EMS World Live: Austin | 2026 Agenda

Candace Pineda has been in the medical field for over 26 years, serving as a registered nurse more than 20 years. She is the Trauma Program Manager at Delray Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Palm Beach. Mrs. Pineda oversees the continuum of care for in injured patients in South Florida.
Mrs. Pineda serves as President of the Association of Florida Trauma Program Managers. She is moderator of the Florida Trauma Advisory Council and serves on many local, state, and national trauma, nursing and EMS committees. Mrs. Pineda is a course coordinator for the Advanced Trauma Life Support program and course director for many trauma courses and programs such as PHTLS, TNCC and STB. She has a passion for trauma, prehospital care, teaching and injury prevention.

Doug Hexel is a Career Fire Officer, Urban Search and Rescue Specialist, Paramedic, and Law Enforcement Officer. He is a Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement Instructor for New York State and he sits on the State’s Pediatric EMS Advisory Committee. Doug teaches at conferences
around the country, primarily focusing on “bridging the gap” between Fire and EMS in Technical Rescue. He is a sworn New York State Peace Officer and hold Technician Level Certifications in Hazardous Materials, Rope, Confined Space, Trench, Swiftwater, and Collapse Rescue.

William Heuser, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP, BCNSP, MS, EMT-P, FP-C is a clinical critical care pharmacist, course director/clinical professor of pharmacology, clinical toxicologist and certified flight paramedic/firefighter. William has presented at several national conferences across the United States and has extensive research experience in resuscitative medicine with several publications in peer-reviewed journals. As a clinical toxicologist at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, his research focuses on the acute resuscitation of critically ill and dying patients. A current focus of his research focuses on the development of novel pharmacological cocktails coupled with emergency cardiopulmonary bypass to save the lives of patients who fail traditional advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) treatment.

Tom Bouthillet is Captain - Policy, Accreditation, and ISO Manager for Chatham County Fire Department, former Battalion Chief of EMS for Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue, and Advisor for Cambridge Consulting Group. He was Resuscitaiton Business Development Manager for Laerdal Medical, Program Implementation Manager for RQI Partners, a member of NREMT's Continued Competency Agenda Steering Committee, NENA's Telecommunicator CPR Working Group, and NHTSA’s High Performance CPR Working Group (CPR LifeLinks). He was also Program Director of the South Carolina Resuscitation Academy, Co-Producer of the Code STEMI Web Series, and Content Expert for the 12-Lead ECG Challenge smartphone app. Tom is interested in process improvement, system performance, human factors, crew resource management, and evidence-based performance measures for time-sensitive diagnoses.

Rob Farmer is the Director of EMS Growth for Crosswalk Health.

He has previously served as the National Director of Sales for CentralSquare; as the Chief Administrative Officer for Harris County ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare; as the Director of Public Safety & Emergency Management for Lee County, Florida; as the Director / Chief of Delaware County EMS in Central Ohio, and as a firefighter/paramedic for the Upper Arlington Fire Department in suburban Columbus, Ohio.

He has an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Hodges University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Paramedic Executives, as well as serving as a Charter Commissioner.

Ryan Greenberg has spent the past 25 years working in EMS from EMT to Chief of EMS to EMS Director. Ryan has focused his career on building hospital based EMS systems across the northeast while always remaining an active Paramedic, Fire Fighter, Educator and EMS Advocate. Ryan believes for an EMS system to be successful it must have engaged leaders, embrace innovation, measure clinical quality and always be willing to adapt to change to improve the system for patients, providers and the community. Ryan received his undergraduate degree from Babson College, his Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University and post-graduate certificate from Columbia University. Ryan spent 8 years as a board member for National EMS Management Association and is on Board of Directors of National Association of State EMS Officials.

Michael Lauria, MD, NRP, FP-C is an Emergency Medicine Resident and Flight Physician at the University of New Mexico Hospital. He started working in emergency services in 2002 as a Firefighter/EMT-I. In 2005, he graduated from Dartmouth College, became a Pararescueman in the US Air Force, and served at the 321st Special Tactics Squadron where he deployed with a USSOCOM Joint Special Operations Task Force and C Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). After the military he worked as a Flight Paramedic for the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team (DHART). In 2018 he graduated with honors from the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, is currently an Emergency Medicine Resident, and will start EMS Fellowship in July 2021. He also writes for the EMCrit podcast and blog.

Meet Eric Bauer, CEO of FlightBridgeED, LLC, with over 30 years in EMS and 23 years in HEMS. A dedicated educator, Eric has authored two best-selling books and delivered 95 national and international lectures on emergency and critical care. His podcast has reached over 6 million downloads, sharing vital insights with a global audience.

Eric’s contributions have earned notable recognition, including the 2017 EMSWORLD Innovation Award and the 2018 John Jordan Award for Excellence. He was also named an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Air & Surface Transport Nurses—the first paramedic to receive this distinction. Through writing, speaking, and podcasting, Eric continues to impact the field by making complex medical topics accessible and advancing education in critical care transport.

Peter M. Antevy, MD, is a nationally recognized leader in emergency medicine and the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Handtevy. He serves as EMS Medical Director for multiple fire departments throughout Florida, providing medical oversight for over 2,500 paramedics across Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Dr. Antevy also serves as President of the Florida Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). His extensive clinical and leadership experience spans emergency medicine and EMS, with a focus on advancing the quality and delivery of emergency care.

Jimmy Apple, NRP is a Pediatric Critical Care Paramedic known better online as EMS Avenger. Jimmy has 22 years in EMS and has a well-known passion for learning and educating. Jimmy has built this passion into a popular online platform that delivers content dedicated to evidence-based medicine, provider health advocacy, thought eperiments challenging the philosophy and dogma of EMS, and the occasional foray into humor. The underpinning of this platform are his goals of building a community of positivity, gratitude, and kindness. The home of this community began on TikTok, but is now spreading and growing across all platforms. When not obsessing over the latest studies or engaging providers on the latests resuscitation practices, Jimmy can be found spending time with his family, hiking, and playing with his basset hound.

Meet Eric Bauer, CEO of FlightBridgeED, LLC, with over 30 years in EMS and 23 years in HEMS. A dedicated educator, Eric has authored two best-selling books and delivered 95 national and international lectures on emergency and critical care. His podcast has reached over 6 million downloads, sharing vital insights with a global audience.

Eric’s contributions have earned notable recognition, including the 2017 EMSWORLD Innovation Award and the 2018 John Jordan Award for Excellence. He was also named an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Air & Surface Transport Nurses—the first paramedic to receive this distinction. Through writing, speaking, and podcasting, Eric continues to impact the field by making complex medical topics accessible and advancing education in critical care transport.

Dr. Kupas is an EMS physician and emergency physician with Geisinger Health System in central Pennsylvania where he is medical director of mobile integrated healthcare and serves as EMS medical director for several agencies. He has served as the Commonwealth EMS Medical Director for the Pennsylvania Department of Health for over 20 years. Dr. Kupas started his career as an EMS provider 40 years ago as both a volunteer and employed paramedic . He is a paramedic who continues to do field response as an EMS physician. He has numerous peer-reviewed publications with clinical interests that include provider safety, patient safety, airway management, cardiac arrest quality, end-of-life care, wilderness EMS,and mass gathering EMS, and behavioral health emergencies.

Dr. Angela Cornelius is an Associate Medical Director for the Fort Worth Office of the Medical Director, where her primary responsibilities are EMS CC and innovations. Board-certified in EM, FM, and EMS, she is an Associate Professor EM with TCU and LSU Shreveport who practices at John Peter Smith Hospital as core faculty and is the program director for the Baylor All Saints EMS Fellowship. She serves as Chair of the NAEMSP Preparedness Committee and immediate past chair of the ACEP Disaster Medicine committee and Air Medical section. She sits on the Expert Planning Committee for the DFW World Cup planning and is the subject matter expert for disaster surge. Current administrative projects include enhancing and creating more robust community paramedicine programs and EMS induction of buprenorphine for OUD.

William Heuser, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP, BCNSP, MS, EMT-P, FP-C is a clinical critical care pharmacist, course director/clinical professor of pharmacology, clinical toxicologist and certified flight paramedic/firefighter. William has presented at several national conferences across the United States and has extensive research experience in resuscitative medicine with several publications in peer-reviewed journals. As a clinical toxicologist at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, his research focuses on the acute resuscitation of critically ill and dying patients. A current focus of his research focuses on the development of novel pharmacological cocktails coupled with emergency cardiopulmonary bypass to save the lives of patients who fail traditional advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) treatment.

Michael W. Dailey, MD, FACEP FAEMS, is Chief of the Division of Prehospital and Operational Medicine and Professor of Emergency Medicine and EMS Fellowship Director at the Albany Medical College. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and EMS. He completed residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh in 2001, and received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1998. He has been involved in EMS for a really long time, with provider experience in volunteer suburban EMS, rural volunteer fire service, urban municipal EMS, and helicopter EMS. He has medical direction responsibilities for state, municipal, and volunteer services spanning EMS, fire and law enforcement. He serves as the Medical Advisor for EMS World.

Mark Piehl is a pediatric critical care physician at WakeMed in Raleigh, NC, and a Medical Director with WakeMed Mobile Critical Care transport. He is also Founder and Chief Medical Officer of 410 Medical, a company developing technology to improve resuscitation in shock, sepsis, and trauma. Mark teaches frequently on the pre-hospital management of trauma and critical illness, has faculty appointments at the University of North Carolina and Duke University, and has numerous Department of Defense grants funding the development of technology to improve trauma care. He is also a founding member of the SPARC Academy and the North Carolina Prehospital Regional Blood Coalition.

Garret Shields BS, NRP, FP-C, VA-EC is a proud graduate of the UCLA Paramedic Program in 2011 and has been a provider in multiple states nationwide, spending the last 11 years with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue. As a field provider with Fairfax County, he developed a passion for teaching students as a field training officer and EMS instructor. He co-created the FCFRD EMT Certification program that saw a 100% first-time pass rate on the NREMT exam during his tenure. Garret also worked part-time at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. in the Emergency Department for several years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Purdue University Global. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the 9/11 charity, Pay It Forward 9/11.

Michael Levy, MD, FAEMS, FACP, is the Chief Medical Officer for Anchorage Areawide EMS and Medical Director for multiple EMS agencies across Alaska, including the Anchorage Fire Department and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Based in Anchorage, he is an Affiliate Associate Professor with the University of Alaska and has more than three decades of experience as an emergency medicine and EMS physician. Dr. Levy earned his BA from the University of Colorado Boulder and his MD from Northwestern University before completing a combined Internal Medicine–Emergency Medicine residency at McGaw Medical Center. A past president of NAEMSP, he is an internationally recognized speaker on resuscitation, EMS systems, rural EMS, and high-performance CPR, and has held key leadership roles in national guideline development and EMS quality improvement.

I am a board-certified emergency physician with over 20 years of clinical experience and serve as Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of C-Booth Innovations, where I lead clinical strategy and development of diagnostic EKG technologies to improve cardiac care. I have co-authored multiple patents and publications in flexible electronics and EKG innovation. I also serve as an Adjunct Research Associate Professor at the University of Southern California, teaching molecular microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology, and as Chairman of Medical Staff Peer Review at Palomar Health. My experience includes work as a principal investigator in device and pharmaceutical studies, presentations at professional conferences, expert witness service in medical malpractice and criminal cases, and leadership as Emergency Director of a Federal Medical Station during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raphael M. Barishansky, DrPH, MPH, MS, CPM is a nationally recognized leader in public health and emergency medical services (EMS), with over 30 years of experience spanning multiple systems and agencies in roles of increasing responsibility.

Most recently, Dr. Barishansky served as Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, overseeing 5 bureaus. Prior to that, he was the Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) at the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Dr. Barishansky serves as adjunct faculty at several universities, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. A prolific writer and speaker, his work has been widely published in academic and professional journals, and he is a frequent presenter at regional, state, national and international conferences.

Kris Kaull is a growth strategist in EMS with more than 30 years of experience, shaping the national landscape through innovation and creativity. Kris started Paramedic.com and co-founded EMS1, leading its growth into a national platform for first responders. Kris later served as the Chief Growth Officer at Pulsara, where he designed and executed the company’s marketing and growth strategies from the ground up.

Kris collaborates with organizations to align leadership, build scalable systems, and operate effectively in complex, high-trust environments. True to his roots, he remains active as a critical care flight paramedic for a Level I Trauma center. As a national speaker and writer, Kris is known for clarifying chaos by connecting real-world experience with practical strategies that help people lead, communicate, and perform at a higher level.

Dr. Jeff Jarvis is the Chief Medical Officer for the Office of the Medical Director and System Medical Director for Fort Worth FD 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 40 years ago and remains a licensed paramedic today. His research interests include airway management and clinical performance measures and he serves on the boards of NAEMSP, NEMSQA, and PCRF. He is a proud father to two wonderful kids, husband of 35 years, and a loyal Aggie.

Michael Kaduce, MPS, NRP is the Director of the Falck Health Institute, where he leads Falck’s national and international initiatives focused on EMS initial education, continuing education, and research. In this role, he oversees the development of innovative education programs designed to strengthen workforce readiness, clinical excellence, and evidence-based practice across prehospital systems.
Michael previously served as the EMT Program Director at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, where he led the largest EMT education program in the US for six years. His work spans peer-reviewed publications, national research presentations, and authorship of the most widely used EMT and paramedic textbooks in the field.
He serves as the West Coast Representative on the NAEMT Board of Directors and is a Research Associate with the UCLA Prehospital Care Research Forum.

Candace Pineda has been in the medical field for over 26 years, serving as a registered nurse more than 20 years. She is the Trauma Program Manager at Delray Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center in Palm Beach. Mrs. Pineda oversees the continuum of care for in injured patients in South Florida.
Mrs. Pineda serves as President of the Association of Florida Trauma Program Managers. She is moderator of the Florida Trauma Advisory Council and serves on many local, state, and national trauma, nursing and EMS committees. Mrs. Pineda is a course coordinator for the Advanced Trauma Life Support program and course director for many trauma courses and programs such as PHTLS, TNCC and STB. She has a passion for trauma, prehospital care, teaching and injury prevention.

Kevin Collopy, MHL, FP-C, NRP, CMTE, FAEMS, is a 25+ year critical care & air medical transport leader who has taught emergency & wilderness medicine in 7 countries, and has authored 200+ publications including 30 peer-reviewed abstracts/papers. Kevin is the Director of Clinical Integrity for Life Link III where he's responsible for their clinical quality management, research and compliance programs. He's been honored as an EMS10: EMS Innovator(2014), with John Jordan Award for contributions to CCT literature(2021), and with the Allen Wolfe Excellence in Leadership Award (2023). He's on the International Paramedic Registry advisory board, chairs the Global Critical Care Transport Higher Education Council, is past president of ICAPP, and serves on the VITALS Foundation board. Kevin is an NAEMT Lighthouse Program Mentor and has a master’s in healthcare leadership.

John Jardine, MD, is a board certified emergency medicine physician practicing for 25 years. His career started in EMS as a NY State EMT and paramedic. He is the medical director for the Falmouth Road Race. In his 25 years as medical director, Dr. Jardine has treated more than 500 cases of exertional heat stroke. He serves as Chief Medical Officer for the Korey Stringer Institute at UCONN, with the mission to provide research and education to optimize safety and prevent sudden death in athletes, warfighters, and laborers. He serves on the Expert and Advisory Board of the World Academy for Endurance Medicine for World Athletics. He has co-authored more than 35 peer-reviewed articles on the subject and has become a recognized expert in the treatment of exertional heat stroke.

Allen Wolfe is currently the Senior Director of Clinical Education at Life Link III in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Allen has been a nurse for 40 years with 33 of those years in transporting critically ill patients. He was the Clinical Nurse Specialist of MedSTAR the world-renowned trauma resuscitation unit in Washington, DC. Allen is one of the leading experts in the country in the prehospital management of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs). He has published multiple articles, and research projects and is the co-editor of the Principle and Practice textbook, the industry's biggest-selling publication. In 2017 he received the Marriott-Carlson Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to air and ground transport medicine.

Bruce E. Hoffman
EdDs, FNPc, MSN-ED, BSN-RN, CFRN, FP-C, CCP-C, C-NPT
Associate Professor / Critical Care Transport Nurse / Educator
American International College / Baystate Medical Center / FlightBridgeED

Bruce Hoffman is a registered nurse, paramedic, and educational leader with graduate degrees in nursing, health professions education, and advanced practice. His professional interests include acute care cardiology, critical care transport, servant leadership, adaptive education, and mobile healthcare simulation. Bruce is passionate about inspiring others to think differently, lead with integrity, and create positive change through education and service. He lives in North Central Connecticut with his wife Stephanie, their three children—Ava Mae, Addy Lue, and Jackson Lee—and their furry friends: Bella, Stella, and Ella (one Boston Terrier and two Great Danes).

Rory Hill, MA, LP, NRP, FP-C, TP-C, is the Founder and President of Goat-Trail Austere Medical Solutions (GAMS), based in Northwestern Indiana, bringing more than 30 years of operational experience in municipal EMS, flight medicine, and high-threat medical operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds a Master of Arts in Emergency Management and is recognized for his expertise in tactical and austere medical care. Hill leads GAMS’ training development programs, remains clinically active as a paramedic and instructor, and continues to serve in High-Threat Protection Operations for the U.S. Department of State, contributing significantly to national advancements in tactical medicine and responder preparedness.

Amy Gutman, MD, FACEP, is an emergency physician, educator, and CEO/Founder of ToughLoveMD, known for translating frontline medicine into high-impact, no-nonsense education. She began her career in EMS and fire rescue in 1987, building a foundation of service that still drives her work today. Board certified in Emergency Medicine since 2008, she holds fellowships in prehospital care and resuscitation, with additional certifications in maritime medicine and leadership. Dr. Gutman currently works as a locums ER physician, serving rural and underserved communities. Her career spans EMS, aeromedical, maritime, research, EDs, and ICUs across the U.S., Bermuda, and the Caribbean. A former medical director and associate professor, she is passionate about cutting through noise, sharpening clinical judgment, and improving patient outcomes through education that actually changes practice.

Ryan Greenberg has spent the past 25 years working in EMS from EMT to Chief of EMS to EMS Director. Ryan has focused his career on building hospital based EMS systems across the northeast while always remaining an active Paramedic, Fire Fighter, Educator and EMS Advocate. Ryan believes for an EMS system to be successful it must have engaged leaders, embrace innovation, measure clinical quality and always be willing to adapt to change to improve the system for patients, providers and the community. Ryan received his undergraduate degree from Babson College, his Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University and post-graduate certificate from Columbia University. Ryan spent 8 years as a board member for National EMS Management Association and is on Board of Directors of National Association of State EMS Officials.

Geoff Murphy wants to live in a world filled with brilliant EMS educators, and a force field that repels his beautiful yet some how, almost always naked toddlers when "dad is going live."
As a paramedic for over a decade, working as a critical care flight paramedic for 7 of those, Geoff has carved out the career of his dreams. Through his career he develop a true love, and that is to teach medicine. Through his education business he's had the pleasure of teaching over 40000 EMT and Paramedic students all over the world.
Geoff's vision is to effectively elevate EMS education to a new standard, to raise the expectation of knowledge and competence for students.
Once his vision has been achieved, as Thanos famously said.. "He'll finally rest"

Donnie Woodyard Jr., MAML, NRP, is Executive Director of the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice (U.S. EMS Compact), coordinating EMS licensure across more than 25 member states representing over 500,000 clinicians. He has served as the State EMS Director in both Colorado and Louisiana, and the Chief Operating Officer of the NREMT. A 30-year paramedic, Donnie also led the development of Sri Lanka's modern EMS system following the 2004 tsunami and has led EMS development across South Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. He is the author of five books on EMS leadership and history. Donnie holds a Master's degree in Management and Leadership and was a certified Wilderness & Critical Care Paramedic. He brings operational expertise and strategic vision to interstate licensure, technology integration, and EMS innovation.

LT. JARRED R. ALDEN, M.A., FFII, NRP, is a firefighter/paramedic operations officer for the Akron (OH) Fire Department (AFD). He has lead crews as a Lieutenant for nine years. He has worked 22-plus years as a firefighter and a paramedic. He was a member of the Akron Police Department SWAT Tactical Medic program for 16 years. Alden is also a nationally registered paramedic and an Ohio state-certified paramedic. He is ITLS, ACLS, PALS, PITLS, and BLS certified. He is a certified firefighter in Ohio. LT. Alden works part-time for the Department of Homeland Security through Louisiana State University. Alden holds a Master of Arts degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences from Wright State University and a BA from Urbana University. He served as a collegiate professor at the University of Akron.

Matthew Gavula is a Fire Paramedic Lieutenant with the Philadelphia Fire Department, where he has served as an EMS Operational Supervisor since 2014. Currently assigned to the PFD Field Administration Unit, Lt. Gavula plays a key role in strategic planning and operational readiness for the department. He has been instrumental in coordinating emergency medical services for major citywide events, including the 2015 Papal Visit, the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and the 2017 NFL Draft. In addition to his operational leadership, he has contributed to the development of future firefighters by teaching numerous cadet classes at the Philadelphia Fire Training Academy. Lt. Gavula brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and instructional expertise to every facet of his service.

Andrew Mahler is a Fire Service Paramedic Lieutenant with the Philadelphia Fire Department. He began his EMS career as a volunteer EMT with a collegiate EMS service while completing his bachelor’s degree at Case Western Reserve University. During this time, he also worked in private medical transport, gaining early experience in patient care and prehospital operations. Andrew joined the Philadelphia Fire Department as a paramedic in 2019 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2024. In his current role, he is involved in project development, continuing education, and training initiatives aimed at strengthening clinical performance and operational readiness across the department.

As a 24-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department and 30-year veteran Paramedic. I began my EMS career in Critical Care Transport for a University Hospital before dedicating my attentions to the unique challenges of urban fire-based EMS. I have focused my attention mainly on achieving clinical excellence and engendering the same in others through education and mentorship. Additionally, I have been involved with first responder mental health both within the department and externally through the IAFF at the local, regional and national level.

Michael Levy, MD, FAEMS, FACP, is the Chief Medical Officer for Anchorage Areawide EMS and Medical Director for multiple EMS agencies across Alaska, including the Anchorage Fire Department and the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Based in Anchorage, he is an Affiliate Associate Professor with the University of Alaska and has more than three decades of experience as an emergency medicine and EMS physician. Dr. Levy earned his BA from the University of Colorado Boulder and his MD from Northwestern University before completing a combined Internal Medicine–Emergency Medicine residency at McGaw Medical Center. A past president of NAEMSP, he is an internationally recognized speaker on resuscitation, EMS systems, rural EMS, and high-performance CPR, and has held key leadership roles in national guideline development and EMS quality improvement.

Asbel Montes is the innovative force behind Solutions Group Services, an AI-powered healthcare technology firm transforming the revenue cycle. After years in EMS leadership, Asbel saw firsthand how providers struggled with denials, delays, and outdated systems. He launched SGS to bring clarity to that chaos—recovering hidden revenue, reducing administrative friction, and helping healthcare leaders focus on patient care. Under his leadership, SGS integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, acting like a quiet but powerful engine in the background. Asbel is known for his expertise in revenue cycle reform and government relations, making him a trusted advisor in healthcare. His passion lies in championing providers, improving reimbursement processes, and driving real results. With Asbel at the helm, SGS isn’t just a tech solution—it’s a movement toward smarter, more sustainable healthcare finance.

Allen Wolfe is currently the Senior Director of Clinical Education at Life Link III in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Allen has been a nurse for 40 years with 33 of those years in transporting critically ill patients. He was the Clinical Nurse Specialist of MedSTAR the world-renowned trauma resuscitation unit in Washington, DC. Allen is one of the leading experts in the country in the prehospital management of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs). He has published multiple articles, and research projects and is the co-editor of the Principle and Practice textbook, the industry's biggest-selling publication. In 2017 he received the Marriott-Carlson Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to air and ground transport medicine.

Melinda Wilson, MAOL, CPC, CCEMT-P, NRP, serves as the Injury Prevention and Trauma Outreach Coordinator for the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management, providing a strong foundation in system coordination and program development. With 13 years of experience in EMS and ER settings, her work as a Community Paramedic offers unique insight into social determinants of health and the challenges faced in diverse communities. Melinda also serves on medical missions to remote areas of the Dominican Republic, providing clinical care and medical translation that support culturally informed prevention efforts. Melinda contributes nationally through NAEMT, IBSC, and NAMIHP, as well with regional and state committees.

Kevin Collopy, MHL, FP-C, NRP, CMTE, FAEMS, is a 25+ year critical care & air medical transport leader who has taught emergency & wilderness medicine in 7 countries, and has authored 200+ publications including 30 peer-reviewed abstracts/papers. Kevin is the Director of Clinical Integrity for Life Link III where he's responsible for their clinical quality management, research and compliance programs. He's been honored as an EMS10: EMS Innovator(2014), with John Jordan Award for contributions to CCT literature(2021), and with the Allen Wolfe Excellence in Leadership Award (2023). He's on the International Paramedic Registry advisory board, chairs the Global Critical Care Transport Higher Education Council, is past president of ICAPP, and serves on the VITALS Foundation board. Kevin is an NAEMT Lighthouse Program Mentor and has a master’s in healthcare leadership.

Michael Kaduce, MPS, NRP is the Director of the Falck Health Institute, where he leads Falck’s national and international initiatives focused on EMS initial education, continuing education, and research. In this role, he oversees the development of innovative education programs designed to strengthen workforce readiness, clinical excellence, and evidence-based practice across prehospital systems.
Michael previously served as the EMT Program Director at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, where he led the largest EMT education program in the US for six years. His work spans peer-reviewed publications, national research presentations, and authorship of the most widely used EMT and paramedic textbooks in the field.
He serves as the West Coast Representative on the NAEMT Board of Directors and is a Research Associate with the UCLA Prehospital Care Research Forum.

Dr. Angela Cornelius is an Associate Medical Director for the Fort Worth Office of the Medical Director, where her primary responsibilities are EMS CC and innovations. Board-certified in EM, FM, and EMS, she is an Associate Professor EM with TCU and LSU Shreveport who practices at John Peter Smith Hospital as core faculty and is the program director for the Baylor All Saints EMS Fellowship. She serves as Chair of the NAEMSP Preparedness Committee and immediate past chair of the ACEP Disaster Medicine committee and Air Medical section. She sits on the Expert Planning Committee for the DFW World Cup planning and is the subject matter expert for disaster surge. Current administrative projects include enhancing and creating more robust community paramedicine programs and EMS induction of buprenorphine for OUD.

EMS Training and Education for the department. His responsibilities include recruit training, continuing education, Field Training Officer oversight, and part of Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement initiatives.Previously, Matthew served as a Clinical Coordinator in the Office of the Medical Director for the Metropolitan Area EMS Authority in Fort Worth, Texas. In this role, he provided clinical oversight for the system’s Mobile Integrated Health and Critical Care Team programs, ensuring high standards of patient care .With more than 25 years of experience in EMS, Matthew has worked in diverse EMS systems across New York, Ohio, and Texas, bringing a broad and practical perspective to prehospital medicine, education, and system development.

Peter M. Antevy, MD, is a nationally recognized leader in emergency medicine and the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Handtevy. He serves as EMS Medical Director for multiple fire departments throughout Florida, providing medical oversight for over 2,500 paramedics across Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Dr. Antevy also serves as President of the Florida Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). His extensive clinical and leadership experience spans emergency medicine and EMS, with a focus on advancing the quality and delivery of emergency care.

William Heuser, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP, BCNSP, MS, EMT-P, FP-C is a clinical critical care pharmacist, course director/clinical professor of pharmacology, clinical toxicologist and certified flight paramedic/firefighter. William has presented at several national conferences across the United States and has extensive research experience in resuscitative medicine with several publications in peer-reviewed journals. As a clinical toxicologist at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, his research focuses on the acute resuscitation of critically ill and dying patients. A current focus of his research focuses on the development of novel pharmacological cocktails coupled with emergency cardiopulmonary bypass to save the lives of patients who fail traditional advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) treatment.

Dr. Jeff Jarvis is the Chief Medical Officer for the Office of the Medical Director and System Medical Director for Fort Worth FD 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 40 years ago and remains a licensed paramedic today. His research interests include airway management and clinical performance measures and he serves on the boards of NAEMSP, NEMSQA, and PCRF. He is a proud father to two wonderful kids, husband of 35 years, and a loyal Aggie.

Raphael M. Barishansky, DrPH, MPH, MS, CPM is a nationally recognized leader in public health and emergency medical services (EMS), with over 30 years of experience spanning multiple systems and agencies in roles of increasing responsibility.

Most recently, Dr. Barishansky served as Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, overseeing 5 bureaus. Prior to that, he was the Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) at the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Dr. Barishansky serves as adjunct faculty at several universities, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. A prolific writer and speaker, his work has been widely published in academic and professional journals, and he is a frequent presenter at regional, state, national and international conferences.

Michael W. Dailey, MD, FACEP FAEMS, is Chief of the Division of Prehospital and Operational Medicine and Professor of Emergency Medicine and EMS Fellowship Director at the Albany Medical College. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and EMS. He completed residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh in 2001, and received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1998. He has been involved in EMS for a really long time, with provider experience in volunteer suburban EMS, rural volunteer fire service, urban municipal EMS, and helicopter EMS. He has medical direction responsibilities for state, municipal, and volunteer services spanning EMS, fire and law enforcement. He serves as the Medical Advisor for EMS World.

Amy Gutman, MD, FACEP, is an emergency physician, educator, and CEO/Founder of ToughLoveMD, known for translating frontline medicine into high-impact, no-nonsense education. She began her career in EMS and fire rescue in 1987, building a foundation of service that still drives her work today. Board certified in Emergency Medicine since 2008, she holds fellowships in prehospital care and resuscitation, with additional certifications in maritime medicine and leadership. Dr. Gutman currently works as a locums ER physician, serving rural and underserved communities. Her career spans EMS, aeromedical, maritime, research, EDs, and ICUs across the U.S., Bermuda, and the Caribbean. A former medical director and associate professor, she is passionate about cutting through noise, sharpening clinical judgment, and improving patient outcomes through education that actually changes practice.

Allen Wolfe is currently the Senior Director of Clinical Education at Life Link III in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Allen has been a nurse for 40 years with 33 of those years in transporting critically ill patients. He was the Clinical Nurse Specialist of MedSTAR the world-renowned trauma resuscitation unit in Washington, DC. Allen is one of the leading experts in the country in the prehospital management of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs). He has published multiple articles, and research projects and is the co-editor of the Principle and Practice textbook, the industry's biggest-selling publication. In 2017 he received the Marriott-Carlson Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to air and ground transport medicine.

Kris Kaull is a growth strategist in EMS with more than 30 years of experience, shaping the national landscape through innovation and creativity. Kris started Paramedic.com and co-founded EMS1, leading its growth into a national platform for first responders. Kris later served as the Chief Growth Officer at Pulsara, where he designed and executed the company’s marketing and growth strategies from the ground up.

Kris collaborates with organizations to align leadership, build scalable systems, and operate effectively in complex, high-trust environments. True to his roots, he remains active as a critical care flight paramedic for a Level I Trauma center. As a national speaker and writer, Kris is known for clarifying chaos by connecting real-world experience with practical strategies that help people lead, communicate, and perform at a higher level.

Peter M. Antevy, MD, is a nationally recognized leader in emergency medicine and the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Handtevy. He serves as EMS Medical Director for multiple fire departments throughout Florida, providing medical oversight for over 2,500 paramedics across Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Dr. Antevy also serves as President of the Florida Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). His extensive clinical and leadership experience spans emergency medicine and EMS, with a focus on advancing the quality and delivery of emergency care.

Jennifer Barnhart is a Captain with Austin-Travis County EMS, where she has served for six years, with a total of 12 years experience in prehospital EMS. She currently serves as the Assistant Team Lead for the Special Operations: Counter Assault Strike Team - Medical (CASTMED) and is certified as an ALERRT AAIR Instructor.

Carey Chaudoir is a Commander for the Austin Police Department assigned to Downtown Area Command. Commander Chaudoir has been with APD for 24 years, serving also as the APD CAST Commander. She is responsible for overseeing public safety initiatives and supporting officers in one of Austin’s busiest and most visible areas.

Mark Karonika is a Division Chief for Austin-Travis County EMS currently assigned as an Operations Shift Chief. Chief Karonika has been with ATCEMS for 25 years.

Robert Luckritz has served in healthcare for nearly 30 years, serving in many roles including EMS Chief and hospital leader. He is currently the Chief of Austin-Travis County EMS, the largest municipal third-service EMS agency in the United States.
Prior to joining Austin-Travis County EMS, and throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, Robert served as Vice President of Hospital Operations for Jersey City Medical Center. Before joining the hospital administration, Robert served as the Chief of Jersey City EMS.

Richard Murry is a Captain for Austin-Travis County EMS and is currently assigned to Downtown Area Command. Captain Murry has been with ATCEMS for 15. He has spent the last 12 years in the departments special operations division with assignments on the All Hazards Rescue Team and the Counter Assault Strike Team - Medical (CASTMED).

Luke Serrato is a Sergeant for the Austin Police and is currently assigned to Narcotics Conspiracy/CAST. Sergeant Serrato has been with APD for 19 years.

Bruce E. Hoffman
EdDs, FNPc, MSN-ED, BSN-RN, CFRN, FP-C, CCP-C, C-NPT
Associate Professor / Critical Care Transport Nurse / Educator
American International College / Baystate Medical Center / FlightBridgeED

Bruce Hoffman is a registered nurse, paramedic, and educational leader with graduate degrees in nursing, health professions education, and advanced practice. His professional interests include acute care cardiology, critical care transport, servant leadership, adaptive education, and mobile healthcare simulation. Bruce is passionate about inspiring others to think differently, lead with integrity, and create positive change through education and service. He lives in North Central Connecticut with his wife Stephanie, their three children—Ava Mae, Addy Lue, and Jackson Lee—and their furry friends: Bella, Stella, and Ella (one Boston Terrier and two Great Danes).

Dr. Andrew Dennis is a senior trauma and burn surgeon at the Cook County Trauma and Burn Unit in Chicago and the Chief Medical Officer (sworn) at the Illinois State Police. He is a leader in academic trauma surgery, EMS, law enforcement and the entertainment industry. Dr. Dennis is a Professor of Surgery at Rush University and the Chair of the Department of Surgery at Midwestern University. Dr. Dennis is a speaker, educator, author and extensively published researcher with a focus on public safety, injury management and prevention, hemorrhage, first responder wellness, and disaster preparedness. He has a long career in film and television as Executive Medical Advisor and Producer for NBC's "Chicago One" series, as well as many other network and studio TV and film productions.

Tzvi Montrose, CPA, Paramedic, FACHE is a longtime EMS leader and founder/former CEO of a nonprofit ambulance service he built from the ground up—securing millions in funding and leading an 85-member organization. Under his leadership the agency responded to over 12,000 calls for service, achieved multiple cardiac arrest saves, created youth-to-NREMT training pipelines, and maintained remarkably low turnover through a culture of support and psychological safety. In addition to his frontline and leadership experience in EMS, Tzvi is a board certiified healthcare executive who owns a company that manages physician practices, giving him a deep understanding of clinical operations, finance, and systems design. He consults on Integrated Wellness Infrastructure for EMS and other trauma-exposed systems, including wellness program development for multiple law enforcement agencies such as the Illinois State Police.

Mike Brown is a Fire Captain, Flight Paramedic, and Tactical Medic with more than two decades of operational experience in high acuity emergency response, critical care transport, and high risk team environments. His instructional focus spans clinical excellence, human performance, and complex patient management. As a national educator and conference speaker, he blends field tested experience with research informed practice, drawing from neuroscience, physiology, and real world case application. His mission is to help clinicians think clearly, act decisively, and elevate care in the moments that matter most. He is also the Development Editor for the Journal of Emergency Medical Services.

Matt is an EMS/Mobile Healthcare Consultant with PWW Advisory Group (PWW|AG), assisting local communities, EMS agencies, fire departments, and ambulance services evaluate and improve their EMS and mobile healthcare delivery systems. Prior to joining PWW|AG, he served as the Chief Transformation Officer for the regional Public Utility Model EMS system (MedStar) serving Fort Worth and 14 other cities 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. He is an EMT, past President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and the Executive Director for the Academy of International Mobile Healthcare Integration.

Heather Davis is the Director of Student Assessment at the David Geffen School of Medicine. She is responsible for managing a valid, reliable, and equitable assessment program used to enhance learning and verify the competency of undergraduate medical students at UCLA. She previously spent more than 20 years at the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care, in both the Associate Director and Program Director roles. As the Education Director for LA County Fire, she managed education programs for over 3000 firefighter EMTs and Paramedics. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California and teaches as an Associate Adjunct Professor in the Rossier School of Education. Dr. Davis served 15 years on the NREMT Board of Directors and was honored with NAEMT's Rocco Morando Lifetime Achievement Award.

William Heuser, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP, BCNSP, MS, EMT-P, FP-C is a clinical critical care pharmacist, course director/clinical professor of pharmacology, clinical toxicologist and certified flight paramedic/firefighter. William has presented at several national conferences across the United States and has extensive research experience in resuscitative medicine with several publications in peer-reviewed journals. As a clinical toxicologist at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health, his research focuses on the acute resuscitation of critically ill and dying patients. A current focus of his research focuses on the development of novel pharmacological cocktails coupled with emergency cardiopulmonary bypass to save the lives of patients who fail traditional advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) treatment.

Elizabeth “Liz” Harney is a proven EMS leader, clinician, and advocate for growth and resilience, dedicated to bridging expertise with human connection. A Critical Care Paramedic, she has served on multiple boards, published in EMS World, and spoken at national conferences, shaping the future of EMS education and clinical excellence. She co-founded Paramedic Pathways, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting future paramedics through scholarships, reinforcing her commitment to the profession’s growth. Currently, she leads EMS quality initiatives while expanding her national presence to equip providers with emotional intelligence and leadership strategies for lasting impact. Her passion for EMS, education, and mental health comes from a lived journey of resilience and purpose. Through her work, Liz empowers the next generation of providers to deliver excellent care grounded in meaningful human connection.

Dr. Matthew Levy is an EMS physician, educator, and civic leader with three decades of experience. He holds full-time appointments at Johns Hopkins University in Emergency Medicine and Surgery, serving as Deputy Director of Operational Medicine. Dr. Levy is Medical Director of EMS Education for the American Red Cross and Chief Medical Officer for Howard County Fire and Rescue Services. He also serves as Central Maryland's Regional EMS Medical Director for the Maryland State EMS Agency, MIEMSS. A Fellow of both the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Academy of Emergency Medical Services, and actively participates in local, state, federal, and international organizations focused on prehospital, operational, and disaster medicine.

Keith Vetreno brings nearly four decades of EMS experience, spanning frontline EMT and Paramedic roles, to the Communications Officer, Chief Officer, Government Official, and Corporate Executive roles in public safety communications. This unique progression provides unparalleled insight into the challenges of EMS radio consultation.

With graduate degrees in public health and computer science, Keith bridges healthcare delivery and communication technology, understanding how system design impacts clinical outcomes. His extensive field experience gives him firsthand knowledge of communication barriers and anxieties clinicians face during radio consultations, while his roles provide a strategic perspective.

He specializes in improving patient care through pragmatic, evidence-based enhancements to communication systems. Internationally recognized in public safety leadership, communications, and disaster response, he develops implementable solutions that improve patient outcomes and enhance provider medical control interactions.

Curtis Sandy, MD FACEP FAEMS is the US Chief Medical Officer for Falck and Medical Director for the Falck Health Institute, Falck Mobile Care and the Falck Physicians Group. He has a degree in EMS Management from The George Washington University and is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS. He has over 40 years of EMS experience as an EMT, paramedic, paramedic instructor, flight physician, tactical physician and EMS medical director. He has consulted on many state EMS assessment for NHTSA. He works clinically in the emergency department at a regional referral center and serves on trauma, cardiac, stroke and resuscitation committees. He has been the State EMS Medical Director for Idaho for over 10 years. He has expertise in operational EMS including tactical medicine and wildland fire medical operations.