speakers

Every year, our 4-day conference presents a variety of tracks, including Management, ALS, and BLS tracks designed to provide classes for any level. With a diverse lineup of speakers hailing from various regions, both nationally and locally, you can expect a wealth of knowledge and insights at WEMSA 2027. The WEMSA Education Committee and our dedicated staff invest considerable effort to provide you with the opportunity to engage with industry experts from all corners of the country!

opening Keynote Presenter

Cody Spaulding - The Salty Paramedic

Don't Lose Yourself: A First Responder's Mental Health Presentation
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2027 - 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM


We're thrilled to welcome Cody Spaulding, better known as "The Salty Paramedic", as our 2027 opening keynote speaker! With nearly 20 years on the job as a firefighter/paramedic and a rapidly growing following online and on his "Just a Little Salt" podcast, Cody has become a leading voice for first responders looking for straight talk and practical tools to navigate the mental and emotional challenges of the job.

Drawing on his best-selling book "Don't Lose Yourself: A First Responder's Mental Health Playbook", Cody will kick off WEMSA 2027 with an unfiltered, poignant, and yes, salty look at what it really takes to build a sustainable career in emergency services. One that doesn't cost you your health, your relationships, or your identity.

Come ready to laugh, think, and walk away with a toolkit for prioritizing the most important thing under your uniform: you. This is a conversation you won't want to miss!

2027 Speaker list

Nathan Allen
Nathan Allen
West Grant Rescue Squad/ Lancaster EMS
Critical Care Paramedic
Julie Bates-Maves
Julie Bates-Maves
The University of Wisconsin-Stout
Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Rudolph Bescherer, Jr.
Rudolph Bescherer, Jr.
Locum Tenens Emergency Physician
Mike Bindokas
Mike Bindokas
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
EMS Instructor
Nick Bonczkowski
Nick Bonczkowski
Kenosha Fire Department
CCEMT-P
Tyler Bowe
Tyler Bowe
Mayo Clinic Health System and Hudson Hospital and Clinic
BSN, RN
Sarah Brock
Sarah Brock
LifeLink III
Registered Nurse
Greg Burek
Greg Burek
The BRAVE Program / Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical Director
Daniel Carlascio
Daniel Carlascio
Hamilton Medical
Alternate Site Account Manager
Kelsey Carlson
Kelsey Carlson
Waukesha County Technical College
Faculty
Andrea Cole
Andrea Cole
Pafford EMS
Education Manager
M. Riccardo Colella
M. Riccardo Colella
WI Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, OPEHC
Medical Director - State of Wisconsin EMS and Trauma Systems
Kevin Collopy
Kevin Collopy
Life Link III
Director of Clinical Integrity
Jordan Coulson
Jordan Coulson
Oregon Wisconsin Police Department
Sergeant
Jesse Coulson
Jesse Coulson
Spencer Fire Department
Fire Chief
Alan DeYoung
Alan DeYoung
Wisconsin EMS Association
Executive Director
Shannon DiMarco
Shannon DiMarco
UW Health
Administrative Director
Vincent Engel
Vincent Engel
Holbrook Fire Department
Training Officer
Thomas Engel II
Thomas Engel II
Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, WI
Associate Professor
Sara Esselman
Sara Esselman
Ascension Healthcare
Clinical Nurse Leader
Nicholas Ferro
Nicholas Ferro
NREMT, BA (Hons), MSc
Bryan Fleischman
Bryan Fleischman
North Country Healthcare (NCH)
Physician Associate (PA), Firefighter Paramedic
Drew Forehand
Drew Forehand
Hamilton Medical
Account Manager/ Product Manager
Greg Friese, MS, NRP
Greg Friese, MS, NRP
Emergency Preparedness Systems, LLC
President
Dr. Nicholas Genthe
Dr. Nicholas Genthe
University of WI - Madison
Assistant Professor (CHS)
Diane Glick
Diane Glick
Endeavor
ACNP-BC, AVNP-BC
Dr. Thomas Grawey
Dr. Thomas Grawey
Medical College of Wisconsin
Associate Professor
Hanna Heintz
Hanna Heintz
Medical College of Wisconsin
Physician
Jodi Hogendorf
Jodi Hogendorf
Fairview Health Services
RN and Infection Preventionist
Ben Holstine, RN, BSN, CCRN
Ben Holstine, RN, BSN, CCRN
Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department/Milwaukee VA Emergency Department
Emergency Department/ Trauma Staff Nurse
Dr. Michelle Hughes
Dr. Michelle Hughes
University of Wisconsin Department of Emergency Medicine
Associate Professor (CHS)
Ryan Huser
Ryan Huser
Mid-State Technical College
Program Director / Lead Paramedic Instructor
Jason Jurack, RN, BSN, MSOM
Jason Jurack, RN, BSN, MSOM
Froedtert Hospital
Emergency Department Charge Nurse
Chanse Kaczmarski
Chanse Kaczmarski
Fitch-Rona EMS District
Lieutenant Paramedic
Alex Kasper, ED-T
Alex Kasper, ED-T
Froedtert Health Emergency Department
Emergency Department Technician
Robert Kelsall
Robert Kelsall
Colfax Rescue
AEMT
Michael Kim
Michael Kim
WI EMS for Children
Doctor
Teresa Lass
Teresa Lass
Ascension
Clinical Educator
Kyle Levesque
Kyle Levesque
Hudson Fire Department
Captain
Dr. David Lewis
Dr. David Lewis
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine
Cardiologist and a Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Michael Lohmeier
Dr. Michael Lohmeier
UW Health Emergency Education Center
Medical Director
Aurora Lybeck
Aurora Lybeck
MEP Health
Emergency physician and EMS Medical Director
Dr. John McNicoll
Dr. John McNicoll
Jamie Mendez
Jamie Mendez
Ascension Healthcare
Dr. Jonathan Merrell
Dr. Jonathan Merrell
Compact Medical Inc.
Co-Founder & CEO
Jerry Minor
Jerry Minor
Pittsville Fire Company
Fire Chief
Dr. Lindsay Moran
Dr. Lindsay Moran
Medical College of Wisconsin
Emergency Medicine Physician
Megan Mulholland
Megan Mulholland
Compass Communications LLC
Owner
Brittney Neidhardt
Brittney Neidhardt
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
Mobile Integrated Health Social Worker
Toby Oehler
Toby Oehler
M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Quality Specialist with Fairview EMS, Critical Care Paramedic
Amanda Patzke
Amanda Patzke
Ascension
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Leader
Aaron Peth
Aaron Peth
Creighton University
Special Instructor
Courtney Pickar
Courtney Pickar
Ascension Healthcare
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist
Dan Pojar, BSEMS, FP-C, NRP
Dan Pojar, BSEMS, FP-C, NRP
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
EMS Division Director
Alyssa Reding
Alyssa Reding
UW Health
Nurse Practitioner
Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson
Elm Grove EMS
Captain - Training and Logistics
Norell Rosado
Norell Rosado
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Professor of Pediatrics
Erich Roush
Erich Roush
The BRAVE Program / Medical College of Wisconsin
Director of Clinical Services / Assistant Professor
Wyatt Sachen
Wyatt Sachen
Life Link III
Communication Specialist
Dr. William Scheels
Dr. William Scheels
Froedtert Hospital
Physician
Dr. Kyle Schoppell
Dr. Kyle Schoppell
University of Wisconsin Department of Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor (CHS) of Emergency Medicine & Pediatrics
Dr. Mark Schultz
Dr. Mark Schultz
WEMSA Medical Director
Medical Director
Mark Schwartz
Mark Schwartz
Bloomer EMS / CVTC
Chief / Director
Jennifer Seering
Jennifer Seering
Ascension Mercy Hospital
Terence Sheehy
Terence Sheehy
Dare County EMS
Deputy Chief of Operations
Allen Skochenski
Allen Skochenski
Essentia Health
EMS Regional Manager
Angela Smith
Angela Smith
M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center
Critical Care Paramedic
Kirk Smith
Kirk Smith
HAMILTON MEDICAL
Respiratory Therapist/Account Manager
Timothy Smith, BA, EMT-P
Timothy Smith, BA, EMT-P
Erlanger Fire & EMS
Paramedic/Paramedic Educator
Cody Spaulding
Cody Spaulding
The Salty Paramedic
Fire Medic | Comedian | Author | Speaker
Ryan Stark
Ryan Stark
Attorney/EMS Consultant for PWW
Managing Partner
Dr. Andrew Steinfeldt
Dr. Andrew Steinfeldt
University of Wisconsin Department of Emergency Medicine
Assistant Professor (CHS) of Emergency Medicine & Pediatrics
Jamie Stephenson
Jamie Stephenson
UW Health
Paramedic, EMS Educator
Dave Stine
Dave Stine
Hamilton Medical
EMS Sales Director
Amanda Szatkowski, NRP
Amanda Szatkowski, NRP
Froedtert Hospital
Paramedic
Vawn Taylor
Vawn Taylor
Air Methods
BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, NRP
Arrianna Thompson
Arrianna Thompson
Medical College of Wisconsin
MD
Gina Tranel
Gina Tranel
UW Health
Simulation Educator
John Paul Velasco
John Paul Velasco
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Nurse
David Wade
David Wade
Kenosha Fire Department
EMT-P

Give the gift of life at the WEMSA 2027 Blood Drive, presented by Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin!

Every donation helps ensure blood is available for patients across Wisconsin, including the very patients we care for every day. As a thank you, every donor will receive a free T-shirt.

Schedule Your Donation