Raphael M. Barishansky, DrPH (c) 

Since his start as an EMT he has never lost his connection to, or passion for, EMS even as he rose the ranks of public health to become Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, a role he recently left after several years to serve as an EMS and Public Health Consultant

With has the mind of an entrepreneur, the spirit of an adventurer, & heart of a nurse, she has owned 6 health care companies and won numerous awards including: Canada’s 50 Most Influential Business & Entrepreneur Female Leaders by SME Canada in 2021, First Nation Health Authority National Honor for impacting the mental health of an entire community, and CIBC Entrepreneur of the Year before age 30. Shari is the Chief Innovation & Operating Officer at Wayfound Mental Health Group and a faculty member at Queen’s University in Leadership, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, specializing in healthcare.

Richard A. Lazar, 

For over 25 years, Richard has been designing and writing policies for AED programs, providing informed AED program compliance advice to clients and partners nationwide, inventing AED inspection technologies, authoring the industry’s most authoritative AED program compliance resources, and advocating for public policies that have the power to save lives.

Duncan McConnell,
MBA, MCOM, MPA, MACPP

Duncan has been working in the EMS and Healthcare sector for over 25 years now with roles starting off as a volunteer in mid 90s right the way up to Senior Management roles within Australia and abroad. His experience spans government, military and non-government agencies, helping to develop and deliver transformational change across a globalised paramedicine network. Duncan has also worked within education and universities developing both undergraduate and postgraduate paramedicine university programs and is a Board Director on the International College of Advanced Practice Paramedics (ICAPP).

Jonathan Washko
MBA, FACPE, NRP, AEMD

Is a 35-year highly accomplished executive focused in both the pre-hospital and healthcare operations improvement space with expertise in a variety of domains and topics. He is a leading industry expert on numerous matters, advising internationally with organizations, and governments on pre-hospital, mobile healthcare, and systems design and improvement efforts. Mr. Washko sits on a variety of boards and councils, is an author, researcher, educator, and is a balanced disruptive innovator, ideator and strategic visionary leader capable in business and cultural transformations.

Rob Lawrence
Communications Chair

Has served in civilian & military EMS roles over 25 years. He works on both coasts as director of strategic implementation of PRO EMS In Cambridge, MA, and as executive director of the California Ambulance Association. He previously served as the COO of the award winning Richmond Ambulance Authority (Virginia), during his tenure, developing a Just Culture atmosphere that focuses more on education and mentorship than discipline. 

Mark Tenia
Public Relations/Media Manager

Is an experienced broadcast journalist who now serves as the Public Relations manager for the Richmond Ambulance Authority. His passion for helping promote prehospital providers through storytelling shines through. He is a returning speaker to the EMS Leadership Summit and has brought together an expert panel of our industry's top communications specialist where we can all learn how to grow awareness of our industry. 

Alexia Jobson, NREMT, APR
Director of Public Relations

Is a public affairs specialist with REMSA Health, a ground & fixed wing air medical provider, and the largest out of hospital healthcare provider in Nevada. It is her mission to help protect the brand of the REMSA Health organization, and their exceptionally talented providers. With an Accreditation in Public Relations she joins the EMS Leadership Summit on a panel discussion of leading industry PR experts.

Josh Watts,
Founder Board Member

Founder and former CEO of MedTrust Holdings, a Southeast Regional leader in Interfacility Transport and Mobile Healthcare, Josh Watts is actively leading MedTrust's Cultural and Workforce initiatives. Having grown the company from 3 employees to more than 400 operating in the states of SC, GA, FL, Josh recognizes the most defensible competitive advantage: company culture. Additionally he chairs the SCEMSA Payment Reform Committee, serves on the Workforce committee, and sits on the AAA Reimbursement Committee.

Maggie Adams

Serves as the President of EMS Financial Services, with over 25 years’ experience in the ambulance industry as an reimbursement and compliance consultant. Maggie is known for her practical approach and winning presentation style. She has worked with ambulance providers and billing companies of all kinds to provide auditing services, assess their billing for best practices, and support their billing and documentation training efforts. Maggie is a Cum Laude graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Rob Cook, Ret. USAF

Creator of the unFIT brand and a Mindset Coach, Rob has worked with clients to help them discover their total health. "I firmly believe my understanding of the human experience creates a natural connection for inspiring my clients to convert potential into something tangible."

Asbel Montes,
Managing Partner of Solutions Group

Began his career in the ambulance industry in '99. His EMS career includes directing and leading teams that provided revenue cycle consultation to air and ground ambulance agencies, culminating into the position of Managing Partner of Solutions Group Consulting. Asbel is a respected thought leader on reimbursement initiatives within the industry and is a requested speaker at many healthcare conferences. Asbel is a contributing author in several EMS magazines and co-authoring the book, Management of Ambulance Services, as published by Prentice Hall in 2014.

David Daniels, MHRM, CSD

Is an Occupational Health and Safety Ph.D. candidate. He is a retired three-time fire chief whose 32-year career began in the Seattle Fire Department. In 2021 he became the first living African American to be inducted into the National Fire Heritage Center’s Hall of Legends, Legacies, and Leaders.

Chris Smetana, AS,FP-C,CCP-C,NRP

Chris Smetana is the CEO and Co-Founder of IA MED. He is also a Critical Care Flight Paramedic/ HSAR Tech and Critical Care Educator with +20 years of public safety experience. In his talk, he will stress the Importance of Understanding the responsibility of establishing a Just Culture atmosphere that focuses more on education and mentorship than on discipline.

Dr. Nadine Levick, MD, MPH

As a world-renowned author, researcher, and passionate advocate for safety in EMS, Dr. Levick will share the latest innovations in prehospital care delivery. Her last 140 slides in 39 minutes nearly broke the internet, so get ready to be amazed again! Remember, better, safer & cheaper is possible.

Dr. Victoria Reinhartz, PharmD, CPh

Is the CEO of Mobile Health Consultants, and is an industry leader in Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine (MIH/CP). Dr. Reinhartz is a founding board member of the National Association of Mobile Integrated Healthcare Providers and serves as the MIH expert for the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.