EMS1.com Editorial Advisory Board

The Editorial Advisory Board, comprised of some of the foremost experts in prehospital care, will work closely with EMS1 editors and columnists to provide expert review of content and ensure that the sites' quality and breadth of coverage of EMS issues continues to expand and improve. The board members will focus on the accuracy and utility of crucial information and resources made available to EMTs and paramedics across EMS1’s network of sites, as well as providing insight into trends of note for expanded coverage efforts.

Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, MBA, NRP

Battalion chief, MED-ACT-Emergency Medical Services

Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, MBA, NRP, is battalion chief of operations for MED-ACT-Emergency Medical Services. She is also a course developer and instructor for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland – operated by FEMA. Dr. Beermann-Foat received the 2019 Emerging Leader Award, during the Pinnacle EMS Leadership conference, from Fitch & Associates. She holds a six sigma green belt certification.

Chris Cebollero

EMS leader, author, paramedic and advocate

Chris Cebollero is a nationally recognized Emergency Medical Services leader, author, and advocate. Chris is a member of the John Maxwell Team and available for speaking, coaching and mentoring. Currently Chris is the president/CEO for Cebollero & Associates, a medical consulting firm, assisting organizations in meeting the challenges of tomorrow.

Catherine R. Counts, PhD, MHA

Health Services Researcher

Catherine R. Counts is a health services researcher with Seattle Medic One in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She received both her PhD and MHA from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Counts has research interests in domestic healthcare policy, quality, patient safety, organizational theory and culture, and pre-hospital emergency medicine. She is a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians. In her free time, she trains her dog Bruno.

Ann Marie Farina, BS

Founder, All Hazards Wellness

Ann Marie Farina is a mental health advocate and educator with deep ties to the first responder community. She currently operates All-Hazards Wellness, a mental wellness company based on the emergency management principles of preparation, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. From 2014 to 2020, she ran The Code Green Campaign, a first responder oriented non-profit organization focused on mental wellness in the workplace.

Between 2003 and 2016, Ann Marie worked as a paramedic and EMS educator in a variety of settings in Alaska and Washington. Ann Marie holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from Central Washington University along with an Associate's of Applied Science in Paramedicine from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She can be reached at me@annmariefarina.com

Gustavo Flores, MD, BSC, EMT-P

Director at Emergency & Critical Care Trainings LLC, physician, flight medic

Dr. Gustavo Flores is a physician and paramedic from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has been involved in EMS for more than 15 years as a provider and educator. Gustavo is very active in EMS education. He is the director for his consulting firm Emergency & Critical Care Trainings LLC. He is a BLS, ACLS, ACLS-EP and PALS instructor as well as training center faculty and regional faculty for the American Heart Association. He also sits on the AHA’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee’s Educational Science and Programs Subcommittee at the national level. He is also a PHTLS, TCCC, EPC and AMLS Instructor for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). As part of NAEMT, he is an advocacy coordinator and member of the Advocacy Committee. On the clinical side, Gustavo is an air medical crew member of a fixed-wing, air medical transport company.

Michael Fraley, BS, BA, NRP

Paramedic, regional trauma advisory council coordinator, public safety diver

Michael Fraley has over 25 years of experience in EMS in a wide range of roles, including flight paramedic, EMS coordinator, service director and educator. Fraley began his career in EMS while earning a bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University. He also earned a BA in business administration from Lakeland College. When not working as a paramedic or the coordinator of a regional trauma advisory council, Michael serves as a public safety diver and SCUBA instructor in northern Wisconsin.

David Givot, ESQ.

Defense attorney

David Givot, Esq., graduated from the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care in 1989 and spent most of the next decade working as a paramedic responding to 911 in Glendale, Calif., with the fire department. By the end of 1998, he was traveling around the country working with distressed EMS agencies teaching improved field provider performance through better communication and leadership practices. David then moved into the position of director of operations for the largest ambulance provider in Maryland. Now, back in Los Angeles, he has earned his law degree and is a practicing defense attorney still looking to the future of EMS. In addition to defending EMS providers, both on the job and off, he has created TheLegalGuardian.com as a vital step toward improving the state of EMS through information and education designed to protect EMS professionals - and agencies - nationwide.

Kelly Grayson, NREMT-P, CCEMT-P

Paramedic, author, educator

Kelly Grayson is a critical care paramedic in Louisiana. He has spent the past 18 years as a field paramedic, critical care transport paramedic, field supervisor and educator. He is a former president of the Louisiana EMS Instructor Society and board member of the La. Association of Nationally Registered EMTs. He is a frequent EMS conference speaker and contributor to various EMS training texts. He is the author of the popular blog A Day In the Life of an Ambulance Driver.

Art Hsieh, MA, NREMT-P

Program director, Paramedic Academy, Santa Rosa Junior College, paramedic

Art Hsieh currently teaches at the Public Safety Training Center, Santa Rosa Junior College in the Emergency Care Program. Since 1982, Art has worked as a line medic and chief officer in the private, third service and fire-based EMS. He has directed both primary and EMS continuing education programs. Art is a textbook author, has presented at conferences nationwide, and continues to provide patient care at an EMS service in Northern California.

Kris Kaull, BS, NRP, FP-C

Chief marketing officer for Pulsara, EMS1 co-founder, flight paramedic

Kris Kaull has driven innovation and positive change in EMS for over 26 years. Kris is a national speaker, writer and entrepreneur. In 1999, he started Paramedic.com and then in 2007 co-founded EMS1.com. Currently, Kris is the chief marketing officer for Pulsara, an evidence-based, mobile health startup. He has worked as a firefighter captain, paramedic and ambulance service director, and continues his practice as a critical care flight paramedic.

Rob Lawrence

Communications Committee chair, American Ambulance Association

Rob Lawrence is the principal of Robert Lawrence Consulting. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Paramedics Plus in Alameda County, California, and as COO of the Richmond Ambulance Authority. Rob is a graduate of the UK's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served worldwide in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He is a former board member of the American Ambulance Association and currently serves as chair of its Communications Committee and a member of the media rapid response task force.

Dan Limmer

Co-founder, Limmer Creative, paramedic

Dan Limmer is a paramedic, educator and police officer who has been involved in public safety for more than 35 years. He has authored more than a dozen EMS textbooks including the Emergency Care textbook and is a frequent international conference speaker. He is the Chief Pass-ologist at Limmer Creative, a company he co-founded to publish high quality study and test prep programs.

Casey Patrick, MD, FAEMS

Emergency and EMS physician

Dr. Casey Patrick is medical director for Harris County ESD11 Mobile Healthcare and assistant medical director for the Montgomery County Hospital District EMS service in Greater Houston, where he helped develop and produces the MCHD Paramedic Podcast. Dr. Patrick is board certified in both Emergency and EMS Medicine and works as a community emergency physician in multiple states. Additionally, he is an active member of the Texas NAEMSP State chapter and the national association as well.

Listen for more from Dr. Casey Patrick

Emily Pearce, BS, EMT-P, FAWM, DiMM

Paramedic, medical student

Emily Pearce is a paramedic and third-year medical student in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Emily has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and has been involved in EMS since 2008. She has worked as an EMT-Basic in rural Virginia, a search and rescue paramedic for the National Park Service in Grand Canyon National Park, and a prehospital educator and researcher in New Mexico.

Ernesto M. Rodriguez, MA, LP

Chief, Austin-Travis County EMS

Ernesto M. Rodriguez is EMS chief, Austin-Travis County EMS. He has a master’s degree from Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia; and a BAAS in Emergency Management Administration from West Texas A&M University.

Dr. David Tan, MD, EMT-T, FAEMS

President, National Association of EMS Physicians

Dr. David K. Tan is associate professor and chief of EMS in the division of emergency medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He is double board-certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS Medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Tan remains very active in EMS at the local, state and national levels as an operational medical director for local police, fire and EMS agencies. He is chairman of the Metropolitan St. Louis Emergency Transport Oversight Commission, vice-chairman of the Missouri State Advisory Council on EMS, and president of the National Association of EMS Physicians. He also provides medical direction to EMS1.com and the EMS1 Academy.

Nicole M. Volpi, PhD, NREMT

EMS regional coordinator

Nicole M. Volpi has experience in emergency medical services, law enforcement, military/civilian disaster response, and disaster management research. She currently works full-time for the City of Westwego Emergency Medical Services and volunteers for the City of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services VIGOR program. She serves as one of the Louisiana Department of Health Region One EMS designated regional coordinators. She has a PhD from Capella University in Public Safety/Emergency Management, and a master's degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration from Loyola University in New Orleans.