SPEAKERS

Hurricane Michael brought devastation to western Florida. From a total loss of communications to transportation and supply issues, the hurricane’s impact continues to this day. This lecture will discuss how one large health system leveraged its size and capabilities to respond to the disaster to support their healthcare facilities, patients, communities, and associates. Using a “corporate community approach”, they were able to provide medical services immediately after the disaster, while two other hospitals remained closed. The lessons learned can be beneficial to coalitions and communities in future disasters. 

Scott Cormier – Medxcel - Vice President of Emergency Management 

Mr. Scott Cormier serves as Vice-President, Emergency Management, EC, and Safety, for Medxcel, a part of Ascension Healthcare. In this capacity, he oversees Emergency Management, Environment of Care, and Safety for the largest nonprofit health system in the United States. Scott has led large system response to many disasters, and has published articles on hospital preparedness, emergency medical services, and influenza patient safety. Scott is a past co-chair of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council, a part of the federal critical infrastructure program, and currently serves as a past officer advisor. He also chairs their subcommittee for healthcare active shooter planning and response, which publishes guidance on how to prevent, plan for, respond to, and recover from an active shooter event that occurs in a healthcare setting. He has over 38 years of emergency management, public safety, and military experience.  

Is your agency prepared to respond to a deadly nerve agent attack? This session is designed to increase knowledge and awareness of North Carolina's CHEMPACK program. Participants will gain a better understanding of how the CHEMPACK program operates, where CHEMPACK assets are located, and the expected roles and responsibilities of local jurisdictions before and during a CHEMPACK response. Don't let your agency be unprepared!

Tim Davis – NC PHP&R – Eastern Region 

Tim Davis currently serves as the Eastern Region Pharmacist for North Carolina Public Health Preparedness and Response providing medical countermeasure and preparedness planning assistance to Local Health Departments in Eastern North Carolina. A 2007 graduate of Rutgers University, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Tim is also one of only 350 Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacists in the country. Prior to joining PHP&R, he spent 7 years working for an independent nuclear pharmacy, compounding radiopharmaceuticals for major hospitals and clinics in the greater NYC metro area. Outside of work, Tim is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and three sons. 

On December 7, 2019, Grady Health System in Atlanta was flooded when a 24 inch, pressurized, water line ruptured in a mechanical space between the 6th and 7th floors. Six in-patient units (185) patients had to be immediately evacuated and 220 rooms were destroyed. Grady is the only ACS verified Level I Trauma Center, Burn Center, Stroke Center in the city of Atlanta and had to go on Total Diversion, accepting no patients from EMS for several days, meaning the other hospitals in the city were seeing a significant increase in volume, which ultimately lead the Governor to declare a State of Emergency.  We will look at managing a surge from an internal event, impacts from a flooding event, facility evacuation challenges and communication expectations from outside partners and the reality of what they will get. 

Lori Wood – Grady Health System - Director of Emergency Management

Lori is the Director of Emergency Management for Grady Health System in Atlanta and is the Metro Atlanta Healthcare Coalition lead. Responsibilities include regulatory compliance, plan and policy development, drills and exercises, and collaboration with local, state, and Federal partners for large events such as the NCAA Championship, Super Bowl LIII, and the annual Peachtree Road Race, the largest 10K in the world with 60,000 runners. Lori also serves as an independent consultant to Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Emergency and Disaster Management Division. She holds a Master of Science in Emergency Management from Jacksonville State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. Prior to her role at Grady Health System, Lori was a firefighter/paramedic/HazMat Tech for more than 20 years. 

This presentation will look at various considerations for pre-hospital providers that are providing transport to serious infectious disease for their state response.

Aaron Jamison – Valkyries Austere Medical Solutions – Owner

Aaron’s distinguished military career encompasses over 20 years with the U.S. Army and Army National Guard. After 23 years of service, Aaron retired as a Sergeant First Class.  Aaron’s career started as a critical care and tactical paramedic for NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit, moving into a position with Grady Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Medical Services. While working for Grady EMS, Aaron co-founded and served as the commander of the Special Operations Team for over 10 years providing tactical medical support for the Atlanta Police Department’s Swat Team.  Aaron was also one of the designers of the Biosafety Transport Team for Grady EMS which supports Emory Hospital in Atlanta, as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC), with the transport of patients with serious communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and Ebola. Aaron's team was the first in the United States to transport a confirmed case of Ebola successfully, as well as several other confirmed cases.

Workplace violence is a serious threat for all healthcare organizations that requires proactive steps to prevent and mitigate risks associated with violence. A situation involving an individual who has or is threatening to use a firearm and may be moving from one location to another on a hospital campus requires a specific response. It is important to review lessons learned from previous events as well as leading practices from other events in the country. Appropriate training, exercising, and continuous assessment of your policy is paramount. Participation in a unified command structure during (simulated or live) active shooter/hostile events with all responders allows the hospital to blend with the integrated team.

Lisa Terry – Healthcare for Allied Universal Security  

Lisa Terry, CHPA, CPP has significant experience in healthcare security and police management. Lisa currently serves as the Vice President, Vertical Markets – Healthcare for Allied Universal Security. Prior to that she served as Director of Hospital Police and Transportation at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Lisa has served as the Chief of Campus Police and Public Safety with WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Chief of Police and Public Safety with Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. As a former president and an active member of IAHSS, and as the current Senior Regional Vice President of the industry leading organization ASIS International, Lisa has been fortunate to collaborate with some of the country’s greatest minds in healthcare, security, and policing. She shares her knowledge, strategies, and lessons learned for successfully preventing and mitigating violence in her books: “Preventing Violence in the Emergency Department” and “The Active Shooter Response Toolkit for Healthcare Workers.”  

This program discusses the importance of recognizing, understanding, and communicating with individuals with cognitive disabilities. Including how first responders can best interact with this community during an emergency. This program was developed by people with cognitive disabilities, as well as their families.  Topics will focus on recognition of cognitive disabilities, communication skills when encountering individuals with cognitive disabilities, their expectations and needs, perceptions and myths of both Down Syndrome and Autism Special circumstances first responders may encounter. 

Todd Edwards  –  Fire Life Training Associates & Breaking Barriers - Owner 

Captain Todd Edwards (Ret) has over 36 years of fire service experience. Starting at 16 years old for a small combination department in Ohio, Captain Edwards spent more than 30 years with the city of Atlanta, serving in a variety of positions and divisions, including Assistant Fire Chief. Although retired, Captain Edwards remains the lead instructor / coordinator for Atlanta’s Officer Development Program. Captain Edwards works as an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy and teaches/speaks for numerous conferences and departments throughout the country. Captain Edwards has written numerous training programs utilized by several departments, specializing in department-based curriculum for training and fire ground operations. Captain Edwards also owns and operates Fire-Life Training Associates, along with Breaking Barriers which specializes in disabilities awareness training for both first responders and fire safety for families with children that have special needs.  

This presentation will include an introduction of what the ESRD Network is and the role towards emergency management for our ESRD patients. In addition, we will talk about real life situations that are unique for these patients and need to be considered at different levels of the healthcare and emergency management teams (for example evacuation, shelter placing, transportation, etc.) Attendees will learn how to prepare for and respond to individuals with ESRD and needed dialysis treatments during an emergency. 

Alexandra Cruz – IPRO – ESRD Network of the South Atlantic 

Alexandra Cruz is a Quality Improvement Coordinator at the ESRD Network of the South Atlantic that covers the states of NC, SC and GA. During emergencies, Alexandra acts as the Liaison Officer to assure that patients in need of dialysis experience continued care. She also assures the communication between dialysis providers, KCER, CMS, ASPER, among others. 

A basic overview of radiological hazards for the emergency responder. We will discuss various radiological events, precautions, and protections, with a goal to dispel some of the myths and fear surrounding radiation and contamination. Topics will include types of radiological incidents, radiological dose consequences, different ways to protect against over exposure to radiation, and identifying contamination controls to limit the spread of radiological contamination. 

Eric White – Duke Energy - Fleet Emergency Preparedness 

Eric White has been an employee of Duke Energy (formally CP&L, and Progress Energy) for over 20 years. Now out of the corporate office in Charlotte, Eric Started his nuclear career at the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Brunswick County. Prior to his start in nuclear power, Eric was a firefighter, and continued as a volunteer firefighter while working at Brunswick. Now part of the Emergency Preparedness department in Charlotte, Eric supports a fleet of 6 nuclear power plants, helping to ensure the production of clean, safe reliable energy, while helping to protect the health and safety of the public. 

This presentation will provide the history of ASF, details of the progression of the disease since August 2018 when it was first identified in China, the impact of the disease, the threat to North America with the continued spread of the disease and our Nation's efforts to prepare for and respond to outbreak of ASF.  Participants will learn the history of the disease, clinical manifestations of the disease, spread of disease in recent 1 & 1/2 years, and preparedness efforts in North America to prevent introduction of the disease.

Douglas Meckes, D.V.M. – NCDA&CS 

Douglas Meckes currently serves as the Commissioner of Agriculture’s lead subject matter expert on all animal health issues. He designs and administers programs that monitor and protect the state’s livestock, poultry, and equine industries as well as other species of interest. His work is done in coordination with the USDA, APHIS, and Veterinary Services’ district office on the administration of federal cooperative agreement programs and funding.

In October 2017, northern California experienced the deadly “North Bay” wildfires, killing 22 persons and destroying over 7,000 residential homes, quickly becoming the most destructive complex of wildfires in California history. In November 2018, history was made again with the onslaught of the “Camp Fire” in Paradise, California. This catastrophic, wind-driven wildfire killed 85 persons, destroyed over 15,000 residential homes and displaced thousands of citizens. This educational and engaging presentation will cover the California local, regional and state-level Medical and Public Health response to these two major disasters, focusing on successes, lessons-learned and long-term recovery.

Kelly Coleman – California EMS Authority – Plans & Training Unit Manager, Disaster Medical Services 

Kelly Coleman is currently the Manager of the Plans and Training Unit under Disaster Medical Services at the California EMS Authority. He also served as the Regional Disaster Medical Health Specialist (RDMHS) for California Region II between March 2013 to September 2018. Kelly got his start in EMS in 2001, and became a Paramedic in 2004, working full-time in Fresno and Contra Costa counties and promoting to Operations Supervisor and Ambulance Strike Team Leader in 2010. Since entering government service in 2013, Kelly has helped to coordinate medical and health response to several large disasters, including the 2013 Asiana Airbus crash at SFO, the 2014 South Napa 6.0 Earthquake, the 2015 Valley Fire, the 2017 North Bay Fires, and the recent catastrophic 2018 Camp Fire. Kelly completed his bachelor’s degree at California State University, Sacramento and his Associates of Science in Paramedics at American River College. 

Disasters are often fraught with loss; mental health needs are often "sidelined" in order to focus on the preservation of life and property. This presentation explores the impacts of disaster on mental health, from a variety of perspectives; from those who have pre-existing mental health issues, those who have experienced loss and upheaval due to the disaster, and those who are enlisted to respond to the overwhelming needs of the affected community. To conclude, resources and possible solutions will be discussed, in efforts to improve preparation for future disaster responses, with regard to mental health needs. 

Kelly Warren – LifeQuest, Inc.

Kelly Warren has been a Qualified Professional at LifeQuest, Inc. Psychosocial Rehabilitation, in Washington, NC for the past 6 years. She has been working with the adult MH population for the past 13 years. She also works as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Beaufort County.

This presentation aims to disseminate environmental infection control and hazard recognition education and training aimed at workers who may be at risk of exposure including emergency responders, front line healthcare facilities, and workers in public health workplaces. Current infection control guidelines will be discussed as well as an overview of timely emerging infections including: 2019-nCov, SARS, MERS, Ebola virus disease, seasonal influenza and novel influenza viruses.

Michael Carr – Emory University

Michael J. Carr, MD is Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Section of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine at Emory University. He began a career in biochemistry and molecular genetics working on mutations of various cell signaling proteins. He later transitioned to healthcare and began medical school at St. Georges University School of Medicine. Dr. Carr completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.  He subsequently completed a one-year fellowship in EMS and Disaster Medicine at the same location.  During fellowship, Dr. Carr was Deputy Medical Director of MONOC EMS the largest ALS system in New Jersey. He served as a tactical physician for the New Jersey State Police TEAMS (SWAT) Unit. In addition to responding on the road as an EMS physician, Dr. Carr was actively involved in air ambulance patient transportation.  He logged hundreds of hours in the air with critically ill patients, transporting to numerous countries all over North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Currently, Dr. Carr is the Medical Director of Dekalb County Fire Rescue in Atlanta, GA. He also acts as Associate Medical Director of Air Life Georgia, overseeing six helicopter bases in the Atlanta metro area. Dr. Carr also remains active in fixed-wing air ambulance transport. Dr. Carr is an instructor for NETEC (National Ebola Training and Education Center) and travels around the country educating EMS and hospital systems on Biosafety Transport of patients with serious communicable illness. He works clinically in the Emergency Department at Emory University Hospital.

This presentation will review the international response to the Bahamas following landfall of Hurricane Dorian, the most powerful hurricane on record to strike the Bahamas, and the worst natural disaster in the country's history. Discussion will dive into the complexities of management and coordination across an island nation, including situational awareness, medical needs data collection, clinical care resource deployment, community-based outreach, and the transition to short term recovery.

Ryann Bresnahan – International Medical Corps

Ryann is the Training & Operations Officer for International Medical Corps' Emergency Response Unit. She coordinates recovery program activities, working closely with state and local ESF8 partners following impact on resiliency projects and training. She also supports response activities, most recently following Hurricane Dorian in Florida and the Bahamas. Before joining International Medical Corps, Ryann worked for the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health’s Emergency Preparedness Research, Evaluations and Practice (EPREP) Program. At EPREP she managed planning, training and exercise activities supporting health and medical coalitions, working with partners at all jurisdictional levels on PHEP and HPP funded projects. She holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Disaster Management and Sustainable Development from Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and is currently working towards a PhD in Health Professions Education from Simmons University. 

Trevor Rhodes – International Medical Corps

Trevor currently serves as the Domestic Emergency Response Program Manager for International Medical Corps, where his primary focus is the development and deployment of emergency response capabilities within the United States and its territories. Prior to joining International Medical Corps, he worked for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Division where he developed catastrophic response plans for chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological threats to county’s population of 13 million. Prior to his service with the county he was the Disaster Program Manager for Los Angeles County’s Community Clinic Association for three years, developing the systematic emergency response capabilities of the primary care medical sector. Additionally, Trevor has worked for the American Red Cross, the City of LA’s Emergency Management Department, and the city of Santa Cruz. He holds a Master’s degree in Emergency Management. Over his more than ten years’ experience as a professional Emergency Manager he as responded to numerous disasters including wildfires, landslides, hurricanes, technological disasters, civil unrest, and others.

This presentation is aimed at providing federal vision, guidance, and examples for healthcare coalition sustainment.  It is imperative that HCCs make the necessary adjustments to function in lieu of federal funding. 

Paul Link – ASPR NHPP, United Stated Public Health Service

Captain Paul L. Link is a Project Officer in HHS Region IV for the Hospital Preparedness Program, Office of Emergency Management & Medical Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services. Based in Atlanta, GA, he serves the southeast states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee by providing technical assistance and monitoring to the States’ healthcare emergency preparedness activities as outlined by the HPP Cooperative Agreement. Captain Link received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from East Stroudsburg University in 1993 and a Master of Science in Health Sciences, Emergency and Disaster Management from Trident University in 2009.

We will look at the request, deployment and response process throughout the Ocracoke deployment in response to Hurricane Dorian. We will also discuss the State coordination of resource requests during a disaster and the continuity of operational assets, as well as how teams set up a medical treatment facility to meet the needs of the community with limited resources. 

Kimberly Clement – NCOEMS – Hospital Preparedness Program Manager 

Kimberly Clement completed her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of North Carolina and her Master of Public Health from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Kimberly's career started as a Paramedic in the Wake County EMS System where she spent 12 years before transitioning to NC Public Health Preparedness & Response as part of their Planning, Training & Exercise Unit. Currently Kimberly manages the NC Healthcare Preparedness Program as part of the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Johnathan Olson – Wake County EMS 

Johnathan currently serves as the deputy director with Wake County EMS. He has served as a coordinator with the AST-800 since its inception and was the strike team leader for the first NC EMS assets into Ocracoke after Hurricane Dorian.

Matt Chovaz – Outer Banks Hospital - ED Director

Completed Emergency medicine training at East Carolina University in 2015. Completed Emergency Medical Services Fellowship at ECU in 2016. Currently practicing primarily in The Outer Banks. Serving as the Director of the emergency department at The Outer Banks Hospital and the assistant medical director for Dare County EMS.