EMS Update 2025

Benjamin Abo, DO, Paramedic, EMTT, FAWM

Dr. Abo is a wilderness EMS and emergency physician and toxinologist in Florida and assistant professor for Florida Statue University School of Medicine. He started in EMS over 28 years ago as a teenager in high school in Mount Laurel, NJ. After completing a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also obtained his NREMT-P, CCEMT-P, and FP-C, he stayed on as faculty for the Center for Emergency Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine as a researcher and Coordinator of Education in International Emergency Medicine/EMS. He then spent some time abroad living in India just prior to starting medical school in the San Francisco Bay area. After walking with honors from a dual medicine and master’s in public health program from Touro College of Medicine – California, he took time off prior to residency to start a non-profit in Africa aimed at decreasing maternal and neonatal mortality and trauma. He completed a four-year emergency medicine residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center – Miami Beach and Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, FL, while completing a fellowship in wilderness medicine through the Wilderness Medical Society. After residency, Dr. Abo completed an EMS fellowship at the University of Florida where he then accepted a full-time position. Throughout all his training, Dr. Abo has remained clinically active in EMS FL-5 DMAT disaster team, FEMA/Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 1 (FLTF1). In 2019, he left his full-time position with the University of Florida to move to Naples. He has also remained active as a paramedic physician with current specialty rescue certifications with various services globally and continues to do research and lecture globally. Dr. Abo has authored numerous chapters and research on a variety of EMS and wilderness medicine topics including multiple chapters in Wilderness EMS Textbooks for envenomation, marine envenomation, austere medicine, and water rescue. He currently oversees medical direction and consultation for several projects, services, EMS schools, media production, and specialty training including being one of only four course directors for the Wilderness EMS Medical Director’s Course. He also serves as medical director for the International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC) where he helped to create the Wilderness Paramedic Certification (WP-C) as well as consultant to the FBI Special Hazards Response teams. Dr. Abo is an innovator in Emergency and Pre-Hospital Medicine, the recipient of several awards for education, heroism, and valor including being the only person in the hemisphere to be inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine.

Donnie Woodyard, Jr., MAML, NRP, WP-C

Donnie Woodyard, Jr. serves as the Executive Director of the EMS Compact, where he leads national efforts to streamline and enhance EMS personnel practice across state lines. With over 30 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services, including a decade of international experience in war, disaster, and EMS system development, Donnie has held pivotal roles such as State EMS Director in two states and Chief Operating Officer of the National Registry of EMTs. He is also the author of two best-selling books on EMS and technology. A recognized expert in EMS regulation and practice, he contributes to national policy through his work with the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice. Donnie's passion for enhancing patient outcomes through cutting-edge technology makes him a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the field.

Peter Allen, MD

Peter Allen, MD completed a General Surgery residency at UPMC Mercy, and now returns after completing a Navy commitment and Critical Care Fellowship. In addition to Trauma Care, Dr. Allen will bring his expertise in Acute Care and Robotic Surgery to UPMC Mercy patients. Peter Allen, MD, specializes in general surgery and trauma surgery and is board certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He practices at Trauma and General Surgery, UPMC Mercy and is affiliated with UPMC Mercy. Dr. Allen completed his fellowship at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, residency at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and medical education at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Cassandra Asberry

Cassandra Asberry is a certified flight paramedic with AHN LifeFlight. She completed a bachelor’s degree in biological science at Saint Francis University. She is a co-founder of LifeFlight’s Community Outreach Education Program, serves as the Critical Care Transport Education Committee co-chair, and sits on the AGH Emergency Medicine Research Committee, and the LifeFlight Unit-Based Practice Council. Throughout her career, she has developed a passion for education and dedication to evidence-based practice. She seeks to contribute to emergency and critical care transport medicine through research and education.

Anthony Battista, Jr., DO

Anthony T. Battista, Jr., D.O. is a board eligible emergency medicine physician who is currently the Emergency Medical Services fellow for Allegheny General Hospital. Anthony grew up in Staten Island, New York and moved to Erie, PA in 2006 where he began his medical career as an EMT. He then attended college in Erie, PA earning an Associates degree in nursing at Mercyhurst North East and went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University. Anthony worked for several years as a registered nurse before following his dream of attending medical school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his three year emergency medicine residency training at AHN Saint Vincent and served as a chief resident in his final year. Anthony started his medical career in EMS as an EMT and now has aspirations to give back to the EMS community as a medical director. Anthony is completing his fellowship with the intention of elevating prehospital care with his expertise as an emergency medicine physician and also to serve as a resource for the EMS community. Anthony is married with 3 children and enjoys reading, video games, and baseball.

Justin Beal, PHRN, NRP

Justin serves as the Education Coordinator and Flight Nurse for STAT MedEvac, bringing over 20 years of experience in EMS education. Additionally, he is the Assistant EMS Director of the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department, overseeing the operation of two ALS ambulances.

Nirav Bhatt, MD

Nirav Bhatt, MD, completed his residency in neurology and fellowship in vascular neurology at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. He then worked as an assistant professor of Neurology within the division of vascular neurology at Grady Memorial Hospital/Emory University school of medicine in Atlanta. He joined the UPMC Stroke Institute as an assistant professor of neurology and serves as the director of Comprehensive Stroke Center at UPMC - Presbyterian Stroke Program. Throughout his career he has won several highly recognized awards for his dedication towards professional excellence, teaching and research. He has been involved in several multicenter clinical trials and his research interest includes Pre-hospital Management of Stroke, acute stroke care, and secondary prevention of high-risk stroke patients.

R. David Bledsoe, MD

In addition to being the Commonwealth's EMS Medical Director, Dr. Bledsoe is an active EMS and emergency physician in central Pennsylvania. He has over 30 years of emergency medical services experience, active membership on Pennsylvania Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue, and many previous presentations at regional and state conferences.

Joshua Brown, MD

Dr. Brown is the Samuel P. Harbison Endowed Assistant Professor of Surgery and an Assistant Professor of Critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the PI of the Prehospital Resource Organization and Delivery of Care in Trauma Systems (PRODCTS) laboratory, which focuses on air medical transport, field triage, prehospital resuscitation, and trauma system geospatial optimization. He has funding from the Department of Defense to develop combat evacuation algorithms and the NIH MIMHD to develop a consensus definition of air medical transport need in trauma patients. He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems

Chase Canter

Chase is well versed in critical care transport and prehospital medical research with a vast understanding of biomedical sciences. He is the Scientific Affairs Administrator for a team of scientists, statisticians, and data abstractors who are focused on improving outcomes with novel resuscitation and acute critical care technology at ZOLL CMS. Sticking to his roots, Chase still functions as a critical care paramedic and is a proud member of AGH's Critical Care Transport Team.

Talo Capuzzi

Talo is a Paramedic for AHN Pre-Hospital Care Services and has over 20 years experience in EMS, all in the Pittsburgh metro area. Prior to Working for AHN, he worked for Ross West EMS, which he credits for making him the provider he is today. Talo has many years of experience as a Rescue, EMS and Fire educator. In his "free time" he enjoys the company of fellow emergency responders and spending time with his yellow lab Luca.

Angeliz Caro-Monroig, MD

Dr. Angeliz Caro-Monroig is originally from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. She completed her medical school training at the Perelman School of Medicine through the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. She then did her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is now in her second year of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Quincy Chopra, MD

Dr. Chopra is an emergency physician and medical director currently practicing in eastern Kentucky. He is proud to have been a paramedic for the past 24 years and is currently active as a paramedic with EMS Southwest in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. His experience in international medicine and EMS as a clinician and educator has taken him worldwide, including his current role as a consulting EMS physician with HERO in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He is interested in education, austere medicine, and critical care.

Keith Conover, MD

Keith is a semi-retired board-certified emergency physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a Clinical Associate Professor at Pitt’s medical school. He’s also a Supervisory Medical Officer for the National Disaster Medical System and a Mountain Rescue Association Rescue-Certified member of the Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group of the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference, and Medical Advisor and Teaching Specialist for the Eastern Region, National Cave Rescue Commission. His Austere EMS/wilderness first aid involvement dates to when he worked summers during college as a National Park Service Ranger and took one of the country’s first EMT-Basic courses back in the 1970s. He continued with more advanced EMS education and teaching, went to medical school, and ended up contributing to the first and two subsequent versions of the national paramedic curriculum. His current project is a free, online, medically-oriented textbook, Appalachian Search and Rescue, which will include all material required to meet the Wilderness Medical Society’s wilderness first aid curriculum.

Bradley Dean

Bradley began exploring the career of Emergency Services at the age of 13 and joined as a junior member at Thomasville Rescue in Thomasville, NC. While in High School, he took as many courses as possible to begin gaining certifications and further exploring options. While starting in Rescue, over the last 30 years he has had the opportunity to work with various organizations and the military. Currently he works for Rowan County Emergency Services in Salisbury, NC as the Battalion Chief over the Training Division, and is the Assistant Chief with Rowan Rescue.

Rob Druga

Rob Druga is the Prehospital Care Coordinator at AHN Wexford and has been an active paramedic for thirty years. He has also been a part of the North Hills Special Response Team as a TEMS Medic for just shy of thirteen years and is currently the Assistant Team Leader. Not only is he known for his comical comments and patented hand talking capabilities, but also for his ability to break the ice after critical incidents in order to let providers know that it is OK to seek help.

Justin Eberly, MPA, CTO, NRAEMT

Justin Eberly is an Education Specialist for VFIS, a subsidiary of the Glatfelter Insurance Group, responsible for the national delivery of educational and training programs, curriculum development, and information analysis. Eberly is a Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT) and volunteer firefighter in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He is currently the vice president of a combination (volunteer/career) fire company and volunteer firefighter relief association. He actively serves as an field training officer and member of the safety committee for an EMS agency. Previously, he served as the assistant chief of a combination basic life support ambulance service. As an educator, Eberly has served as adjunct faculty for multiple EMS programs serving the South Central Pennsylvania region. He received the designation of Chief Training Officer (CTO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Eberly has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and Masters in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Emergency Services Management, from Columbia Southern University.Justin Eberly, MPA, CTO, NRAEMT is an Education and Training Specialist for VFIS, a subsidiary of the Glatfelter Insurance Group, responsible for the national delivery of educational and training programs, curriculum development, and information analysis. Eberly is a Nationally Registered Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT) and volunteer firefighter in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He actively serves on the safety committee for an EMS agency. Previously, he served as the assistant chief of a combination volunteer/career basic life support ambulance service. As an educator, Eberly has served as adjunct faculty for multiple EMS programs serving the South Central Pennsylvania region. He received the designation of Chief Training Officer (CTO) from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Eberly has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Information Technology for Business Education from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania and Masters in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Emergency Services Management, from Columbia Southern University.

Chuck Feronti, DO, FACEP, FAAEM

Chuck Feronti is the assistant program director for the emergency medicine residency at Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, PA. He also serves as the medical education fellowship director. Dr. Feronti has spent the last decade in medical education, having worked at two additional residency programs previously. He enjoys lecturing to EMS personnel and teaching about the patient experience. He earned his medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. He spent three years on active duty with the United States Air Force after residency. He enjoys soaking up time in the outdoors and at his cabin with his wife and two children.

Adam Frisch, MD

Dr. Adam Frisch is a physician and researcher in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UPMC. Dr. Frisch works clinically at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the Associate Medical Director for McCandless Franklin Park EMS and has worked in EMS for over 20 years. Dr. Frisch has published a number of research studies in the areas of prehospital care, cardiac arrest, and acute emergency care.

Matthew Giacopelli

Matt has been involved in EMS since 1991, starting as a volunteer at SUNY Maritime College, where he earned a degree in Meteorology and Oceanography. He earned EMT certification in 1992 and paramedic in 2000. Matt has worked in urban, suburban, and rural settings doing 911 and critical care transports, gaining experience in ground and air transport. And while he’s been around a few different blocks, from New York City, to Long Island, to York, PA, a few times, he’ll never say he’s seen everything. Currently, he is the Central Region Coordinator/Assistant Chief for Wellspan EMS in York, PA.

Gene Giraulo, Paramedic

EMS for 35 years, now a Prehospital Care Coordinator for Allegheny Health Network at Canonsburg Hospital. EMS educator for 25+ years. I still currently work as a Paramedic in the EMS emergency and non-emergency field.

Rebecca Greenstein, MD

Rebecca Greenstein is currently the EMS Medical Director at AHN Wexford Hospital. She attended medical school at The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, completed an Emergency Medicine Residency at Penn State Health and an EMS Fellowship with Allegheny Health Network. In her free time she enjoys hiking and spending time with her two dogs.

Christina Hogg

Christina Hogg works as both a prehospital response medic for Allegheny Health Network, as well as a medic/rescue tech for North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue.

Matthew Horton

With 15 years of service at STAT MedEvac, Matt lives in Shadyside, OH with his wife Jane Anne, and 2 girls Emma and Campbell. Matt started his EMS/Firefighter training in his junior year of High School and has 25 years of experience working in the field. Matt has also been a certified EMS instructor for 11 years. In Matt’s spare time he rescues and rehabilitates hook billed birds in the hopes of them being adopted.

Jonathon W. Jenkins, BS, NRP, CADS, F-ABMDI

Jonathon has been involved in EMS since 2009 and has been a Pennsylvania and Nationally Registered Paramedic since 2015. Jonathon earned a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016 and is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Emergency Medical Services Graduate Program, at Creighton University. Jonathon has formerly served as a Paramedic/Rescue Technician at Baldwin Paramedic Rescue, as well as an EMS Specialist with Excela Health, and is a Board Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator, previously affiliated with the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Jonathon currently serves as the Education and Training Administrator of Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, Inc., in Westmoreland County, and was appointed Program Director of the Mutual Aid-Excela Health Paramedic Training Program in 2021.

William Jenkins, MD, FACEP

Dr. Jenkins has been the EMS Medical Director of Mutual Aid EMS and Independence Health (formerly Excela Health) since 1995. Prior to attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and affiliated emergency medicine residency program, from which he graduated in 1993, Dr. Jenkins was an EMT and paramedic in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. In addition to his medical directorship of Mutual Aid EMS and his role as Director of Emergency Medicine at Independence Health Frick Hospital, Dr. Jenkins serves as the medical director for the Mutual Aid Excela Health Paramedic Training Program, Kecksburg Rescue Squad, the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, and the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team.

Richard Kaufman, MBA, NRP

Rich is the Regional Education Coordinator for EMS West and is an EMS Instructor Trainer and an EVDT instructor. Rich is clinically active with the UPMC Advanced Response Team.

Aleksander Keller, MD

A lifelong Pennsylvanian, Alek was born and raised in the Williamsport area before coming to Pittsburgh for undergraduate and medical training. In undergrad, he obtained his paramedic certification and worked for EMS agencies both in the Pittsburgh area as well as in Williamsport while attending medical school. He currently works as an attending physician at St. Clair Hospital and as medical director for Munhall Area Prehospital Services and Penn Township Ambulance Association.

Kathleen Kern, RN, PHRN, CCRN, CFRN

Sharon Klapec, MD

Dr. Sharon Klapec’s passion for prehospital care began at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Emergency Medicine, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in emergency medicine. She received her MD from Northeast Ohio Medical University then completed residency in Emergency Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital. She recently completed EMS fellowship at Allegheny Health Network. She has 10 years of experience working as a paramedic in the area and is excited to continue her career as the EMS medical director for AHN Forbes Hospital and associate medical director for AHN LifeFlight.

Brian Kosczuk, BA, Paramedic

Brian has been involved in Emergency Medicine since 1998, becoming a Pennsylvania and Nationally Registered Paramedic in 2002. Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Saint Vincent College in 2003 and has held various clinical supervisory roles and educational positions in the EMS field, including Program Director of the Mutual Aid-UPMC-CEM Paramedic Training Consortium. Currently, Brian is the Senior Emergency Medicine Education Specialist at Mutual Aid Ambulance Service, Inc. with roles in advisement, program development, and instruction of the Paramedic, Advanced EMT, EMT and American Heart Association certification programs. Brian was diagnosed with immune mediated necrotizing myositis (IMNM) in 2017, a rare autoimmune disease affecting his muscles. As an active member of The Myositis Association, living with an autoimmune disease has created an opportunity to create awareness and advocacy for rare disease patients and the EMS providers that care for them. Outside of work, Brian is a certified USA Hockey Level 3 coach and serves on the Board of Directors on various committees at Westmoreland Hockey Association.

Brian Dawson Brian started as a volunteer E.M.T. in 1992 and became a professional paramedic in 1994. He earned a B.A.. in Communications from Seton Hill University and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Pittsburgh. Brian would bring over two decades of experience in emergency management as a paramedic and law enforcement officer to the PA Department of Education as the Acting Deputy Secretary of Education for Libraries. In 2015, a cold left him blind and paralyzed from the chest down. After a painstaking three-year diagnostic journey, he was diagnosed with M.O.G.A.D., a rare neuroimmune disease. Through his experiences, he saw firsthand the systemic gaps in healthcare, leading him to advocate for rare disease patients. He serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Rare Disease Advisory Council (P.A.R.D.A.C.) and The Sumaira Foundation, where he dedicates his time and insights to cultivating clinician empathy, improving healthcare access and outcomes, and health literacy.

Vincent LaMantia, MD

Dr. Vincent LaMantia is a third-year emergency medicine resident at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Throughout his residency, Vince has further developed his interest in EMS, and he is set to pursue an EMS fellowship in the coming year. Currently serving as the resident Assistant Medical Director for AHN Life Flight and Critical Care Transport, Vince has a focused interest on resuscitation, airway management, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and eCPR.

Ji Young Lee, MD

Dr. Ji Young Lee is originally from Seoul, South Korea. She completed medical school in Korea before coming to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to do her pediatric residency. She is continuing her training at Children’s and is now in her second year of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship.

Megan Lenz, BS, Paramedic

Megan Lenz is a paramedic and a prehospital business development specialist for Allegheny Health Network. Megan holds a BS in Emergency Medicine from The University of Pittsburgh. Megan has been in EMS since 2004 and has had the opportunity to work in multiple different types of communities.

Danielle Levine, MD

Dr. Danielle Levine was born and raised in central New Jersey. Her interest in EMS began at a young age and led her to her local volunteer first aid squad, where she completed an EMT course in 2003. Since then, she has consistently worked in EMS in both volunteer and paid settings, doing 911 response, routine non emergency transports, and special events. Her EMS experience spans Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brown University in 2009. She then moved for Philadelphia for a career as a high school biology teacher, simultaneously receiving her Masters of Education from Arcadia University. She graduated from Sidney Kimmel Medical College with an MD in 2017. She completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in 2020, followed by a fellowship in EMS at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2021. Dr. Levine currently works as an Emergency Medicine attending physician at ChristianaCare Hospital in Newark, DE. Prior to this, she worked for 3 years at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, collecting maps, and eating blueberries.

Richard Lippert

Rick Lippert is a seasoned Consultant, Emergency Planning Specialist, and Regional Manager at PHMC, with over 25 years of experience in Emergency Preparedness and Safety across healthcare, oil & gas, and general industry sectors. He excels in strategic planning, program development, and critical incident management, particularly in healthcare emergency preparedness. Rick provides expert consultation, enhances response capabilities, ensures compliance with guidelines, and supports training for healthcare systems. Notably, he helped establish India’s first National Disaster Life Support Training Center and co-authored a program recognized by NHTSA for safe child transport in ambulances. Rick’s leadership extends to his roles as a past city councilman, nonprofit director, and active community member.

Rohit Lobo

Rohit Lobo is a senior in high school and has been a certified Emergency Medical Technician for about 2 years now. Spending a lot of time in EMS, he volunteers his time with the Uwchlan Ambulance Corps and is extremely enthusiastic of youth involvement in EMS. Now, he serves as the Battalion Chief for the Uwchlan Ambulance Corps Junior Program, an EMS Related youth group exposing high school students to EMS work and giving them real world medical experience.

Matthew Lovell, MD

Matthew Lovell is currently a critical care fellow at UPMC Pittsburgh. He previously completed an Emergency Medicine Residency. Before becoming a physician, he worked as an EMT/FF for over a decade at various departments in NY and OH. He obtained his master's in medical Physiology from Case Western Reserve University and went on to attend Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, OH. In his free time he enjoys anything outdoors, especially mountain biking, skiing, hiking and spending time with his wife, daughter and dog. He has a special interest in the intersection between prehospital care, emergency medicine and critical care.

Anthony Martin, MBA, NRP

Director, with over two decades of experience as a paramedic, has played a pivotal role in advancing emergency medical services in Pennsylvania. In December 2023, he took the helm as the Director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, demonstrating exceptional leadership and expertise. His dedication to clinical care, quality education, and the well-being of EMS personnel is unparalleled. Director Martin's educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Alvernia University.

Christian Martin-Gill, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAEMS

Dr. Christian Martin-Gill serves as Chief of the Division of EMS, EMS Fellowship Director, and is Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine / UPMC. He also serves as Associate Medical Director of STAT MedEvac and UPMC Prehospital Care.

Alaina Martini, RN

Alaina Martini is a flight nurse at AHN LifeFlight. She entered the air medical transport specialty with a nursing background in critical care and emergency medicine at a high-volume, high acuity tertiary care center. She has a passion for learning and strives to continually improve through further education and evidence-based research. Alaina enjoys the challenge of educating the next generation of healthcare providers and currently serves as an undergraduate clinical instructor.

Elizabeth Mathew

Elizabeth Mathew is a 17 year old senior in high school. She became a certified EMT at the age of 16 and now serves as one of the Battalion Chiefs of the Uwchlan Ambulance Corps Junior Program. In this role, she has taught and shared her experiences with the juniors. She strives to educate and inform the community about EMS and related skills, as well as advocate for youth involvement and interest, as they represent a crucial part of the future of the EMS Workforce.

Tyler McCardell, MD, EMT-IT, NCEE

Tyler McCardell, MD, EMT-IT, NCEE is an EMS Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Tyler completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, serving as Chief Resident and Assistant Medical Director for AHN LifeFlight. His background in EMS includes work as a field provider and Chief at Wakefield EMS, where he was instrumental in expanding Intermediate ALS in rural central Pennsylvania. As a nationally-certified EMS educator, Tyler has taught BLS, ALS, and Instructor level courses. Tyler also maintains active certification as a Firefighter-I and Vehicle Rescue Technician. He resides in Lancaster with his wife, Megan, and chocolate lab, Koda.

Robert McLafferty

Robert McLafferty is a highly experienced professional in the field of emergency services, currently serving as the 911 Coordinator for Butler County Emergency Services. With over three decades in public safety and crisis response, his career spans a range of critical roles, including County Response Team Medic, Flight Medic, Fire Chief, and Trauma Coordinator at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. In addition to his current role, Robert is actively involved as a Paramedic with the Slippery Rock Rescue Team and as a Tactical Paramedic (TEMS Medic) with the County of Butler’s Emergency Services Unit. His contributions extend to shaping emergency response policies as a member of the 911 Advisory Board for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and as a participant in the First Responder Resource Group (FRRG) under the Department of Homeland Security. Robert also plays a key role in training and education, developing curricula for first responders and medical professionals nationwide. Residing in Butler, Pennsylvania, he enjoys a fulfilling personal life with his wonderful wife, two amazing adult children, a very smart German Shepherd, and a joyful Golden Retriever