Board of Directors

• Bruce Evans, President (2021-2022)

  

  Bruce Evans, MPA, CFO, NRP, SPO is the Fire Chief at the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District. He arrived in La Plata County after serving as the EMS Chief and as an Assistant Chief at the North Las Vegas Fire Department in Southern Nevada. He had served at the Henderson (NV) Fire Department for 18 years as a fire and EMS captain.

  Chief Evans is an NFPA Fire Instructor III and served as a college faculty member at the College of Southern Nevada's Fire Technology program teaching various fire and EMS topics for 21 years. He has over 38 years' experience in a variety of EMS settings and is the 2010 recipient of the International Association of Fire Chiefs James O Page award for Leadership in EMS. He was awarded the 2014 NAEMT Presidential Leadership Award. Chief Evans is NAEMT's representative to the NFPA(r) 2400, Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Used for Public Safety Operations. He holds a Master's degree in Public Administration, Bachelor's degree in Education, and Associates in Fire Management.

  Chief Evans has an appointment to the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine's Preparedness Committee. He is completed a six-year appointment on the Colorado Governor's State EMS and Trauma Advisory Committee. He is a certified faculty for the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics training program and instructor at the National Emergency Training Center authoring several courses in emergency response and incident management. Evans co-authored several textbooks, Crew Resource Management with Jones & Bartlett Learning, Management of EMS and EMS Research and Quality Management with Prentice Hall, IFSTA's Structural Series High-Rise Firefighting. He is one of the authors of the NAEMT EMS Safety Course and the NAEMT Principles of Ethics and Personal Leadership (PEPL) Course. Chief Evans is a contributor to the EMS Column in Firehouse Magazine and cases in the Journal of EMS (JEMS). Chief Evans is part of the LaPlata County Suicide Prevention Coalition and served on the SW Colorado Child Fatality Review Team.
  
  

• Susan Bailey, President-elect (2021-2022)

  

  Susan Bailey is the Director of the Louisiana Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and part-time faculty at Columbia Southern University. She has been active in the EMS Industry since 1990 with experience in both the rural and urban setting. She is the Chair of the Commission on Accreditation of Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) Board of Directors and serves as a curriculum and site reviewer, and is a member of the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) and the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA).

  A lifetime NAEMT member, Susan serves as Vice-Chair of NAEMT’s Advocacy Committee and is Chair of the Disaster Preparedness Committee. She is also on the Finance Committee. In 2014, she was awarded the NASCO/NAEMT Paramedic of the Year Award, and 2016 she was awarded an NAEMT Education Service Award for innovation in delivering NAEMT education programs to rural areas. Susan is a lifetime member of the Louisiana Association of National Registered EMTs (LANREMT). LANREMT awarded her the Instructor of the Year Award in 1999, a Presidential Meritorious Award in 2013, and an Outstanding Achievement award in 2018.

  Passionate about the EMS Industry, Susan strives to bring positive attention to the work that EMS Practitioners do. She encourages EMS practitioners to expand their knowledge to grow with an ever-changing scope of practice within the EMS industry. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Susan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Southeastern Louisiana University where she graduated magna cum laude, and earned Master’s Degree in Emergency Management from Millersville University in Pennsylvania.
  
  

• Chris Way, Treasurer, (2021-2022)

  Christopher Way has been an emergency service professional for 28 years. Chief Way transitioned to Kootenai County Fire and Rescue as the Fire Chief in May of 2020 after serving as the Chief Officer for the Kootenai Count EMS System for the previous seven years.

  Chief Way came to Idaho from Kansas where he served in Fire and EMS roles in urban, sub-urban and rural settings. He was an EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and now has been a licensed paramedic since 1994 as well as a certified Firefighter. Throughout his career he has held different ranks culminating most recently in his promotion to Fire Chief.  He also has significant experience in disaster management at the local, state and national level.

  In addition to his full-time role as Fire Chief he is involved at the local, regional, state and national level in advocacy and leadership for emergency services.  He is the Treasurer for the National EMT Association and has served on their board and committees for several years.  He is a regular speaker at national conferences and in his spare time Chief Way and two partners own an Emergency Medicine education and consulting company. 

  Passionate about emergency medical care, Governor Brad Little selected Chief Way to be the Chairman of the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency Council in May of 2019. He has a bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Relations and maintains all of his Fire and EMS licenses/certifications.  He regularly donates time to his community, serves local non-profit organizations and is involved in his children’s many activities. Christopher and his wife Jennifer live in Hayden, Idaho with their two daughters and four Labradors.

  
  

• Troy Tuke, Secretary (2021-2022)

  

  Chief Troy Tuke, BSN, began his EMS career after obtaining his Paramedic and RN degrees from Brigham Young University-Idaho in 1989. He worked full time as an RN and Paramedic specializing in Critical Care/Trauma and Flight Nursing, before joining the Clark County Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 1996. He was promoted through the ranks of fire engineer, EMS Coordinator and Assistant Chief-EMS until his retirement from CCFD in 2019. Troy just received his BSN from Chamberlain University and now works as the Program Director for the MountainView Hospital Paramedic Institute.

  Troy deployed to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as a medical specialist for the Nevada Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team. He maintains his RN and National Registry Paramedic certification and licensure, and is an EMS Master Instructor and Paramedic Preceptor. He also chairs the NAEMT Advocacy Committee.

  Troy is married to his sweetheart of 32 years, Debbie, and has two daughters Brittany and Rylie. Brittany is married to Travis and they have son named Ben who is the first grandchild. Troy loves the spending time with his family, the outdoors, and especially golf when he has a chance to tee it up.
  
  

• Matt Zavadsky, Immediate Past President (2021-2022)

  Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, NREMT, is the Chief Transformation Officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth, Texas. He has helped guide the implementation of several innovative programs with healthcare partners that have transformed MedStar fully as a Mobile Integrated Healthcare provider, including high utilizer, readmission reduction, observational admission reduction, hospice revocation avoidance, 9-1-1 nurse triage and partnerships with home health agencies.

  Matt also chairs the NAEMT EMS Economics Committee and is the co-author of the book “Mobile Integrated Healthcare—Approach to Implementation” published by Jones & Bartlett Publishing. He has a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, with a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Data Management.

  Matt is also adjunct faculty for the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Department of Health Management and Policy, as well as an appointed committee member to the Joint Commission’s Home Care Professional and Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC) and the Lewin Group’s Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (HOQR) Program Stroke and AMI Expert Work Group, developing metrics for use in value-based purchasing measures for emergency departments.
  
  

• Steven Kroll, Director, Region I (2022-2023)

  

  Steven Kroll, MHA, EMT, is the executive director and volunteer chief of Delmar-Bethlehem EMS in Albany County, New York. He is also the chief delivery officer at UCM Digital Health, a telehealth triage, treatment and navigation medical practice. Kroll guided the development of UCM’s EMS treat-in-place telemedicine program.

  In addition to his work in prehospital care, he’s the chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Cobleskill Regional Hospital in Schoharie County, New York. 

  Kroll holds a Master of Health Administration from Duke University and has extensive experience in healthcare policy, advocacy and operations. Prior roles include serving as the executive director of The Arc New York, the state’s largest developmental disability services organization; vice president of governmental affairs at the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS); and a health staffer for the U.S. Senate.

  Kroll is a member and past chair of his state’s Emergency Medical Service Council. He is also NAEMT’s Advocacy Coordinator for New York and a member of the NAEMT Advocacy Committee. In 2018, he was recognized as the NAEMT/Braun Industries EMT of the Year.

   

• Jon Politis, Director, Region 1 (2022)

  Jon is a proven and respected emergency services leader and educator. Starting in college in 1971, he has served in many capacities... EMT, firefighter, ski patroller, paramedic, paramedic program director, state EMS official (VT and NY), EMS Chief and Fire Chief.

  He has a reputation of integrity and solid leadership in both career and volunteer organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of the National Registry of EMTs, Committee on Accreditation for the EMS Professions, been co-investigator of original research and authored numerous articles and texts. In 1989 he lead the Town of Colonie, NY to consolidate the Town’s six Rescue Squads into a single municipal EMS department.

  He served as the Chief of the Town of Colonie EMS Department from 1989 to 2010 when he retired. During his tenure as Chief, Colonie EMS won two national awards, two regional awards and the New York State EMS service of the year award. In retirement he served as the interim director of a community ambulance service and led them through a consolidation effort with a neighboring agency. He has also served as the Chief of his community volunteer fire department. He is a highly sought after educator and has presented at many local and national conferences across the US and Canada

  He holds a BA degree from Castleton State College and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Marist College, Pougkeepsie, NY. In 2010 he was the recipient of the NAEMT Rocco V Morando EMS Lifetime Achievement Award.

  
  

• Juan C. Cardona, Director, Region II (2022-2023)

  

  Juan C. Cardona, MPA, NRP, is a 28-year veteran of the fire service and EMS. He has served at the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department in Florida for the last 24 years, starting as a firefighter-paramedic. For the past 12 years, he has been division chief in charge of EMS and the fire department’s community health initiatives.

  Cardona has a bachelors’ degree in professional management from Nova South Eastern University and a Master of Public Administration from Barry University. He holds the Chief EMS Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and a State of Florida Fire Service Instructor 3 Certification. Cardona is a well-known international speaker and presenter who travels regularly and collaborates to improve Fire and EMS in several Latin American countries and around the world. He serves on NAEMT’s Lighthouse Leadership Committee and received an NAEMT Presidential Leadership Award.

   

• Melissa McNally, Director, Region II (2021-2022)

  

  Melissa McNally, MMSC, BCEM PA-C, NRP, is a nationally certified physician assistant who is board certified in emergency medicine. She is also a nationally registered paramedic with over 27 years of experience in prehospital and emergency medicine. She practices clinically in emergency medicine and operates Central Florida Emergency Education Consultants (CFEEC), which provides continuing education content for EMS and other healthcare professionals as well as consultant services for mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine (MIH-CP) education and service programs. 

  Melissa brings leadership experience as a medical practitioner and educator in the field of MIH and has provided clinical oversight to Florida’s largest MIH program, Evolution Health, which managed the population health of over 60,000 Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients across Florida. She currently serves on the Florida Association of EMS Educators Board of Directors, and on the Access to Care Committee of the Florida Bureau of EMS. 

  Melissa served on NAEMT’s EMS Transformation Committee, and is on the Community Paramedicine course author team. She also serves as the assistant advocacy coordinator and membership coordinator for NAEMT in Florida.
  
  

• David Edgar, Director, Region III (2022-2023)

  David Edgar, MHA, CCP, is the assistant chief of EMS for the City of West Des Moines, Iowa. West Des Moines EMS operates as a public-private partnership between the city and a local hospital system. Edgar started his career as a volunteer with the department in 1986 and is starting his 35^th year in EMS. He obtained his Master of Healthcare Administration in 1999.

  Edgar is a member of the Iowa Department of Public Health’s Highly Infectious Disease Committee, the FEMA Region 7 EMS workgroup, Iowa EMS for Children Committee, the regional implementation committee for Pulsara, Metro STEMI and Stroke Committee, and is the EMS representative for the Des Moines Metro Emergency Departments Committee. In addition, he also serves on the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Committee. Edgar was recognized as the Iowa Career Paramedic of the Year in 2000. He was the recipient of a 2013 JEMS EMS 10 Innovators in EMS Award, AAA Star of Life Award, and an NAEMT Presidential Leadership Award.

   

• Garrett Hedeen, Director, Region III (2021-2022)

  Garrett Hedeen, MHA, Paramedic is Manager of EMS for Indiana University Health Bloomington EMS. He previously served as EMS Safety Officer for Indianapolis EMS, as well as a field training officer (FTO) and adjunct educator. As an Indiana certified primary instructor, Garrett has taught many different EMS disciplines both clinical and operational. 

  He has been an EMS advocate in many forms and was awarded the 2017 NAEMT EMS Advocate of the Year Award. He served as EMS Union President for an IAFF local and has served on the Board of the Indiana EMS Association in numerous positions over the years. Currently, he is the board representative for Hospital Based providers and previously served as Secretary, Regional Director, and legislative chair. 

  Garrett's passion is EMS safety. He is a NAEMT EMS Safety instructor and is currently assisting with development of the 3rd Edition of the NAEMT EMS Safety course. He serves on the NAEMT EMS Workforce committee, previously serving as chairman, and is the NAEMT representative on the NFPA Emergency Responder Occupational Health Technical Committee. Garrett is enrolled at Indiana State University in the Master of Science of Occupational Health and Safety program. He is also an Eagle Scout.

  
  

• Karen Larsen, Director, Region IV (2022-2023)

  

  Karen L. Larsen, DNP, MSN, APRN, ENP-C, NP-C, CFRN, CEN, CPEN, FP-C, NRP, has more than three decades of healthcare experience with an extensive background in prehospital medical care and emergency nursing. She is a Nurse Practitioner for both St. Luke Hospital & Living Center and StatCare of Kansas, and has over 15 years of experience as a Flight Nurse/Education Specialist for LifeSave Transport, all in Kansas. She also volunteers as a paramedic for Marion County EMS.

  Karen holds numerous certifications, is Board Certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is a Kansas Certified Paramedic. She is a member of several professional associations including ASTNA, ENA, KEMTA, KEMSA, ABMDI, and is an Affiliate Faculty member for NAEMT & AHA. Karen serves on the education committee for NAEMT as well as representing NAEMT on the IBSC Board. 

  Karen has received many awards, including a KEMTA’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) Attendant of the Year award and Lyle Eckert award, as well as NAEMT’s education award for Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS). She earned her Doctorate of Nursing from Chatham University in Pennsylvania, Master’s in Nursing-FNP from Graceland University in Missouri, Bachelor’s in Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau Cum Laude, from Southwestern College, and Paramedic certification from Midwest Academy of Pre-Hospital Sciences in Kansas.  

  
  

• Macara Trusty, Director, Region IV (2021-2022)

  Macara Trusty, MS, is a paramedic and manager of project management for Global Medical Response South Region in Arlington, Texas. She has been involved in EMS for over 25 years, has over 23 years of EMS teaching experience, and more than 14 years of EMS leadership experience. During her EMS career, she has worked as a dispatcher, an EMT, a field paramedic and on an Advanced Practice Paramedic team. Before joining Global Medical Response, she was education and community programs manager for MedStar Mobile Healthcare in Fort Worth.

  Macara serves as the chair of the EMS Education Committee for the Texas Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC). She has led collaborative and cross-functional teams toward innovative solutions that improve the quality of clinical education and training in Texas. She also serves as the NAEMT Education Coordinator for Texas, and is a member of the NAEMT Education Committee. She has experience working in both rural and urban environments.

  She has been married to her husband, Paul, for over 22 years and has two daughters. She holds a bachelor of science in business management, a master of science in management and leadership, and is currently working toward her doctorate in strategic leadership. She also holds several certifications such as Project+, SHRM-SCP, Just Culture Champion, and others.
  
  

• Maria Beermann-Foat, At-Large Director (2022-2023)

  Maria Beermann-Foat, Ph.D., MBA, NRP, has over 20 years of prehospital emergency care experience in privately-owned, hospital-based and county government-based emergency services.
  
  Beermann-Foat is the EMS Training Coordinator for the Eugene Springfield Fire Department in Oregon. She recently retired as a battalion chief of operations for MED-ACT Emergency Medical Services, after 22 years of service to the community of Johnson County, Kansas. Since joining the department in 1999 as a paramedic, she moved up the ranks in the roles of community education officer/PIO, captain/field training officer, battalion chief of training, and division chief of quality management.

  She earned her MBA from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a Ph.D. in Organization Management from Capella University. She serves on NAEMT’s EMS Workforce Committee.

   

  
  

• Allison G. S. Knox, At-Large Director (2021-2022)

  

  Allison G. S. Knox is an EMT and interdisciplinary social scientist with a focus in EMS and emergency management policy. She serves as an Intermittent Emergency Management Specialist with the Department of Health and Human Services. She also teaches political science at Marist College and Western Connecticut State University, and Emergency Management and Fire Science at the American Military University and Eastern Kentucky University. Passionate about EMS policy issues, she often writes about these issues as a contributing editor for Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM) Digest/the Edge. 

  Previously, Knox worked for Congressman Christopher Shays in Washington, D.C., and in the Emergency Department of Hartford Hospital, a level one-trauma center in Hartford, Connecticut. Currently, she serves as chancellor of the Southeast Region of the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society, and is the chair of the Leadership Development Program for the 2021 Pi Gamma Mu Triennial Convention. She holds multiple graduate degrees. Her work has been published in the International Social Science Review, Domestic Preparedness Journal, EMS1.com and the IAEM Bulletin. 

  Additionally, she served as secretary of the Board of Directors for the International Public Safety Association; chair of the International Public Safety Association Tactical Emergency Medical Support Committee; and served as NAEMT advocacy coordinator for Virginia for four years. She looks forward to continuing the conversation about innovative EMS-related policies.

  
  

• Douglas F. Kupas, MD, EMT-P, FAEMS, FACEP, Medical Director

  Dr. Kupas is medical director for Geisinger EMS and co-director of Mobile Integrated Healthcare for Geisinger Health System, his professional home for the past 30 years. He is an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) physician, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Resuscitologist and the EMS Medical Director for the State of Pennsylvania for the past 20 years. A board-certified emergency physician subspecializing in EMS, Dr. Kupas is an avid researcher and passionate advocate for EMS practitioner and patient safety. His clinical interests include CPR, hypothermia, end-of-life care, EMS patient and practitioner safety and EMS airway management.

  Dr. Kupas’s EMS career began 40 years ago when he joined Lower Kiski Ambulance Services in Leechburg, PA, on his 16^th birthday as a volunteer. He later became a paramedic and a physician. He earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. Dr. Kupas serves as the Director of the Resuscitation Program at Geisinger,  He is a member of many local, state and national organizations and has numerous honors, awards and publications to his credit, including development of an anonymous patient safety event reporting system that became the EVENT reporting system. In 2020, Dr. Kupas received the Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award from NAEMT and NREMT.