2025 Speakers List

Ahmed Saeed, MD a PGY-3 Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where I am actively involved in prehospital care initiatives and resident education. I bring a strong commitment to innovation, teamwork, and advancing patient outcomes in both prehospital and ER

Antonio Ottaviani is the Vice President and Honor Guard Commander for The For Paul Foundation, as well as a Critical Care Paramedic with eight years of experience in EMS. He holds a degree in Emergency Management and is Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) certified.

Antonio is deeply committed to service, leadership, and preserving the traditions of EMS, both through his clinical work and his role in honoring fallen providers. His work reflects a dedication to excellence, professionalism, and the values that define the EMS community.

Ashley holds the dual roles of a licensed veterinary technician and hospital manager at Auburn University Veterinary Specialists, boasting a comprehensive background with a bachelor's degree in animal health technology. With an impressive 20-year journey, Ashley's expertise spans across various species

Austin D. Coar is a Lieutenant Firefighter Paramedic for the City of Birmingham. Lieutenant Coar operates in multiple capacities within Birmingham Fire and Rescue (BFRS). He serves as the Paramedic Lead Instructor and Clinical Coordinator for the BFRS Emergency Medical Service Education Institute.

Bob Matoba, M.Ed., EMT-P, has made it his mission to educate clinicians, rather than technicians. Bob’s career has spanned many aspects of the EMS profession, first as an EMT for a private ambulance company, all the way to the EMS Chief for a fire department.

Brent Dierking is an experienced EMS Administrator with over 43 years experience in the field of EMS. He currently works as a Director with NorthStar EMS providing administrative oversight, strategic planning and serves as the Executive Director for NorthStar Industrial EMS and Fire Services.

Brett Kelly is a seasoned paramedic, career EMS manager, and director of a service, with a passion for leadership and a knack for keeping things running—on the clock and at home. Born and raised in South Detroit, he “took the midnight train going anywhere” and landed here, building a career that blends hands-on care with high-level coordination.

Known as a cot wrangler, problem-solver, and team builder, Brett balances his professional life with being a proud dad of two and partner to his wife—all while keeping his sense of humor fully intact.

Caleb Curtis is a proud father, lucky husband, and dedicated healthcare professional with over 22 years of frontline experience in emergency and critical care. His diverse background includes quality management and improvement, air and ground critical care transport, emergency and ICU nursing, and firefighting.

Today, Caleb serves as Global Medical Response’s inaugural National Critical Care Quality Manager, where he leads initiatives to elevate clinical excellence, safety, and outcomes across the organization’s national footprint. Known for his leadership, clinical expertise, and commitment to continuous improvement, Caleb bridges bedside experience with system-level strategy to enhance care for the most critically ill and injured patients.

Chris Glasgow’s path to medicine began with personal struggle and redemption. After overcoming addiction and multiple setbacks, he committed to recovery and reignited his dream of becoming a doctor. With the support of his wife, Bonnie, he returned to school, earned his degrees, and was accepted into the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine. There, he served as class president, volunteered at the Jackson Free Clinic, and was honored with the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award for his compassion, resilience, and servant leadership.

Christian Greengrass, BSN, RN, EMT-P, FP-C, is a flight nurse and data manager with 18 years in EMS. He integrates AI and data tools to improve EMS operations, education, and documentation. He is pursuing a DNP-PhD focused on training methods for transport clinicians.

Clinton Blades began his EMS career in 2005 as an EMT Basic and advanced to Paramedic in 2008. By 2010, he earned his Critical Care Paramedic certification and has since dedicated his career to ground operations. In 2014, Clinton transitioned into a supervisory role, bringing leadership and frontline experience to his team

Cody Spaulding, better known online as “The Salty Paramedic,” is a firefighter/paramedic based in Kentucky who has become a recognizable voice in the first responder community. With a career rooted in emergency services, Cody has built an online platform that blends sharp humor, real-world insight, and raw honesty to connect with fellow responders and educate the public.

Through The Salty Paramedic, Cody uses satire and storytelling to shed light on the realities of EMS, including the challenges, frustrations, and emotional toll of the job. Beyond the laughs, his mission is deeply rooted in mental health advocacy, aiming to break the stigma and open up critical conversations within fire, EMS, and public safety circles.

Whether on a call or behind the screen, Cody is committed to supporting his peers, building community, and reminding everyone that even in the toughest moments—it’s okay to talk about it.

Colton Holmes is a Flight Paramedic based in North Alabama, serving across multiple ground Critical Care Transport (CCT) teams and with Regional Air Medical Services (RAMS) in Jasper, AL. In addition to his prehospital and transport roles, Colton is a valued team member on a pediatric dental anesthesia team operating out of Trussville, where he supports safe sedation practices for pediatric patients.

With a passion for critical care and multidisciplinary collaboration, Colton brings clinical versatility and composure to every environment he works in—from helicopters and ambulances to operating rooms.

He currently resides in Cullman County with his wife of four years, Chloe, and their one-year-old son, Noah, who inspires his daily commitment to patient care and family-centered service.

Dr. Ferguson has more than 30 years in Emergency Care and education. He is currently director of the office of EMS at UAB Emergency Medicine and oversees the medical student, resident, and fellow EMS training. He serves as the BREMSS medical director along with other ground and air programs.

Eric Pendley has worked in EMS in Alabama for 30 years. He began as an EMT and now is the COO at Regional Paramedical Services. Mr.Pendley has served on board the Alabama Association of Ambulance Services board for the last 6 years and lobbying to pass several bills that has enhanced EMS in AL.

Dr. M. Eric Williams is the Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Sciences at Jones College and is also part of the EMS filming group, Hot Scenes Productions. In addition to speaking at numerous conferences each year, Eric is also a researcher, syndicated columnist, and IHeartRadio studio gues

Greg Tubbs has over 34 years of experience in emergency response, beginning his career as a volunteer and expanding across multiple sectors—including private ambulance services, offshore medical support, and industrial emergency response. His diverse background reflects a lifelong commitment to delivering respectful, high-quality care in a wide range of challenging environments. Known for his steady presence and deep field experience, Greg continues to advocate for professionalism, empathy, and excellence in all aspects of emergency services.

Haris Shekhani, MD, MBID is a physician and biomedical engineer with over six years of dedicated research in manual ventilation. His work has centered on evaluating the performance of more than 5,000 providers, with a focus on training quality, human factors, and advancing patient safety. Dr. Shekhani brings a unique blend of clinical insight and engineering expertise to develop innovative, evidence-based strategies that improve ventilation practices in emergency and critical care settings.

Jamie Pafford‑Gresham is the President & CEO of Pafford Medical Services and the 2025–2026 President of the American Ambulance Association. A lifelong EMS professional, she leads a multi-state operation providing ground and air ambulance services, 9-1-1 response, and emergency communications.

Under her leadership, Pafford has grown to over 1,400 employees and 200 ambulances, serving rural, urban, and disaster-response settings. Jamie is a national advocate for EMS, especially in rural communities, and chairs the AAA’s Government Affairs Committee. She continues the legacy of her family’s 1967-founded company and has earned industry honors, including the NAEMT EMS Career Service of the Year award.

Jana Williams is the President & CEO of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) and has more than 30 years’ experience in the EMS, incident management, and air medical communities. She is faculty at MTLI and LIFT and is passionate about EMS safety and responder support.

Jerome Lovelady is a Regional Manager of Patient Safety with over 25 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services. His career spans ground and air transport, fire service, industrial emergency response, and clinical education, giving him a well-rounded perspective on safety in high-risk environments.

Jerome is known for his commitment to building safer systems for both patients and providers, blending frontline experience with proactive leadership in safety culture and risk mitigation. His passion for safety is deeply personal—driven by his role as a husband to his wife, Heidi, and father to their 17-year-old son, Landon.

Jonathan Baker is a dedicated paramedic and seasoned EMS Training Division Chief with over 15 years of experience in Emergency Medical Services. Throughout his career, he has combined clinical excellence with a passion for education, working to elevate the standards of patient care and provider preparedness.

As a committed educator, Jonathan’s mission is clear: to prepare yesterday’s and today’s clinicians for the challenges of tomorrow. He leads with a forward-thinking approach to EMS training, ensuring that emergency providers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary for modern prehospital care.

Jonathan Powell is a paramedic and epidemiologist at ImageTrend. He is a former National Registry Research Fellow and is completing his Doctoral degree in Epidemiology at THE Ohio State University. He is a published author discussing EMS workforce dynamics, clinical care, and education.

Josh Bankston is a Flight Paramedic/Nurse and Emergency Nurse Practitioner with over 19 years in EMS and 6 years as an NP. He has been instrumental in helping a large healthcare system implement point-of-care ultrasound, bringing advanced diagnostics to prehospital and critical care teams. With a strong background in both paramedicine and emergency nursing, Josh is passionate about advancing clinical care in high-acuity settings.

Judy Fuller is an experienced emergency nurse with over 24 years of service at Children’s of Alabama, one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals. She spent 22 years as a dedicated staff nurse in the Emergency Department and now serves as one of the department's clinical educators, supporting staff development, onboarding, and evidence-based practice in a fast-paced pediatric trauma environment.

Judy holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). In addition to her work at Children’s, she serves as a substitute school nurse and clinical educator for LifeFlow, contributing to advanced resuscitation and hemodynamic support training.

Her career reflects a deep commitment to pediatric emergency care, clinical education, and lifelong learning.

Dr. Kimberly Parker is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Capstone College of Nursing at UA. She teaches the seniors in the undergraduate program and DNP students and she is passionate on leadership and bridging the gap between EMS prehospital care and the seniors as they transition to practice.

Kim Stanley is a respected authority in EMS billing, compliance, and federal reimbursement policy. Since joining EMS|MC in 2003, she has played a leading role in helping EMS agencies nationwide navigate the complex regulatory environment around billing and revenue.

Prior to her work at EMS|MC, Kim served as an EMS Liaison with Medicare, where she developed reimbursement policies at both the carrier and federal levels.

She continues to contribute actively to state and national committees and advisory groups that shape EMS policy.

Kim is frequently invited to speak at EMS conferences, bringing clarity to topics like Medicare regulations, compliant billing practices, and revenue cycle management. She holds CAC certification from the NAAC.

Krystal Burch is a Provider Network Consultant for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. She has worked with BCBS since 2022 and specializes in behavioral health, lab, dialysis and ambulance. Prior to joining BCBS she was a Clinical Network Manager for the BCBS behavioral health partner, Lucet.

Laura Ehrhart is the Education & Outreach Program Manager for the Alabama 911 Board, bringing over 25 years of experience in public safety telecommunications. In her role, she oversees Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) certification, the Alabama Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) program, statewide training and public education, and coordinates the annual Alabama 911 User Conference.

Laura is passionate about empowering 911 professionals across the state through education, collaboration, and continued professional development.

Life and Sirens Podcast is a landing zone for casual EMS education—hosted by Sophie Fuller, Aubrey Lukis, and Jaime Wesley. With expertise in flight, leadership, and field training, they bring real-world insight and candid conversation to the evolving world of emergency medical services.

Lora Ham is the Quality Improvement RN for Obstetric Initiatives at the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative at UAB's School of Public Health. She provides 1-on-1 QI coaching and resources to hospitals in Alabama to improve maternal outcomes. She is pursuing an Executive DNP at UAB.

Matthew Panepento is a Lieutenant with Trussville Fire & Rescue in the EMS and Training division and a paramedic instructor at Jefferson State. With a background in cardiac care, EMS leadership, and QA/QI, he’s dedicated to building strong providers, teams, and communities through education.

Michael Frakes is the Chief Quality Officer & Director of Clinical Care at Boston MedFlight, where he leads clinical systems and quality improvement for a critical care transport service covering New England.

Originally from Nebraska, he began his career in EMS and holds degrees in Nursing (BS, Johns Hopkins; MS, University of Connecticut), as well as a BA in Economics and Political Science (University of Kansas).

He is certified in healthcare quality, patient safety, holds a Six Sigma Black Belt, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Mike Smith has been dedicated to EMS since 1986, bringing a wealth of experience across a variety of roles. After 27 years of service as the EMS Coordinator with the City of Grandview Heights, Ohio, Division of Fire, Mike retired from active duty. He currently serves Lead Paramedic Instructor, OhioHealth.

Michelle Kline, MSN, RN, NREMT-P, is a flight nurse with over 20 years of experience in EMS
and the creator of Fit for Flight, a program focused on building mental resilience, strong nutrition
habits, and physical readiness for prehospital clinicians. Passionate about changing the culture
of EMS

Paul W. Kirby, MD is EMS Fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His clinical and academic interests include prehospital care, EMS system development, and disaster preparedness. He is passionate about optimizing emergency response systems and enhancing the role of EMS.

Richard Pike is an experienced EMS professional with 25 years of service and 17 years as an EMT and paramedic educator. He holds a Doctorate in Health Science, a Master’s degree in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University.

Richard carries multiple International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC), including Critical Care Paramedic (CCP), Community Paramedic (CP), Flight Paramedic (FP), and Tactical Paramedic (TP). He is also a retired Army medic (68W) with multiple combat deployments, bringing invaluable operational expertise to his teaching and leadership roles

Shane Driver brings over 30 years of experience in EMS and more than 20 years as an educator, blending real-world insight with engaging, thought-provoking educational sessions. As the leader of Emergency Services Education & Consulting, Shane is dedicated to advancing EMS through high-quality training that challenges traditional thinking and inspires professional growth. In addition to teaching, he remains active in the field, continuing to care for critically ill and injured patients.

Dr. Shea Duerring is an associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at UAB. He also serves as the Assistant State EMS Medical Director for Pediatrics at the Alabama OEMS, the Medical Director for Alabama EMS for Children, and medical director for several fire departments.

Steve White is a thirty year public safety veteran, EMS Chief, and national presenter on leadership and performance improvement. Chief White has worked in private, 3rd service and fire based EMS departments at the field and command levels. He currently serves as an EMS Chief for Lifeguard Ambulance.

Steven is an experienced paramedic with 24 years of experience in pre-hospital medicine, including 18 years as a paramedic. He currently serves as the EMS Operations Chief for Jeffersontown Fire & EMS in suburban Louisville, Kentucky. He is known as a passionate educator, clinician, and leader.

Tanner Stewart is a Flight Nurse with PHI Air Medical, bringing a strong clinical foundation from his background in cardiac intensive care. He has been flying with PHI for the past four years, delivering high-acuity care in the air with a focus on safety, precision, and compassion. Tanner's critical care expertise and dedication to patient outcomes make him a trusted provider in the air medical field.

Deputy Chief Terence Sheehy brings over 27 years of experience in fire, EMS, and technical rescue to his role as Deputy Chief of Operations for Dare County EMS in North Carolina. Born in Washington, D.C., Terence found his calling in emergency services shortly after relocating to North Carolina at the age of 17, where he began his journey by earning both his EMT and firefighter certifications.

Throughout his distinguished career, Terence has served in a variety of frontline and leadership roles, gaining extensive experience in high-acuity emergency response, technical rescue operations, and team development. As Deputy Chief, he now oversees operational readiness, personnel, and system performance, with a focus on safety, excellence, and community service.

A lifelong learner and leader, Terence is committed to mentoring the next generation of responders while continuing to advance the mission of Dare County EMS.

Dr. Travis Goodloe is an emergency medicine and EMS physician based in Mobile, Alabama. He serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of South Alabama, where he oversees all EMS-related activities within the department. Dr. Goodloe combines clinical expertise with academic leadership to advance emergency medical services education, research, and patient car

Dr. Tyler Sullivan is a current Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and has matched into the UAB EMS Fellowship for 2025. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2022 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Delta State University, where he graduated Cum Laude.

Passionate about prehospital care and systems-based emergency response, Dr. Sullivan is preparing to further specialize in EMS medicine to advance the delivery of critical care beyond the hospital walls.