About | Hale Borealis

Tamika Walker

Program Director

Strategic National Stockpile / Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Tamika Walker is a lead public health advisor and program director for government and private sector engagement in the SNS Office of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Preparedness (OSLTTP), Division of Stakeholder Engagement. Prior to this role, Walker supported the SNS Office of National Readiness and Response in many SNS emergency responses, including hurricane responses, H1N1, and COVID-19. During the activation for the COVID-19 response, Walker was assigned as an SNS Operations Center manager, where she planned and managed staff during the SNS deployment of PPE. Walker was the lead program manager responsible for staff contracted to fulfill vaccine and therapeutic kitting projects. Walker has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from William Carey University, a master’s degree in information systems and project management from the University of Phoenix, and a Project Management Professional certification. Walker is also a United States Air Force veteran.

Alex Sewersky

Aeromedical Evacuation Planner

Office of the Command Surgeon, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command

Major Alexander J. Sewersky is a U.S. Air Force Reserve flight nurse and critical care RN with over a decade of experience, including seven years in aeromedical evacuation and four in critical care. He currently serves as the Aeromedical Evacuation Planner for NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, leading homeland medical response planning for large-scale operations. A decorated officer with multiple deployments, he has also served as a flight nurse instructor, flight nurse evaluator, and medical crew director. His leadership spans both military and civilian healthcare, including critical care roles in cardiovascular, oncology, and bone marrow transplant ICUs.

Bryan Heartsfield

Director

Strategic National Stockpile / Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Bryan Heartsfield has joined the Office of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Preparedness after being the Strategic National Stockpile’s (SNS) Partnership Engagement lead for Supply Chain Alliance and Development. He is responsible for developing strategic partnerships between public health, emergency management, supply chain, and industry partners responding to man-made and emerging infectious disease threats. Prior to joining the SNS, Bryan served as the Deputy Director of Emergency Management, King County, WA, and as the Health Medical and Operations Manager for Seattle and King County Public Health.

Megan Ritter

Medical Director

Blood Bank of Alaska

Dr. Megan Ritter has eleven years of experience as the medical director for the Blood Bank of Alaska, which collects and distributes blood products for the vast majority of the state of Alaska. A board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist for 35 years, with ten years of Air Force active duty service, Dr. Ritter has held various medical director positions in large teaching hospitals in Texas, California, Nevada, and Alaska.
She is also a professor of Medical Education at the Alaska WWAMI medical school through the University of Washington School of Medicine, where she has taught for 13 years and has been recognized for excellence in teaching and mentorship.

Matthew Centeno

Medical Readiness Officer

673 Medical Group, JBERr

Capt. Matthew Centeno is a Air Force Medical Service Corps officer with over 5-years of experience in the military healthcare system. He currently serves as the Deputy Flight Commander for resource management where he oversees a $72M budget enabling care to 22K eligible TRICARE beneficiaries. Prior to his assignment at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, he served as the medical readiness officer and medical emergency manager for Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. During that time, he worked with local and state agencies to develop and execute exercises to include the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS).

Capt Centeno is originally from Alaska and received a direct accession commission in the USAF Medical Service Corps in January 2020. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and is currently pursuing his Project Management Professional certification.

Cassie Prather

Clinical Educator

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Cassie Prather is a Clinical Educator in the Special Pathogens Unit (SPU) at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital in Spokane, WA. Prather’s role includes education to frontline facilities, EMS engagement, competencies and transport capabilities, expanding environmental and clinical capabilities within the SPU and throughout Region 10.

Michael Weissman

Clinical Education Manager

Celox Medical

I am Mike Weissman a 25-year Public Safety Professional / Special Operation Veteran. I have been actively involved in prehospital medicine for close to 40 years in various capacities. I completed 27 years of military service in 2018 (10 active, 17 in the reserves/Guard) as a special operation medic with various Marine and Naval special operation units. In 2020, I retired from the Henderson Nevada Fire Department after 26 years of service where I obtained the rank of Captain. I am a founding member of “First Care Provider.” FCP was one of three DHS recognized programs to stop the bleeding in the US. Currently I work for Celox medical. We manufacture the Celox brand of hemostatic dressings. In my spare time, I continue to work for various entities teaching tactical medicine to military units and federal agencies.

Cory Sathers

Battalion Chief

Mat-Su Borough EMS

I have been a paramedic for 11 years and the fire service for three years before that. I have done prehospital medicine from urban areas, rural Alaska and everything in-between. While most of my experience is in pre-hospital 911, I also have some years of experience in interfacility and critical care. I am passionate about the difference skilled EMS providers can make, and I have made it my goal to elevate my fellow professionals to the highest levels possible.

Frances Robinson

Dispatcher

Anchorage Fire Department

Born and raised in Anchorage, I began my career with the Anchorage Fire Department in 2006. I have served the community as a Dispatcher for the Anchorage Fire Department since 2007. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be part of an innovative and compassionate team.

Gregory Payne

Director, Emergency Department and Disaster Prepardness

Queens Medical Center

I have been a nurse for 16 years and in a leadership role in the emergency department for the past 10 years. As the co-chair of the infectious disease committee and director of patient flow, I helped lead our organization’s COVID response. I am tasked with training and clinical response to disasters, and was present during the New Years Disaster in our incident command.

Jake Miss

Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Director

Providence Alaska Medical Center

After residency, Jake completed Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship training at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California and is currently the director of Ultrasound in the ED at Providence in Anchorage.

Michael Kubler

Emergency Manager

Providence Alaska Medical Center

Michael started his journey in emergency management at 10 years old, running teletype reports to the county Civil Defense manager. Since then, he has prepared for and responded to incidents from Diego Garcia to Iceland. He moved to Alaska in 2020 and works with Providence hospitals in Anchorage, Kodiak, Valdez and Seward.

Heidi Hedberg

Commissioner

Alaska Department of Health

Heidi Hedberg has served in Alaska’s Department of Health since 2009 and became Commissioner in 2022. She previously directed the Division of Public Health, leading through the pandemic, and has over a decade of experience in population health and policy. After moving to Alaska in 1995, she earned a B.A. from Alaska Pacific University. Her expertise includes public health emergency management, healthcare access, and system efficiency. Under her leadership, the Department of Health oversees healthcare services, public assistance, public health, behavioral health, and senior and disability services, promoting the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Alaskans.

Mackenzie Daniels

Readiness and Response Coordinator

Chicago Healthcare Coalition

Mackenzie Daniels is the Readiness and Response Coordinator at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. In this role, she acts as a clinical advisor and liaison between area hospitals and the Chicago Healthcare System Coalition for Preparedness and Response (CHSCPR). Mackenzie collaborates closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and emergency preparedness partners across the city to strengthen hospital and healthcare system readiness.

Prior to her current role, Mackenzie spent eight years as a Charge Nurse at a Level 1 trauma center in St. Louis, Missouri, where she gained extensive experience in emergency care, hospital operations, and crisis response.

KC Booth

Manager of EMS and Disaster Preparedness

Advocate Health

KC Booth, DNP, RN, CNL, is the Manager of EMS and Disaster Preparedness at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and serves as the Regional Hospital Coordinator for Chicago EMS Region 11. KC holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Advanced Public Health from Rush University. As the Regional Hospital Coordinator for EMS Region 11, KC plays a critical role in coordinating efforts between hospitals and EMS agencies across the region. She is a key partner in the Chicago Healthcare Coalition, dedicated to enhancing disaster response capabilities in healthcare and ensuring preparedness for all hazards.

Before returning to Chicago, KC gained international experience, leading mobile clinics, public health initiatives, and hurricane preparedness efforts on the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten. Later, in New York City, she managed healthcare centers co-located in homeless shelters, where she developed emergency preparedness plans inclusive of vulnerable populations.

Sarah Aho

Immunization Program Manager

Alaska Department of Health

Sarah Aho is the Immunization Program Manager at the Alaska Department of Health, Section of Epidemiology. She has a MPH from the University of Washington and worked in cancer diagnostic biotechnology before stepping into the public health world 11 years ago. Within the Immunization Program, she has worked in education and training, COVID vaccine communications, and as IIS Manager.

Jessica Young

Assistant Chief – Training

West Lakes Fire Department

Jess Young, a graduate of the University of Alaska and Assistant Chief from the West Lakes Fire Department, has been working in emergency services in Alaska for over seventeen years. She has held roles as a firefighter, paramedic, instructor, and now training officer. Since 2018 she has been working on the development of training programs designed for firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics to perform at their best in today’s emergency services climate. Her training philosophy is based on the need for trust, accountability, and a desire to serve and reads simply: “Train your people to do their jobs and empower them to excel.”

Donnie Woodyard, Jr

Executive Director

U.S. EMS Compact

Donnie Woodyard, Jr. is the Executive Director of the EMS Compact, leading national efforts to enhance EMS personnel practice across state lines. With 30+ years in EMS, including a decade of international experience in war, disaster, and system development, he has served as State EMS Director in two states and COO of the National Registry of EMTs. Donnie authored two best-selling books on EMS and technology. He holds an AI certificate from Harvard Medical School, is a Naval Postgraduate School Executive Leaders Program graduate, and earned an MA in Leadership & Management. A recognized expert in EMS regulation and practice, he contributes to national policy through the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice. His passion for improving patient outcomes through technology makes him a sought-after speaker and thought leader.

Stephenie Wolf

Lead Dispatcher

Anchorage Fire Department

My husband and I moved to Alaska in 1997 to start a new adventure. We have been fortunate enough to set our roots to raise two healthy children and three adorable grandsons. I started my Telecommunications career with the Anchorage Fire Department 2007, and have proudly served our citizens since. In 2011, I promoted to a Lead position and continue to assist with implementing new processes to improve our Emergency Communications Center. I am very proud to have been a small part with implementing Criteria Based Dispatching that empowers our Telecommicators to use their education and experience to efficiently dispatch responders to calls for service. We embrace the No-No-Go concept!

Clayton Weingartner

HAI Program Manager

Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health

Clayton holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from George Washington University, which he earned in 2020, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, completed in 2009. A lifelong Alaskan, Clayton has been a dedicated member of the Alaska Department of Public Health (DPH) since 2021. Since 2023, he has been in his current role, where he continues to contribute his expertise to public health initiatives in Alaska.

Larissa Unruh

Director of Education and Training

National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

Dr. Unruh serves as the Director of Education and Training at the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health. She has previously worked as an epidemiologist and infection preventionist at PeaceHealth hospital and volunteered as a firefighter with Lane Fire Authority in Eugene, Oregon. She completed her medical degree at Oregon Health and Science University, followed by residency in emergency medicine from Cook County Health in Chicago, Illinois. During her residency, she was competitively elected to serve as chief resident. Dr. Unruh also completed a fellowship in Disaster and Operational Medicine at George Washington University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in honors biology from the University of Oregon and a Master in Public Health in epidemiology from Columbia University.

Kendra Sticka

Executive Director

healthEconnect Alaska

Kendra Sticka, PhD, RDN, is the Executive Director of healthEconnect Alaska, Alaska’s state-designated health information exchange (HIE). In this role, she spearheads the HIE’s strategic growth and operations.

Dr. Sticka has worked in Alaska healthcare for more than 20 years, beginning as a clinical dietitian in hospital, clinical, and private practice settings before transitioning to academics and administration. Prior to joining healthEconnect in 2023, she served as the Associate Dean of Clinical Health Sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Throughout her multifaceted career, Dr. Sticka’s leadership has combined data management, clinical expertise, and community engagement, reflecting her dedication to advancing healthcare and improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities across the state.

Dr. Sticka holds master’s degrees in nutrition and adult education and a PhD in biochemistry and molecular.

Marschall Smith

Executive Director

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission

I am currently the Executive Director for the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission (IMLCC). I started this position in October 2017 after more than 9 years working in health care licensing for the State of Colorado as the Professional Standards Program Manager at the Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Program Director of the Colorado Medical Board.

In 1984, I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

In 2002, I obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Denver.

I enjoy the Colorado lifestyle of hiking and snowboarding with my 4 kids. Hiked up all 14,060 feet of Mount Bierstadt with friends in 2019 – it is my 3rd one – COVID put conquering the remaining 50 on hold. Training and plan to restart with #4 and #5 in 2025 – Grays and Torreys Peaks are first on the list.

Carl Sims

Deputy Program Director

The Council of State Governments

Carl Sims is a Deputy Program Director at The Council of State Governments National Center for Interstate Compacts. Carl provides education, outreach and technical assistance services to state policymakers and professional stakeholders in the development and administration of interstate compacts. Carl earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kentucky Wesleyan College and his Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky’s Martin School.

Terry Simpson

Surgeon

Terry Simpson MD FACS

Dr. Simpson has been a member of the Board of SouthCentral Foundation (SCF) since 2001. SCF took over healthcare from IHS in the late 1990’s and took HEIDIS scores from worst in the nation to first, and is the only healthcare entity to win two Malcolm Baldrige awards, and one of seven companies worldwide to win two awards. Dr. Simpson, in addition to being on the board, is a surgeon and former hospital owner. He has spoken world wide about the system of care from Sweden to New Zealand.

Mikhail Shneyder

Chief Executive Officer

Nightingale Education Group

Dr. Mikhail Shneyder is the founder and CEO of Nightingale Education Group, a mission-driven organization focused on innovative nursing workforce development, from certificate programs to graduate studies to continuing education. From 2012 to 2023, Shneyder served as the 1st President of Nightingale College, a higher learning institution dedicated to closing education equity gaps and expanding geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic access to the profession, creating thousands of new nurses throughout the U.S. A visionary leader and an RN for nearly 30 years, Shneyder has a wealth of management experience in post-secondary education and healthcare services. He is a published academic author, conference speaker, and guest lecturer, specializing in strategy, organization development, systems evolvement and leadership. Shneyder holds an MBA degree from the UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. In 2024, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Nurse Education Leadership and Innovation.

Jenny Shin

Alaska CARES Coordinator

King County Emergency Medical Services

Jenny Shin is the Alaska CARES Coordinator, dedicated to improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival through data-driven strategies and system-wide collaboration. She also serves as the Washington CARES Coordinator and works for King County EMS in Seattle, where she has led initiatives focused on advancing resuscitation practices, workforce development, and health equity in emergency medical services. With extensive experience in pre-hospital research, program management, and strategic planning, Jenny has worked closely with EMS agencies nationwide to implement best practices that enhance patient outcomes over the past decade. She holds an MPH from Case Western Reserve University and is committed to strengthening the EMS system through innovation, research, and education.

Titus Rund

Medical Director, AKARNG SAR/MEDEVAC

Alaska Army National Guard

Dr. Rund is the Medical Director for the Alaska Army National Guard MEDEVAC. He is identifying capability gaps in the delivery of pre-hospital and en-route combat casualty care in arctic or extreme cold environments. He has a program of research and is developing innovative solutions to close these gaps as well as help write requirements for future funding by the Department of Defense.

Darrell Ruby

Regional Coordinator

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Darrell Ruby is the Regional Coordinator for the Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), 1 of 13 in the nation at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital. Darrell has worked as an Emergency Manager for over 20 years at the local, regional, and state level. He’s been an emergency manager within healthcare for 10 years and prior to that worked for Spokane Department of Emergency Management for 11 years. Darrell is co-chair of the National Emerging Training and Education Center (NETEC) Emergency Management workgroup that includes emergency managers across all 13 regional centers focused on special pathogen preparedness, creating educational resources, as well as exercise design and support related to Biopreparedness. Darrell is retired from the Navy with 25 years of both active and reserve service as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer.

Mark Roberts

Chief of Operations

State of Alaska, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Managment

Mark has been serving the State of Alaska Emergency Operations Center for over 17 years, and currently serves as the primary response Incident Commander for all state of Alaska disaster operations.

Jamla Rizek

Active Duty Nurse Officer

Adventures With Nurse Jamla

Jamla has over 15 years of clinical nursing experience in various roles from educator to ED manager to flight nurse. She was part of NDMS DMAT NY-6 where she responded to National Safety and Security Events and disasters. She is a graduate of the Disaster Medicine Fellowship at Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, where she now serves as faculty for the program. She is a published author and was appointed to the executive board of the Journal of Emergency Nursing (JEN) and she is the Section Editor for Disaster Preparedness. She is a deputy editor for the Society of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Journal. She is passionate about integrating cultural competence as it pertains to the delivery of care, especially for vulnerable populations such as refugees and children, and is an advocate for nurses.

She is currently a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) where she works in the Office of the Surgeon General.

Jesus Reyna

Regional Emergency Coordinator, Region 10

HHS/Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

CDR Jesús Reyna is a Commissioned Officer with the U.S. Public Health Service and has been with the Department of Health and Human Services in Region 10 for over 20 years serving as the Medical Reserve Coordinator, Minority Health Consultant, Title 10 reproductive health project officer, and currently with ASPR as a Regional Emergency Coordinator .

In his Commissioned Officer role, CDR Reyna has been deployed to assist with the Ebola crisis in Liberia, the Flint, MI water crisis, the Zika response in Puerto Rico, multiple Unaccompanied Minor Mission a the US/Mexican border, Hurricanes Irma and Maria response.

CDR Reyna holds Sociology and Nursing degrees from the University of Washington, and a Master’s in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner Program from Bradley University.

James Puente

Executive Director

Nurse Licensure Compact Commission

Jim Puente has over 35 years of experience in healthcare and has led the successful Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) as its Director since 2009. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the NLC.

Jim holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, an MS degree in Public Service Management from DePaul University and a Master of Jurisprudence degree in Health Law & Policy from Loyola University School of Law. Jim is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

Over his extensive history addressing regulatory processes and compliance, Jim has developed key expertise related to critical elements for public protection, strategic implementation of licensure compacts, and the need for a strong workforce, enabled by the removal of barriers to cross-border practice. He often shares his wisdom with stakeholders seeking to develop and facilitate effective interstate compacts and is widely known as a leader of education and development for associations and regulators.

Teagan Presler

Lead Behavioral Health Training Coordinator

Alaska Training Cooperative

Teagan Presler, LMSW, CDC has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a Master’s in Social Work through Widener University. Born and raised in Portland, OR, Teagan celebrated her 18th anniversary in Alaska last summer. Teagan has worked in children & family behavioral health services for over 10 years, including supporting residential behavioral health programs for children and adolescents across the state. Additionally, Teagan is a person living in long term, active recovery. She also has experience as a Chemical Dependency Counselor and has worked in an intensive outpatient substance use program.

Teagan has been a professional trainer in the field for 8 years. She enjoys finding new ways to engage participants in trainings and inspiring others to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

Addy Peters

Owner

Forge Facilitation & Training

Trained as a clinical therapist, Addy has almost 30 years’ experience in a variety of behavioral health, public health, and human services settings. For much of the past decade, Addy has focused on organizational training and development, with a particular interest in trauma-informed practices implementation. Passionate about supporting people in finding ways to connect what they learn to their own personal and workplace lives, Addy has an excellent understanding of systems, and of what drives sustainable systems change.

Originally from Hollywood, Ireland, Addy lives in Bethel with her family and 9 hardy chickens.

Price Paramore

Regional Medical Plans Officer, Region 10

National Guard Bureau

Lt Col Paramore currently serves as the Regional Medical Plans Officer (FEMA Region 10) for the Office of the Surgeon General, National Guard Bureau. In the role of RMPO, he serves as the operational arm of the Joint Surgeon in building strategic relationships with civilian, state, and DOD partners in support of the National Response Framework. He trains, advises, assists and plans medical capabilities for the National Guard for domestic response operations.

Andrew Pantiskas

EMS Program Manager

Capital City Fire Rescue

Andrew Pantiskas has dedicated over 15 years to Emergency Medical Services, progressing from EMT to Paramedic and EMS Program Manager. Currently serving with Capital City Fire Rescue in Juneau, Alaska, Andrew brings extensive experience in rural and suburban EMS, with a particular focus on responder safety and the care of pediatric patients. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Paramedicine, he is passionate about improving emergency response practices and advocating for safer operations. Andrew’s dynamic presentations draw from real-world experience, inspiring audiences to prioritize safety and deliver exceptional care across diverse populations.

Janet Orwig

Executive Director

PSYPACT Commission

Janet Orwig, MBA, CAE, has led the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) as its executive director since 2015. In her position, she supports the Compact’s governing body, the PSYPACT Commission. Janet manages the day-to-day operations of PSYPACT, including implementing compact and regulatory compliance. She plays an integral part in developing new services and programs, securing and managing large government grants, and furthering stakeholder relations. Her 29-year career in association management includes experience in customer service, communications, public relations, advocacy, strategic planning and implementation, leadership development, and project and program management. Janet earned her Paralegal Certificate and undergraduate degree from Huntingdon College and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix. She is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

Chris Newton

PI-WRAPEM

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital

Dr. Newton is a pediatric trauma surgeon, and Chair of the surgery department at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland. He is also the PI of the ASPR Funded Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAPEM) and a Co-PI for the HRSA funded Pediatric Pandemic Network.

Annette Newman (Matherly)

Disaster Preparedness Consultant

Utah Hospital Association

Annette is a Disaster Preparedness Consultant with the Utah Hospital Association, Western Region Burn Disaster Coordinator for the American Burn Association, and State Coordinator for the Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAP-EM). She also supports Network Operations for the Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN).

With 35+ years of burn ICU experience, Annette specializes in burn disaster response and healthcare system readiness across local, regional, and national levels. She coordinates burn disaster preparedness in a 13-state region, collaborating with EMS, healthcare facilities, public health, and national organizations to enhance emergency response.

A seasoned speaker and leader, Annette has led grant-funded initiatives, disaster exercises, and national planning efforts. She works closely with the American Burn Association, AHA Emergency Readiness Group, and ASPR TRACIE to strengthen disaster resilience through education, research, and collaboration.

Paul Nelson

Alaskan Command Personnel Recovery/Search & Rescue Program Director

Alaskan Command

I am a retired USAF Pararescueman. I have spent 17 years in Special Operations Command and 18 years as an Alaskan PJ. My current position is the Personnel Recovery/Search and Rescue Director, where I’ve been for 4 years. Prior to that, I was the Director of the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. I have 40 years of experience in Federal, State, and local Search and Rescue, as well as international personnel recovery and hostage rescue operations.

Erin Mullen

Regional Emergency Coordinator

HHS/Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

Dr. Erin Mullen has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of pharmacy practice, public health preparedness, and disaster response. Dr. Mullen’s dedication was sparked by her personal experience with Hurricane Andrew, which inspired her to help ensure continuous care for survivors following disasters.

Currently serving as a Regional Emergency Coordinator with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Dr. Mullen’s past roles include serving National Disaster Medical System reservist, the first Public Health Preparedness Pharmacist for the Florida Department of Health, Sector Chair of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council for Infrastructure Protection, and Chief Executive Officer of the private sector coalition Rx Response, as well as practicing pharmacy in the community setting.

Catherine Anne Morrison

General Surgeon / Trauma Surgeon

Providence Alaska Medical Center & International Committee of the Red Cross

Dr. Morrison is a general surgeon with interest in trauma, public health, and the practice of surgery in rural and underserved areas around the world. Through her work with the ICRC in South Sudan, she gained extensive experience in the triage and management of victims of mass-casualty incidents. She helped to create (and continues to work on) a detailed Mass-Casualty response plan for PAMC.

Marc Moriguchi

Director

Hawaii Healthcare Emergency Management Coalition

Marc Moriguchi has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration/Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management from the University of Hawaii West Oahu. He is a licensed paramedic in the state of Hawaii with 34 years of experience in prehospital care and 14 years as a Federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) member.

Steve Mitchell

Medical Director

Washington Medical Coordination Center/Harborview Medical Center

Dr. Steve Mitchell is a nationally recognized leader in disaster management, healthcare coordination, and emergency medicine. As the founding Medical Director of the Washington Medical Coordination Center (WMCC), he has developed systems to ensure equitable care access, particularly for rural and underserved communities. Since its creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WMCC has managed over 11,000 hospital transfer requests and serves as Washington State’s centralized Medical Operations Coordination Center (MOCC), strengthening healthcare resilience.

Beyond the WMCC, Dr. Mitchell served 13 years as Medical Director of Harborview Medical Center’s Emergency Department and is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington. His expertise in disaster preparedness, emergency operations, and healthcare policy makes him a trusted advisor at state, regional, and national levels.

Tona McGuire

Co-Lead of the Mental Health Focus Group

Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management

Dr. Tona L. McGuire is a pediatric psychologist and Clinical Associate Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at University of Washington, School of Medicine. She has been involved in disaster preparation and response for 18 years locally and internationally, and co-developed the Health Support Team, a disaster behavioral health curriculum and training. Currently, Dr. McGuire is Co- Lead for the Mental Health Focus Group of the Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management (WRAPEM), an ASPR pediatric Center of Excellence and sits on the Mental Health Domain for the Pediatric Pandemic Network. She is Behavioral Health representative for the Disaster Clinical Advisory Committee, as well as the Disaster Medical Advisory Committee, which advises the WA Dept of Health, with the Northwest Healthcare Response Network Healthcare Coalition. Dr. McGuire was Co-Lead for Washington State Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Strike Team during COVID.

Matthew Lyon

Associate Dean of Experiential Learning and Co-Director of the Clinical Ultrasound Fellowship

Augusta University

Matt Lyon, MD, is a Professor of Emergency Medicine and the J. Harold Harrison University Chair for Telehealth. He also serves as the Associate Dean for Experiential Learning, the Director for the MCG Center for Telehealth and Executive Director of the Center for Ultrasound Education for the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Dr. Lyon is the Virtual Care Service Chief for Wellstar MCG Health. He is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering) and of the Medical College of Georgia (MD, 1999). He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in 2003.

Tracey Loscar

Deputy Director

Mat-Su Borough EMS

Tracey Loscar, BA, NRP, is the Deputy Director of EMS for the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough, which spans over 25,000 square miles in Southcentral Alaska. Before heading for the mountains, she spent over 25 years working in Newark, New Jersey, as a ground paramedic, educator, and flight medic. She has over 75 published works, including the columns “When Johnny Met Rosie” and “The Midlife Medic.” She is an inaugural recipient of the 2023 American Ambulance Association’s “EMS Vanguard Award” in recognition of her contributions to prehospital healthcare. She is an author, national speaker, and EMS World Editorial Advisory Board member.

Michael Levy

Medical Director, Rural and Community Health Systems

State of Alaska

Dr. Michael Levy is an EMS physician based in Anchorage, Alaska, dedicated to advancing emergency medical services through education, training, and evidence-based practice. He serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Anchorage Areawide EMS, Medical Director for the Anchorage Fire Department, EMS Medical Director for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and Medical Director for Emergency Programs for the State of Alaska. A Past President of NAEMSP (2021–2022), he has shaped EMS systems from Chicago to the Navajo Nation and spent two decades in Alaska.

Dr. Levy holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and an M.D. from Northwestern University, with board certifications in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and EMS Medicine. He is an Affiliate Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Health Sciences and continues to practice community-based emergency medicine.

Grace Lee

HAI Epi Consultant

Alaska Department of Health

Dr. Grace Lee is a board-certified preventive medicine and public health physician. She has experience leading public health investigations of healthcare-associated infections, including novel, multi-drug resistant organisms.

Niki Knowlton

Behavioral Health Training Coordinator

University of Alaska, Center for Human Development, Alaska Training Cooperative

Niki Knowlton, LCSW, MPH is a Behavioral Health Training Coordinator for the University of Alaska, Center for Human Development, Alaska Training Cooperative. She holds a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health from the University of Alaska, born out of her passion for interrupting Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and building resilience. She holds a clinical social work license in Alaska with clinical experience in a community mental health center working with individuals and families throughout the lifespan. She had the great honor of helping to develop the initial First Episode Psychosis (FEP) program in the state and continues to carry a passion for decreasing stigma around mental health challenges and psychosis. Living in Alaska for over 25 years, she loves long walks with her dogs, a good book with her cats, fishing, beading, and gardening.

Deborah Huang

Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Co-Director of the Clinical Ultrasound Fellowship

Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia

Deborah Huang is a Medical College of Georgia Alumni. Dr. Huang did her pediatric residency at Levine Children’s Hospital/Carolinas Medical Center and went on to do her Pediatric Emergency Fellowship at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children/Orlando Health. Dr. Huang worked briefly at Emory University/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She then returned to Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia and did a Clinical Ultrasound Fellowship. She is now the co-director of the Fellowship.

Michelle Hill

HPP Coordinator

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Michelle has 19 years of experience in numerous aspects of disaster preparedness. She has worked in healthcare, public health, firefighting, and dispatch. She holds a Professional Development Series Certificate from FEMA in Emergency Management and Healthcare Emergency Management Professional HcEM-P™ from AHEPP. Michelle is a founding team member for the State of Nebraska EMS Crisis Standards of Care and the State of Nebraska Critical Access Hospital Crisis Standards of Care and has presented her work at various national conferences. She oversees the Nebraska Hospital Preparedness Program, including the six state healthcare coalitions. Michelle is part of the State of Nebraska’s Emergency Preparedness Response Unit and recently served on the Medical Emergency Operations Center command team to address the surge of patients in hospitals with COVID-19/RSV/flu, including pediatric patients.

Keith Hansen

Director, Center for Preparedness & Emergency Response Solutions

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Keith is an instructor in the Emergency Preparedness Program and directs the Center for Preparedness & Emergency Response Solutions (CPERS) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health. He has conducted strategic and tactical planning, education, training, and disaster drills/exercises for Fortune 500 companies, higher education, government, local and state public health departments, hospitals, emergency management agencies, and first responders. Keith also serves as an Incident Commander for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

He also co-founded the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals in 2014 and currently co-directs this international organization dedicated to the needs of healthcare emergency managers. AHEPP is dedicated to “Moving Preparedness Forward” through the development of professional standards, certifications, education, and training for healthcare emergency managers.

Peter Gregory

Senior Director, Cyber GRC (Retired)

GCI

Peter H. Gregory is a career technologist and cybersecurity leader. He started in software engineering and later pivoted to systems, network, and security engineering. He recently retired from his final position as Senior Director of GRC at GCI Communications, where he was responsible for cyber risk, policy, controls, privacy, resilience, AI governance, and third-party risk management. He is the author of about 50 cybersecurity books, including Solaris Security, CISSP For Dummies, CISM All-In-One Exam Guide, The Art of Writing Technical Books, and Chromebook for Dummies. Gregory serves on advisory boards for professional cybersecurity education at the University of Washington and Seattle University. He is a former member of the Forbes Technology Council and a member of CyberEdBoard, InfraGard, and the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association. He resides in Central Washington.

Heather Gorman

Food and Nutrition Manager

Salem Health

Heather Gorman is an industry leading Food and Nutrition Manager with over 23 years of leadership experience. Heather has a background in nursing, exercise science and health. However, life events led Heather to move into leadership and she has been transforming food service ever since. Heather currently leads a team of 180 food service workers, 18 registered dietitians and 6 supervisors at both Salem and West Valley Hospitals. Salem Hospital is a level II trauma center in the heart of Oregon’s capital city. With 644 licensed beds and the busiest Emergency Room in the State. West Valley is a critical access 25 bed rural hospital that serves isolated communities east of Salem. Salem and West Valley Hospital thrive by using Lean principles to improve patient outcomes. Some of which have driven leaders like Heather to look beyond the bedside to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities she serves.

Anne Garner

Operations Administrator/Medicolegal Investigator 4

State of Alaska Medical Examiner Office

Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science from Seattle University and has over ten years of experience in investigations, specifically medicolegal death investigations. She has been a registered diplomat with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators for most of her career. Anne has been the Operations Administrator for the State Medical Examiner Office for the past four years and oversees their Mass Fatality Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan.

Jeffrey Freeman

Director and Special Assistant to the President

National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

Dr. Jeffrey D. Freeman serves as Director and Special Assistant to the President for the United States National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health. In this role, Dr. Freeman leads the National Joint Disaster Medicine and Public Health research, education, and training program for all executive departments. Dr. Freeman came to the National Center from MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he worked in the Biotechnology and Human Systems Division Office. Prior to MIT, Dr. Freeman served in the senior leadership of the Health Mission of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Throughout his career, Dr. Freeman has led hundreds of scientists in responding to violent conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics, and other health emergencies. In addition to the National Center, Dr. Freeman is jointly appointed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Military and Emergency Medicine at the Uniformed Services University.

Clifford Ellingson

Pediatric ED Medical Director

Providence Alaska Medical Center

I attended Brigham Young University, where I met my wife and began an incredible journey together. I went on to complete medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, followed by training in both Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Arizona. During this time, my wife and I welcomed five wonderful children into our lives. For the past eight years, we have called Alaska home. I currently work in the Emergency Department at PAMC and serve as the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Medical Director. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and exploring the outdoors with my family. I am deeply passionate about pediatric medicine and love working with children.

Mary Eckart

Clinical Engagement Specialist

healthEconnect Alaska

Mary is a practicing Physician Assistant in the Mat-Su Valley since 2013 and formerly, a paramedic in the Fairbanks Area. Seeing the ongoing difficulty sending and accessing patient health records every day in the clinic led to her current role with healthEconnect.

As a child, Mary’s family followed a seasonal lifestyle, alternating between Bristol Bay and the small communities of McCarthy and Salcha. Mary truly appreciates the unique challenges of delivering integrated health care to Alaska’s vast network of remote communities.

Dylan Davey

Trauma Surgeon/Surgical Intensivist

Queens Medical Center

Dr. Davey was born and raised on the East Coast and has worked in hospitals in Connecticut, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Oklahoma, and Hawaii. She was a front-line physician during the Route 91 Music Festival mass casualty incident in Las Vegas in 2017 and in the New Year’s Eve fireworks mass casualty incident in Honolulu in 2025. She is joining us to share her experiences in the initial triage, operative management, and critical care of multiple patients in a mass casualty/resource-constrained situation, as well as her insights into the persistent and challenging sequelae these incidents can have on individual providers as well as health care systems.

Travis Cruse

Vice President of Clinical Operations & Education

LifeMed Alaska

Travis Cruse is the Vice President of Clinical Operations & Education for LifeMed Alaska. A paramedic and a RN, Travis has been caring for and transporting patients for 25 years. Travis has extensive experience in 911, IFT, rotor and fixed wing EMS operations as well as working as an RN in ER and ICU and flight environments. Travis is passionate about education and EMS training and has taught at the agency, hospital college and university level.

Dan Caufield

Arizona FCC Coordinator (Retired)

USAF IDMT (Retired)

Dan Caufield is a seasoned healthcare leader with a robust background in emergency management and military medicine. He recently served as the Area Emergency Manager in Arizona, overseeing two Federal Coordinating Centers before retiring from public service. His career began at Mass General Hospital, followed by enlistment in the U.S. Air Force in 1979, where he worked in ICU and ER settings. His military service included critical medical evacuations during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he played a key role in establishing capitated care contracts for Tricare Prime Overseas in Asia.

After retiring, Dan transitioned to civilian roles, including health facilities surveyor in Alaska and administrative officer with the VA in Tucson, ultimately becoming the COO for the Montana VA Healthcare System. He received his Fellow designation with the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dan is dedicated to enhancing healthcare delivery and fostering professional collaboration.

Joseph Catalino

ICMOP Lead, Office of the Command Surgeon

U.S. Northern Command

Colonel Joseph Catalino Jr. is the Reserve Deputy Command Surgeon, United States Transportation Command, where he leads a 43-person joint team providing expeditious patient movement supporting all combatant commands in the DoD’s 24/7/365-day worldwide patient movement for inter-theater movement of our injured and ill.

Col Catalino is currently on active duty at NORAD and United States Northern Command where he is the lead planner for the Integrated Continental United States Medical Operations Plan for the Office of the Command Surgeon. Col Catalino commanded the 439th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, and the 919th Special Operations Medical Squadron, Duke Field, Florida.

Elisha Brownson

Trauma Medical Director

Alaska Native Medical Center

Dr. Elisha Brownson grew up in Alaska and now practices as a general surgeon at Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) in Anchorage, Alaska. She is the Trauma Medical Director at ANMC, which is a Level II Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center. She completed her general surgery residency at Boston Medical Center as well as a surgical critical care fellowship, focusing on trauma and burn care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Brownson is involved in the care of traumatic and thermal injuries throughout the state of Alaska. She currently is the Alaska State Chair for the Committee on Trauma. She keeps very busy outside of the hospital as she and her husband raise three active boys and twin toddler girls.

John Boston

Alaska Medicaid Medical Director, State Air Surgeon, Alaska Air National Guard

Alaska Department of Health

Dr. John Boston is an experienced Internal Medicine physician with over 20 years of practice in Alaska. He has served in the Air National Guard for over 25 years, completing more than 150 combat missions and credited with over 50 saves across four deployments including Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the former Chief of Staff at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and served as the Chair of its Board of Trustees for 10 years. Currently, he is the State Air Surgeon for the Alaska Air National Guard, part-time hospitalist at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and the full time Medicaid Medical Director for the state of Alaska.

Jamison Bascom

Medical Emergency Manager

673 Medical Group, JBER

2d Lt Bascom is the Medical Emergency Manager responsible for all Home Station Medical Readiness (HSMR) teams. She ensures readiness and a timely, effective response to various medical emergencies including, but not limited to, CBRN threats, pandemics, and natural disasters. 2d Lt Bascom commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer in 2024, after enlisting in 2015. Her background enables her to lead medical response efforts with a blend of operational and healthcare expertise.

Charlene Barber

EMS Training Coordinator

Mat-Su Borough EMS

Charlene Barber, BHA, NRP, serves as the EMS Training Coordinator for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in Southcentral Alaska. A 30-year veteran of the industry, she brings extensive experience in field operations, clinical education, and dispatch communications. Originally from the East Coast, Charlene has a deep passion for EMS education. A respected state and national speaker, she has spent the past three years dedicated to training some of the finest rural EMS providers in the country.

Rosa Avila

Deputy Chief, Health Analytics and Vital Records

Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health

Dr. Rosa Avila is the Deputy Chief of Health Analytics and Vital Records at the Division of Public Health. With nearly 20 years of experience in public health, she holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of South Florida and a Doctorate in Health Services from the University of Washington. Dr. Avila has extensive expertise in coding, generating health measures, and disseminating public health data through presentations, publications, data portals, and visualization platforms. Since 2018, she has overseen three key data systems: the Vital Statistics, Health Facility Data Reporting, and the Alaska Cancer Registry. Her leadership was instrumental in the establishment of the COVID-19 Data Dissemination Task Force, which developed systems for reporting real-time COVID-19 data during the pandemic response.

Christa Arguinchona

Manager, Special Pathogens

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital

Christa is the Manager for the Special Pathogens Program at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital (PSHMC&CH), the Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Center (RESPTC). Her responsibilities include maintaining internal operational readiness for the special pathogens unit and being a resource for special pathogens preparedness for healthcare partners in region 10. These efforts include collaboration with community, regional, national, and international partners to increase readiness for the next known or emerging pathogen outbreak.

Christa has her Master’s and Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is certified in Critical Care. She has over 30 years of critical care experience and 9 years of experience in special pathogens preparedness. She is a subject matter expert for the National Emerging Training and Education Center (NETEC) and leads a Biocontainment Unit Leadership workgroup across the RESPTC network.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE