response, EMS Operations for Fort Bend County during Hurricane Harvey, and Logistics officer for Jefferson County during Hurricane Ike. She is an experienced instructor whose repertoire includes Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Stop the Bleed, Incident Management, EMS, disaster response planning, and EOC Operations training. Rachel is passionate about helping anyone willing to learn how to help others, no matter their experience or skill level, and is committed to building future successful emergency management professionals through education and mentorship.

Dusty Lynn, RN, MSc, EMT-P, TCRN
Extremes in Trauma- The Similarities Between Pediatrics and Geriatrics
Geriatric Trauma Assessment
Newborn Resuscitation Course (Hands-On Workshop)
Dusty Lynn, RN, MSc, EMT-P, TCRN, started her career as a neonatal ICU nurse. She has over 30 years combined experience in pediatric trauma, PedsICU and CVICU. While working as the EMS outreach coordinator at Children’s National in DC, she trained as a paramedic. Her entire career has focused on resuscitation and educating others in the care of extremely ill pediatric patients. Dusty has served on EMS committees in many states and has presented in a multitude of educational seminars. She has served in several countries on medical missions. Dusty worked as a trauma performance improvement coordinator and pediatric emergency educator at UVa Health and is currently teaching and presenting at conferences throughout the States. Currently, Dusty lives in Virginia with her husband and sheltie and serves as the training director at Thomas Jefferson EMS Council.

Sarah Malanado, EMT-P, EMS-I
Co-Presenter: Mental PAWS: Strategies for Launching Your K9 Resilience Program
Sarah Malanado, EMT-P, EMS-I, as an adept EMS advocate, Sarah bridges hospitals and EMS partners, ensuring robust relationships and enhancing EMS satisfaction. Currently serving as an EMS manager at Methodist Healthcare San Antonio, Sarah drives process improvements, tracks EMS data, and bolsters disaster preparedness. With a background spanning emergency preparedness with frontline experience as a paramedic, she’s honed skills in managing emergency responses, building community relationships, and delivering pre-hospital care. Complementing her hands-on experience, Sarah is currently working on her Master of Public Health. Her commitment to EMS innovation and community well-being drives her professional journey.

Tom Maliszewski, LP, Instructor Coordinator
Co-Presenter: Let’s Do Scenarios (Hands-On Workshop)
Tom Maliszewski, LP, Instructor Coordinator, joined Platinum Education Group in March of 2023. He is a licensed paramedic and instructor coordinator in the State of Michigan. He has over 28 years of experience in the fire service and is also a critical care paramedic. Maliszewski is also involved in initial education teaching at a local community college in his home state. In his free time, he volunteers with Special Olympics of Michigan on the medical team and enjoys traveling with his wife and friends. When he isn’t traveling, he can be found enjoying time with his family and two dogs.

Eddie Martin, EMT-P
Flip-Flops, Shorts, and Tee Shirts
Eddie Martin, EMT-P, has been in EMS for the last three decades, serving as a paramedic for 25 years and an EMS educator for the last 15. He has worked in a variety of positions from busy urban 911 services to the EMS medical director for rural/frontier areas for the last 17 years. He lives within the motto “it is not just a job, it is a passion”.

Bob Matoba, NREMT-P, M.Ed.
HEENT Disorders, Does This Really Apply to EMS?
What’s With the Vessels?
Bob Matoba, NREMT-P, M.Ed., has made it his mission to educate clinicians, rather than technicians. Bob’s career has spanned many aspects of the EMS profession, first as an EMT for a private ambulance company, all the way to the EMS chief for a metropolitan fire department. He strives to provide education that has relevance while improving the clinical practice of his participants. Bob has had the privilege to speak at many EMS conferences throughout the nation, and is a monthly columnist for EMS1.com, as well as a featured and contributing author for EMS World Magazine and JEMS.

Keaton Mattick, EMT-P, MPSA
Anchors Aweigh: How Anchoring Bias Affects our Assessments
Keaton Mattick, EMT-P, MPSA, currently serves as the division chief of EMS for Bexar County ESD No. 2. He has been in the fire and EMS profession since 2003, working primarily in fire-based EMS systems. Mattick has served as an FTO and captain of EMS operations and has a passion for teaching and emergency services leadership. He obtained his master’s in public administration from Texas A&M University.

Curtis McDonald, LP
Advice and Tips for NEW EMT’s and Medics
Curtis McDonald, LP, is a 23-year paramedic with experience as a collegiate EMS instructor and critical care paramedic in high-volume urban EMS systems. He has volunteered in rural West Texas, spent time as a RAC employee, EMTF coordinator, and task force leader with response and command experience in 5 hurricane responses. For 10 years Curts traveled the country in the private sector training and consulting on MCI and hospital evacuation scenarios.

Faroukh Mehkri, DO
Co-Presenter: Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay Between Cyberterrorism and EMS
Faroukh Mehkri, DO, serves as a police officer and swat physician with the Dallas Police Department SWAT Team and as a faculty physician and attending supervising physician at Parkland Memorial Trauma Hospital and UT Southwestern Clements University Hospital. He is also the deputy medical director for Dallas Fire Rescue in the office of medical direction. His role involves EMS education, training, quality management, clinical practice, and process improvement. He is double board certified in emergency medicine and EMS and prehospital medicine.

Brandon Miller, FF/EMT-P, EMS-C
Mental PAWS: Strategies for Launching Your K9 Resilience Program
Brandon Miller, FF/EMT-P, EMS-C, is a seasoned third-generation firefighter/paramedic with over 25 years of dedicated service, who channels his expertise and commitment to first responder mental health. Currently serving as an EMS manager at Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio, Texas, Brandon undertakes a distinctive role as the handler of a trauma response facility dog. In response to high-profile incidents, including line-of-duty deaths and department crises, alongside his friends and colleagues and their specially trained dogs, provides invaluable support. His focus on the mental well-being of staff and first responders showcases a commitment to fostering resilience in the face of challenging circumstances. This professional dedication underscores the intersection of compassionate leadership, specialized skills, and the therapeutic influence of canine companionship in the realm of emergency services. Brandon is a passionate educator and advocate for the advancement of the EMS profession.

Ronna Miller, MD
The Nutcracker Meets NASCAR – Ten Key Steps for High-Performance Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation
This Might Be Your Grandma’s Brain: Important TBI Updates for EMS
Torso Trauma’s Terrible Twosome – Unstable Pelvic Fracture and Tension Pneumothorax
Ronna Miller, MD, is an EMS physician and freelance education consultant with five decades of healthcare experience, including board certification in general surgery, HazMat technician certification, and over two decades in academic EMS medicine, including online and offline medical direction, initial and continuing education, research, and community outreach. As an author and award-winning educator, she leverages her vast and unique experience and passion for EMS education over a wide range of topics at local, state, and national conferences and classrooms.

Chillon Montgomery, RN, CEN, LP, FF
Co-Presenter: Mental PAWS: Strategies for Launching Your K9 Resilience Program
Chillon Montgomery, RN, CEN, LP, FF, has over 25 years in emergency healthcare, trauma, and management. As division director at Methodist Healthcare, San Antonio, she’s a pivotal force in the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC). Her statewide impact extends to the Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF), where she chairs the State Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) and State Operations committee. Chillon is a MMU Group supervisor, playing a key role in team and process development. Her focus on strengthening hospital and prehospital partnerships reflects her commitment to advancing emergency healthcare systems locally and statewide.

Chris Muscle, FF, Paramedic
Co-Presenter: Why Are WE Dying?
Chris Muscle, FF, Paramedic, is a 15-year veteran of the fire service. He currently works for McKinney Fire Department as a firefighter/paramedic in the Mobile Integrated Health division. He is a US Marine veteran who served overseas and has previously worked as a flight paramedic. Along with his fire department career he is also the executive coordinator for BEST EMS which is a medical control organization for fire departments in the DFW Metroplex and South Texas.

Bryan Norris, LP, EFO, CFO
Dispatch Medicine: Get Them What They Need, and It Might Not Be an Ambulance
Bryan Norris, LP, EFO, CFO, is the deputy chief of support services with the San Antonio Fire Department and the emergency management coordinator for the city of San Antonio with over 30 years’ experience in fire and EMS services. Before his appointment to deputy chief, Bryan served the San Antonio Fire Department as the executive officer of emergency services, planning and analytics division chief, and accreditation manager. Bryan has been dedicated to the continuous improvement of his department and the industry as a whole and is a graduate of the NFA Executive Fire Officer Program. Chief Norris has served on the IAFF Standing Committee for EMS and the boards of several professional organizations including the Texas EMS Alliance. With the SAFD, Chief Norris has been an integral part in the establishment of several programs including the Quartermaster Gear Delivery Model, the Clinical Dispatcher Program, the Community Risk Reduction Division, and several COVID-19 programs.

Wendy Norris, CEO Texas LODD Task Force
What do we do Now? Caring for First Responders After a Disaster or Mass-Casualty Incident
Wendy Norris, CEO Texas LODD Task Force, is the founder and CEO of the Texas LODD Task Force, which is part of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s LAST program. She is a master certified chaplain with the Federation of Fire Chaplains. Norris is the presiding officer on the Texas Governor’s Advisory Panel for the Star of Texas Awards for injured and fallen first responders, and the facilitator for the Texas HHS Disaster Behavioral Health’s First Responder Mental Health Working Group. She serves as a chaplain, PIO, and first responder for the Forest Bend Fire Department.

Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, LP, NRP
The Most Dangerous Five Minutes of Your EMS Career
Where are we Going With This Train Wreck?
Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, LP, NRP, is a practicing attorney in Texas as well as a Texas licensed paramedic and EMS instructor. He has a variety of EMS experiences ranging from first response to 911 transport, including field, education, and leadership experience. He is regularly asked to share his expertise in the intersection of law and emergency medical services.

Bob Page, M.Ed., NRP, CCP, NCEE, CHSE, CHSOS
High Performance Ventilation Workshop (Hands-On Workshop)
Portable Respiratory Monitoring: A New Standard?
Stethoscopy: The Next Generation (Hands-On Workshop)
Texas Throwdown top Texan EMS Quiz Show
Bob Page, M.Ed., NRP, CCP, NCEE, CHSE, CHSOS, is an internationally known speaker, instructor, author and paramedic. He is recognized for his energetic, humorous and motivational style. Bob takes ordinarily dry and hard to teach topics and transforms them into a fun, learning experience. Bob is the State CEU educator for the Virginia Office of EMS, bringing high fidelity simulation throughout the commonwealth. He holds a master’s degree in adult education. Bob has been an instructor for almost four decades teaching a variety of adult education courses from customer service to advanced medical care. He is a certified healthcare simulation educator and operations specialist. He has presented over 4000 seminars worldwide. He was recognized by his peers in Missouri as Missouri’s “Most Creative Educator” in 2009 and was awarded the Legends That Walk Among Us Award from NAEMSE in 2012.

Alix Paget-Brown, MD
Co-Presenter: Newborn Resuscitation Course (Hands-On Workshop)
Alix Paget-Brown, MD, has been a neonatologist for 18 years. She has been involved with the UVA Newborn Emergency Transport System since 2006 and became an EMS physician in 2008 and officially the NETS OMD that year. Dr Paget-Brown has always had a passion for newborn resuscitation education especially in resource poor environments. She has taught newborn resuscitation to 911 agencies and at EMS symposia for many years, and collaborated with colleagues to develop an EMS-specific newborn resuscitation course.

Carlos Palacio, MD
Trauma at the Southwest Border of the United States
Carlos Palacio, MD, is an avid educator, serving as the South Texas Health System – McAllen local program director of the General Surgery Residency at the Valley Health System GME consortium. Palacio is a state faculty for the Advance Trauma and Life Support (ATLS) and medical director of research for the trauma program at STHS-McAllen. His research interests include quality improvement and outcomes. At the regional level, he serves as the Chair for the Trauma Regional Advisory council (TRAC-V) and Vice chair for the South Texas Committee on Trauma (COT) from the American College of Surgeons (ACS). His clinical career has been complemented by his accomplishments in teaching, research and leadership. Besides taking trauma calls, he runs the intensive care unit with attention to detail, leading by example, and being part of the workforce.

Kevin Patel, DO, FAEMS, FACEP, NRP
Why Are WE Dying?
Kevin Patel, DO, FAEMS, FACEP, NRP, began his journey in emergency services in high school when he completed EMT school. He continued as an EMT through college, responding to emergencies and completing interfaculty transfers. Graduating with a BS in microbiology and immunology from the University of Miami, he pursued medical education at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. His passion for emergency medicine led him to complete his emergency medicine residency and EMS fellowship at Western Michigan University. Since 2006, Kevin has been deeply engaged in the EMS community, serving as a medical director with BEST EMS in the DFW area. Notably, he initiated the VA Ambulance service at the North Texas VA, contributing to national oversight and risk mitigation efforts for fire/EMS services within the VA. Kevin’s dedication continues to shape and enhance emergency medical care.

Casey Patrick, MD, FAEMS
Airway Patency Vs. Protection: Delving Into the Details and Dogma
Trashing the Term “Pseudoseizure” – an EMS Perspective
Casey Patrick, MD, FAEMS, is the medical director for Montgomery County Hospital District EMS. He is a practicing community emergency physician with broad EMS research interests. His educational focus is on writing and producing the MCHD Paramedic Podcast.

Richard Patrick, Director, National Fire and EMS Division U.S. Fire Administration
Hop on for an EMS Adventure With the USFA: Your Federal Dollars at Work
Richard Patrick, Director, National Fire and EMS Division U.S. Fire Administration, began his service with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in June 2008 as chief of the Medical First Responder Coordination Division in the DHS Office of Health Affairs (OHA), where he led outreach to the first responder community and the development of the department’s EMS system. He then served as the deputy director and director of the Workforce Health and Medical Support Division within the OHA. In 2015, Chief Patrick was selected by DHS and served a 1-year Brookings Congressional Legislative Fellowship in the U.S. Senate. Chief Patrick was senior advisor for first responder policy to the assistant secretary for Health Affairs and chief medical officer of the DHS prior to joining the U.S. Fire Administration. Over his extensive career, Chief Patrick has served in many capacities, including firefighter, fire lieutenant, fire captain, emergency medical technician, paramedic, flight medic, administrator, chief executive officer, EMS chief and chief fire officer. He served as a division fire chief and deputy fire chief for the Estero (Florida) Fire Rescue District prior to joining DHS. He is the former director of EMS Programs and Emergency Service Initiatives for VFIS, and a former chief of EMS for Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He also served on one of the first Quick Response Medical Units in Pennsylvania in the late 1970’s.

Dave Quinn, LP, Instructor Coordinator
Let’s Do Scenarios (Hands-On Workshop)
Dave Quinn, LP, Instructor Coordinator, joined Platinum Educational Group in August 2021. He is a licensed paramedic and instructor coordinator in the state of Michigan. Dave has over 30 years of experience in both EMS and fire service and works as a critical care paramedic, tactical paramedic and certified firefighter and fire officer. He continues to work for both his local ALS ambulance service, as well as for his local part-paid fire department. Since 1999, Dave has been an adjunct faculty for the local community college teaching multiple levels of EMS programs and volunteers time with Health Occupation Students of America. In his free time, Dave is an avid wrestling fan and has been an assistant high school wrestling coach for many years. When he is not involved with a wrestling event, you will find him enjoying the outdoors with his wife and four boys, either hunting or fishing.

Stephen Rahm, NRP, FcEHS
Precious Cargo: Maternal Cardiac Arrest
Stephen Rahm, NRP, FcEHS, is a paramedic, educator, and author whose career in prehospital emergency medicine spans nearly 40 years. Chief Rahm currently oversees the Office of Clinical Direction at the Centre for Emergency Health Sciences in Bulverde, Texas and manages all clinical efforts within Bulverde Spring Branch Emergency Services. Stephen is a prolific author, with numerous prehospital emergency medicine textbooks and articles published to his credit. Additionally, his research efforts are published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Care, Prehospital Emergency Care, Resuscitation, Military Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as on multiple scientific posters. He is the Centre’s Co-Chair and is a respected faculty member in procedural anatomy programs, ECG interpretation, trauma care, cardiac arrest management, and more. Chief Rahm is a frequent speaker at local, regional, state, national, and international conferences, where he presents engaging, relevant, and current content across a wide spectrum of emergency medicine topics.

Taylor Ratcliff, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, EMT-LP
Medical Director Cage Match: Let the Science Win the Day
Co-Presenter: Pool Party: Treating Heat Stroke in the Field is More Important – and Easier – Than Ever!
Taylor Ratcliff, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, EMT-LP, is an EMS and ER physician in the Central Texas area. He provides medical direction and field response to a variety of air and ground EMS agencies across Central Texas and has been doing so for more than a decade. Ratcliff is board certified in emergency and EMS medicine and is a Texas licensed paramedic and certified firefighter. He is one of nine medical directors Statewide for the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force and has a focus on disaster response.

Tim Redding, NRP, I/C
Often Wrong, Never in Doubt: Cognitive Errors
Sex Matters: Your Care may Endanger Your Female Patients
Tim Redding, NRP, I/C, is the President/Founder of Emergency Education Consultants, a firm that strives to improve patient care through quality, current education, and best-practice guidelines. Tim has been in EMS since 1992 and a paramedic and EMS instructor since 1996. He’s an instructor coordinator for New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Tim is a regular speaker across the US who has also presented internationally in Guyana, Guatemala, Ireland and Australia. Mr. Redding lives in New Hampshire with his wife and their three dogs and is a two-time Ironman and a Boston Marathon finisher.

Ignacio Rodriguez, MA, LP
Data Informed Clinical Guideline Development
Ignacio Rodriguez, MA, LP, is the senior advisor to the City of Austin’s Chief Medical Officer and Interdepartmental Clinical Liaison. He develops, coordinates, and oversees the system’s Clinical Operating Guidelines in pursuit of quality care and patient safety. He is also responsible for the administrative and staff aspects of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. Additionally, he serves as ATCEMS’ clinical liaison with first responder organizations – including the Austin Fire Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M and a master’s degree from Arizona State University. He is a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National Association of EMS Educators, and the Association of Texas EMS Professionals.

Marissa Rodriguez, BSHP, CPSTI, STAC-I
Kids on Board: Improving Pediatric Transport Practices
Marissa Rodriguez, BSHP, CPSTI, STAC-I, is the Child Safety Group manager for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) under the Injury Prevention Unit where she leads the Safe Riders state child passenger safety program and the state child fatality review team. For the past 16 years, Marissa has worked in the injury prevention field in project planning, program implementation, and evaluation of community-based injury prevention programs with a primary focus on child occupant safety, teen traffic safety, and distracted driving.

Carlton Rojas, DNP, APRN, EMT-P
Done Got Blocked
Carlton Rojas, DNP, APRN, EMT-P, is a nurse practitioner with dual board certifications as an acute care and family nurse practitioner. He has over 25 years of critical and emergency care and currently works full time as a critical care nurse practitioner and PRN as an emergency nurse practitioner at Christus Mother Francis in Tyler, TX. He also has 20 years of flight nursing and continues to fly part time at Flight for Life in Tyler, TX.

Joseph W. Schmider, Texas State EMS Director
Ask Joe: Q&A With the State EMS Director
Joseph Schmider, Texas State EMS Director, is the State EMS director for the Texas Department of State Health Services. Prior to his time in Texas, he was the EMS director for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Schmider has served as a firefighter/EMT since 1974. He served as squad chief for Dublin EMS for 10 years and was the regional EMS director for Bucks County for 10 years. He is trained as a firefighter, EMT, EMT-instructor, a HazMat technician, rescue technician, certified Texas contract manager, and formerly emergency management coordinator for Bedminster Township. Schmider currently serves on the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) and chairs the Health and Medical Preparedness Councils for the National Association of State EMS Officials.

Erin Schulz, MSN, RN, EMT, C-NPT
Conquering Pediatric Sepsis: It’s a Team Approach
Erin Schulz, MSN, RN, EMT, C-NPT, has been a pediatric critical care nurse for 22 years at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Her nursing background includes Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for 12 years, manager of the Nurse Residency Program for 4 years, and a nurse on Teddy Bear Transport Team for 5 years. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University School of Nursing with a BSN and completed her master’s degree in nursing education at Walden University in 2012. Schulz has also served as adjunct faculty in nursing programs at University of Texas at Arlington, Ohio University, and Texas Christian University. Her current role on the Teddy Bear Transport Team is Outreach Education, where she teaches at referral hospitals and EMS systems in order to share pediatric experience and training with others who may encounter this population.

Anthony Scopel, LP, CCP-C, NRP, EMS-I, TP-C
Hidden Dangers in Agricultural Facilities
Anthony Scopel, LP, CCP-C, NRP, EMS-I, TP-C, is a 27-year paramedic with fire and law enforcement experience. He is an innovator in education and has presented regionally and nationally in all fields of emergency services.

Terence Sheehy, MPA, NRP
Breaking the Silence: Unveiling Communication Breakdowns in High-Stakes Disasters
Shark Tales: Navigating the Jaws of Pre-Hospital Care
Terence Sheehy, MPA, NRP, has over 26 years in Emergency Services and currently serves as the deputy chief of operations at Dare County EMS, overseeing its daily functions across the Outer Banks. His role involves coordinating with multiple stakeholders for special and weather-related events, along with managing comprehensive EMS services for the area. Beginning his emergency services journey at 17 as a volunteer firefighter, Sheehy has held various positions in rescue, fire, and EMS, including an operations supervisor at Kitty Hawk Ocean Rescue, earning a United States Secret Service recognition. As a leader, he chairs the Dare County/Currituck County LEPC and co-chairs the Executive Committee for the Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition. A speaker at various levels, Sheehy contributes to the North Carolina EMS Officer program and holds a BS in emergency medical care from Western Carolina University and an MPA from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Sean Simmonds, NRP
Resilience and Retention – An Honest Discussion About Provider Mental Health and Employee Retention
Sean Simmonds, NRP, is the emergency preparedness and safety manager for the Montgomery County Hospital District in Conroe Texas. He has over 18 years’ experience in 911, serving 13 of those for MCHD. Sean’s focus is ensuring a safe working environment for the field and non-field staff of MCHD and its partners with a special interest in emergency management and mental health. In his role, Sean serves as the county’s primary prehospital designated infection control officer and lead safety officer for approximately 300 paramedics and 1,750 first responders.

Lynne Singleton, BS, MS, EMT-P, PA
Moral Highwire: Ethical Balancing Acts in EMS
Lynne Singleton, BS, MS, EMT-P, PA, a critical care physician assistant, started her career as a volunteer EMT in her hometown of Jersey Village, Texas in 2004. Following several years as an in-charge paramedic then a field supervisor in a busy urban EMS service, she now practices in the pediatric ICU at Texas Children’s Hospital as a critical care PA. Lynne continues to bridge the gap between EMS and critical care by contributing to research, teaching paramedics and working with EMS agencies to update protocols to reflect best practices in medicine, ensuring that EMS professionals are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to provide optimal patient care. She’s happiest with a cup of coffee or a bougie in her hand and misses the sunshine when she’s at the hospital.

Nick Smith, LP, NRP
Co-Presenter: Pretty Pictures and Painful Pauses: Carotid Ultrasound in Cardiac Arrest
Nick Smith, LP, NRP, is the division chief-clinical, for the Montgomery County Hospital District. He is a Houston native who began his EMS career in 2013. Smith has experience in various aspects of EMS including as a 911 dispatcher, communications training officer, captain – field training officer, and assistant operations chief. He holds two bachelor’s degrees: double science major at Texas A&M and a bachelor’s in computer science. Additionally, he completed his master’s in data science from Eastern University. Chief Smith has a passion for the clinical aspect of EMS and using data to enhance the care MCHD provides the community.

Casey Sturgis, EMT-P, EMS Training Captain
Down With the Sickness: Emergency Management of Patients With Down Syndrome
Casey Sturgis, EMT-P, EMS Training Captain, is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience serving as a paramedic firefighter and EMS training captain in the Houston area. Her journey into emergency medical care began over 12 years ago, driven by a profound desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Beyond her career, Casey is a devoted mother to an adult son with Down Syndrome, which has deepened her understanding of the unique challenges faced by individuals with special needs. This personal experience has inspired her to become a vocal advocate for their rights and well-being. Casey’s passion for education and training in EMS, particularly for special populations, has led her to develop and implement innovative programs within her department. She is dedicated to ensuring that all EMS personnel are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to provide the highest level of care to every patient they encounter.

Alan Taylor, MD
Monsters of the Heart: Effects of Energy Drinks and Supplements on First Responders
Alan Taylor, MD, is a cardiologist with Cardiology Partners in Mansfield, TX and serves as the medical director for Methodist Mansfield Medical Center’s Joint Commission Primary Chest Pain Program. Dr. Taylor serves as the Co-Chair for Mission LifeLine North Texas and Medical Director for the North Central Texas Regional Advisory Council Cardiac Committee. He has also served on the Governor’s Emergency Trauma Advisory Council on the Cardiac Committee (GETAC). Taylor is a well -known speaker at a variety of local and state EMS and nursing conferences. He has been honored in the past as the DFW Hospital Council Physician of the Year and the CareFlite Healthcare Excellence Responder Tribute Award for Physicians.

Janet Taylor, CEN, CFRN, CCEMT-P
Industrial Revolution: First Response in an Industrial Setting
The Final Cut: Field Amputations
Them Bones: Extremity Injuries
Janet Taylor, CEN, CFRN, CCEMT-P, after graduating from nursing school in 1998, Janet worked in various departments through the hospital gaining knowledge and experience in ICU, obstetrics and ER. She is a certified emergency nurse, certified flight nurse and has her certification as a critical care transport provider. Janet works full time for Golden Valley Memorial EMS as a nurse/medic and enjoys teaching part time for EMS conferences across the country and for local paramedic programs. She also writes modules for various online forums and is regularly featured on EMS1. You can reach her at janettaylor6@icloud.com.

Tommy Tran, CPST, Paramedic
Co-Presenter: Kids on Board: Improving Pediatric Transport Practices
Tommy Tran, CPST, Paramedic, spent 3 years as a systems engineer before transitioning into the world of emergency response. Tommy quickly found a passion for pediatric safety and education and now focuses his efforts on preventing emergencies before the tones drop as the community risk reduction coordinator. Since becoming a father, himself in April of 2023, he has developed a deeply personal understanding of the significance and countless facets of pediatric safety.

Frankie Trifilio, NRAEMT, CADS, EMS-I
Co-Presenter: Mental PAWS: Strategies for Launching Your K9 Resilience Program
Frankie Trifilio, NRAEMT, CADS, EMS-I, is a seasoned public safety professional with roots in emergency management. A critical thinker and captivating instructor capturing audiences through collaborative and interactive techniques since 2006. Frankie is an EMS professional and by nature a contingency planner who brings creativity and originality to the team. With a natural ability to transform concepts and ideas into real-world applications, Trifilio is dedicated to enhancing the way we improve patient care, use technology to plan, expand response capabilities, and recover from man-made and natural disasters.

Gerad Troutman, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS
Co-Presenter: Navigating the Nexus: Exploring the Interplay Between Cyberterrorism and EMS
Gerad Troutman, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS, is the national medical director of Innovative Practices for Global Medical Response. He is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX and serves as a mentor to the Texas Tech Innovations Hub. He is a past president of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians and currently serves on the Governor’s EMS & Trauma Advisory Council of Texas.

Macara Trusty, LP, MS, SHRM-SCP
Caring for the Forgotten: EMS Care for the Homeless
What Got Us Here, Won’t Get Us There
Macara Trusty, LP, MS, SHRM-SCP, is a licensed paramedic with over 30 years of EMS experience, including 16 years of leadership. Currently serving as the South Region Director of Leadership Development & Business Optimization with Global Medical Response, she is a national conference speaker, author, and recipient of the 2021 NAEMT Presidential Leadership Award. Macara holds a BS in business management and an MS in management and leadership. She also has several certifications, such as Project+, SHRM-SCP, Just Culture Champion, and various EMS instructor certifications. Additionally, Macara chairs the Texas Governor’s EMS & Trauma Advisory Council EMS Education Committee and serves on the Lighthouse Leadership Committee with NAEMT. She has led collaborative and cross-functional teams toward innovative solutions that improve employee cultures, operational efficiencies, and the quality of leadership development and clinical education.

Daniel Tyler, Fire Chief, Paramedic, Law Enforcement Officer
Co-Presenter: Electric and Autonomous Vehicle Considerations for EMS
Daniel Tyler, Fire Chief, Paramedic, Law Enforcement Officer

Nicole Tyler, EMT-B, Traffic Safety Specialist, TIM Coordinator
Electric and Autonomous Vehicle Considerations for EMS
Nicole Tyler, EMT-B, Traffic Safety Specialist, TIM Coordinator, serves as a TxDOT traffic safety specialist to promote traffic safety initiatives from the ‘not-here-yet’ baby to the distinguished mature driver. In 2019, she added TxDOT statewide EMS program area manager to her roles where she strives to improve EMS availability, response, care, and support provided to MVC trauma victims to increase survivability. Nicole became a Traffic Incident Management (TIM) instructor in 2021 and serves as the Childress District TIM coordinator. She has presented at several state and local conferences on TIM and the importance of post-crash care to prevent fatalities and serious injuries and has a deep passion for the safety of emergency responders and the traveling public. Nicole resides with her husband who serves as a fire chief, paramedic, and law enforcement officer.

Rebecca Valentine, BS, Paramedic
Funny, You Don’t Look Deaf!
Oooh, Aaaah, OHHHH! How Could That Have Happened?
Rebecca Valentine, BS, Paramedic, as an EMS provider and educator since 1992, Becky has pursued excellence and diversity in EMS education through current standards and critical thinking.

Scott van Poppel, MD
End-Tidal: The Why Behind the Why
Scott van Poppel, MD, has served as PHI Air Medical’s critical care medical director since 2016, and has been critical care medicine/neuro-critical care boarded in practice since 2010. He is the intensivist medical director chief of staff at Medical City Plano.

Hemant Vankawala, MD
Co-Presenter: Flip-Flops, Shorts, and Tee Shirts
Hemant Vankawala, MD, has over 20 years as an emergency physician. He is the medical director for Terlingua Fire and EMS and Big Bend National Park. Vankawala participates in regular classes for the EMS services for the Big Bend area.

Keir Vernon, LP, CHC
Resistance is Futile: You Must Comply
What Keeps You Up at Night?
Keir Vernon, LP, CHC, is a licensed paramedic and certified healthcare compliance officer and has worked for Harris County Emergency Corps (HCEC) since 2008. With over 20 years of management experience in communications, operations, administration, and EMS billing departments, Keir utilizes her diverse background and expertise in the role of vice president of administration, overseeing the human resources, reimbursement, finance departments and compliance program at HCEC. Keir is a former board member for the Greater Houston EMS Council and previous participant in the Governors’ EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) -Transportation Committee and EMS Committee. She is an active member of the American Ambulance Association Workforce Development Committee and has served as a board member for the Texas EMS Alliance since 2013.

Dudley Wait, BBA, LP
Are We as Committed to Our People as We Ask Them to Be to Us?
Leadership Lessons of Ted Lasso
Dudley Wait, BBA, LP, has been in EMS for over 38 years and has experience in almost all types of EMS systems. With over 30 years of leadership experience at all levels of an organization, Dudley has a wealth of experience and knowledge in EMS policy and legislation, healthcare systems planning and building consensus through collaboration and transparency. Dudley currently serves as the EMS chief for Fort Bend County, a county of over 900,000 citizens next to Houston and has the awesome privilege of leading over 170 of the finest professionals in this industry. Dudley loves the field of EMS and the opportunity to help lead and develop EMS people to be ready to continue advancing this incredible industry.

Katrina Wall-Briggs, BS-RHSC
Adult Protective Services: Protecting the Unprotected
Katrina Wall-Briggs, BS-RHSC, is the evidence driven subject matter expert focusing on financial exploitation investigations with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Katrina has a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation with a post baccalaureate certification in gerontology. She reviews and preforms consultative services and investigative work in complex cases of financial exploitation and abuse/neglect and has facilitated elder abuse task forces throughout the North Texas Region. Katrina is the liaison for financial institutions, law enforcement, district attorney offices and court officials for the DFW area. Katrina continues to provide education and training to external stakeholders on recognizing and reporting elder abuse. She is on the Speaker’s Bureau for APS and travels to various communities across the nation and the state of Texas providing information about the Texas APS program. Outside of work, Katrina is a busy sports mom of 2 boys.

David Wampler, PhD, LP, FAEMS
Top 5 EMS Research and Quality Improvement Abstracts of 2024
Co-Presenter: Revenge of the Nerds: Science in a Non-Boring Fashion
David Wampler, PhD, LP, FAEMS, has been in EMS for more than 30 years and is currently a professor of emergency health sciences at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. His primary role is director of clinical research for the Office of the Medical Director and is a clinical training officer for the San Antonio Fire Department.

CJ Winckler, MD
Co-Presenter: Dispatch Medicine: Get Them What They Need, and It Might Not Be an Ambulance
CJ Winckler, MD, serves as the deputy medical director for the San Antonio Fire Department, medical director for North Channel EMS/Wilson County ESD, and Texas Emergency Medical Task Force Region 8. He is an associate clinical professor at the University of Texas San Antonio Health Science Center and Texas A&M College Station. Winkler provides daily clinical supervision to over 2000 EMS providers. Dr. Winkler and multiple stakeholders, worked tirelessly to deploy whole blood in San Antonio.

Stephen Wirth, EMS Attorney, Consultant
Documentation in Court: What EMS Practitioners and Leaders Can Learn From Real Legal Cases
Start With “WHY?” – Keys to Inspiring Peak Performance From Your EMS Team
When Is a Patient Really a Patient?
Stephen Wirth, EMS Attorney, Consultant, is a nationally known EMS attorney, consultant and thought leader who has been involved in EMS his entire adult life from virtually all aspects. Steve’s EMS career started at age 16 as an EMT for a rural volunteer fire department and he was one of central Pennsylvania’s first paramedics. He is a co-founder of the national EMS law firm of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, LLC and the national EMS consulting firm, PWW Advisory Group, LLC. Steve has presented on a wide range of EMS topics in numerous articles, podcasts, webinars, and conferences across the United States. Steve is a past popular speaker at Texas EMS.

Ryan Woodard, NRP
Autism Interactions for First Responders
Ryan Woodard, NRP, has been in EMS since 1993, serving as an EMT for five years and as a paramedic since 1998. Woodard has served as a supervisor, instructor, FTO, and ER tech. He was an EMT at EMSA during the Murrah bombing and was EMS command at Plaza Towers Elementary during the initial 9 hours. Ryan currently serves at the OKCFD station 36 as an LT/paramedic.

Donnie Woodyard, MAML, NRP, WP-C
Learning From the Past, Shaping a Brighter Future: Transformations in Emergency Medical Services (Keynote Session)
The EMS Regulator’s View: Complaints, Investigations, and Enforcement
Understanding the EMS Compact: Changing the Landscape of Interstate Licensure
Donnie Woodyard, MAML, NRP, WP-C, is the executive director of the Interstate Commission for Emergency Medical Services Practice and serves as a pilot and squadron commander for the Jefferson County (CO) Civil Air Patrol, leading 50 personnel and managing two aircraft for emergency aerial missions. Starting his EMS journey 30 years ago as a volunteer, Donnie’s career has included roles as a firefighter-paramedic, flight paramedic, and critical care paramedic. His leadership extended to being Louisiana’s State EMS Director, COO of the NREMT, and Colorado’s Chief of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services. Internationally, he founded Sri Lanka’s national EMS system and led disaster response efforts in South Asia, Africa, and Haiti. Donnie holds a master’s in management and leadership and is pursuing a Doctorate in Public Administration. An author and pianist, he is also a SCUBA Dive Master with over 800 dives. Residing in Denver, Donnie is committed to lifelong service and learning.

Karen Yates, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, EMT-P
Co-Presenter: Monsters of the Heart: Effects of Energy Drinks and Supplements on First Responders
Karen Yates, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, EMT-P, is a nursing clinical coordinator at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. In this role, she serves as the trauma injury prevention coordinator and EMS Liaison. As the former chest pain coordinator, she led the hospital to successful accreditation from The Joint Commission as a Primary Heart Attack Center. Karen is a third term member of the Governor’s Advisory Council Cardiac Committee, and former Chair of the Cardiac Committee of the North Central Texas Regional Advisory Council (NCTTRAC). Karen currently chairs the NCTTRAC Public Education and Injury Prevention sub-committee. Karen has forty years of experience in pre-hospital and hospital management of the acutely ill and injured patient. She has worked as a ground and fixed wing transport paramedic. Her nursing background includes ICU, ED, and trauma Medical/Surgical.

Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, NREMT
2024 EMS Transformation Update – What’s Promising? What’s Threatening?
Show Me the Money – Innovative Funding Strategies for EMS
Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, NREMT, is an EMS/mobile healthcare consultant with PWW Advisory Group, focusing on assisting local communities, EMS agencies, fire departments, ambulance services, hospitals and other healthcare organizations in evaluating and improving their EMS and mobile healthcare delivery systems. Prior to joining PWW|AG, he served as the chief transformation officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare, the Public Utility Model EMS system serving Fort Worth and 13 other cities in North Texas where he helped guide the development and implementation of innovative programs with healthcare and community partners to transform the role of MedStar in the healthcare system and community. Matt has a master’s degree in healthcare administration, with a graduate certificate in healthcare data management.