Where are you from? I am from Columbus, Ohio.

What made you want to move to Jackson? I did medical school at Ohio State and my residency in Milwaukee. That’s where I met Doc Smith, and we were both similarly interested in mountains.

What is your current position, in your words? I am an emergency medicine physician. I take my knowledge to prehospital medicine in urban settings and also apply it in rural settings through SAR, which I have been doing for 15 years.

What do you do in your free time? I like to trail run and rock climb and in the winters, I cross-country and backcountry ski. I have two children that keep me pretty busy as well, and I am also on SAR and volunteer.

How long have you been a part of JH Fire/EMS? I became involved when I moved to Jackson, when I was working with Doc Smith. At some point, I officially became the assistant medical director for Jackson Hole Fire/EMS.

What made you want to join JH Fire/EMS? I always enjoyed working with prehospital providers, and we have a really high standard of care here. It’s hard to not want to work with EMS.

What is your role in the department? I am the assistant medical director, so I help to oversee policy and protocol. I ensure quality improvement and conduct chart reviews, as well as put on different trainings. 

Do you have non-medical certifications with the department? I have done the fitness test, but nothing else.

What are your future goals in the department? No personal goals for myself, but I definitely want to continue to work with the EMS program to keep us at the forefront of national EMS programs. I want us to be a top-notch rural emergency medical service.

What would you say is the most valuable trait for someone to have in this line of work? The ability to connect with your patients and to have good rapport.