







2026 Classes
WEMSA 2026 is packed with learning opportunities designed for EMS providers, educators, managers, and leaders at every level. Our lineup features a diverse mix of clinical updates, skills workshops, leadership and management sessions, and specialized tracks that let you dive deeper into the areas that matter most to you. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your airway management skills, strengthen your leadership toolbox, explore new approaches to education, or stay up to date on the latest trends in EMS, you’ll find sessions that match your goals.
Pre-conference workshops (Feb 3 & 4) are priced individually, while main conference registration (Feb 5 - 7) includes access to all lectures and the Expo Hall. Register early to secure your spot as workshop seating is limited!
Thank you to our 2026 education sponsors:
Price | Name | Time | Speakers | Track | CAPCE Category | Capacity | More Info |
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8:00 AM | |||||||
9 Essential Exercises to Stay Strong and Injury-Free in EMS | 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Traci Tauferner, Advanced Tactical Medicine | BLS | Medical | |||
Sort Them Out: SALT Triage in an MCI | 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Janet Taylor, Golden Valley Memorial EMS | BLS | Trauma | |||
Essentials in Procedural Skills in Pediatric care | 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Dr. Michael Kim, Wisconsin EMS for Children Rebecca Ekenstedt, Cumberland Healthcare EMS | BLS | Medical | 40 | ||
Your EMS Message: Speaking, Reporting, and Advocating with Impact | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Scott Moore, Moore EMS Consulting, LLC | Management | Operations | 50 | ||
Mechanical Ventilation Workshop | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Daniel Carlascio, Hamilton Medical | Critical Care | Airway | 40 | ||
10:15 AM | |||||||
Healing Moral Injury and Trauma in Emergency Responders through Expressive Arts and Somatic Integration | 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM | Tami Joe DeLisle, UnMasked Expressive Therapies | BLS | Medical | |||
Facilitator Development Roadmap | 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM | Shannon DiMarco, UW Health/University of Wisconsin-Madison Dr. Michael Lohmeier, UW Health Emergency Education Center | Educators | Operations | |||
Essentials in Procedural Skills in Pediatric care | 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM | Dr. Michael Kim, Wisconsin EMS for Children Rebecca Ekenstedt, Cumberland Healthcare EMS | BLS | Medical | 40 | ||
12:00 PM | |||||||
Lunch | 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM | ||||||
12:45 PM | |||||||
Caring for Special People: Unique Situations in EMS | 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM | Janet Taylor, Golden Valley Memorial EMS | ALS | Medical | 40 | ||
Achieving Excellence Through Compliance | 12:45 PM - 4:15 PM | Ryan Stark, Attorney/EMS Consultant for PWW | Management | Operations | 50 | ||
$50.00 | Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Crisis: Assessment and Intervention | 12:45 PM - 4:45 PM | Dr. Michael Kim, Wisconsin EMS for Children Lorin Browne, Medical College of Wisconsin Maureen Luetje, Medical College of Wisconsin, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division Jennifer Zaspel, Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine | BLS | Medical | 50 | |
Airway Management: Tips, Tricks and Review | 12:45 PM - 4:45 PM | Dr. Michael Lohmeier, UW Health Emergency Education Center Jamie Stephenson, UW Health Emergency Education Center | BLS | Airway | 25 | ||
2:00 PM | |||||||
Medication Math Made Easy: Calculations That Can Save a Life | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Chris Ebright, University of Toledo EMS Program | ALS | Medical | 30 | ||
4:00 PM | |||||||
Expo Hall Open | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Events |
Opening Keynote
Lead From Where You Stand: How Everyday Choices Create Culture, SPark Connection, and Bring Joy Back to the Workplace
The Opening Keynote will begin with a procession from a Wisconsin EMS Honor Guard, followed by a quick introduction to the Conference from our Executive Director, Alan DeYoung. He will give some important updates and notes regarding the schedule, events, and the expo hall. Then, we will hear from our opening keynote speakers, Courtney Hull & Jeremy Blair. Read the description of their keynote below:
In a field where lives can change in an instant, it’s easy to feel like you're constantly reacting — to calls, protocols, and pressures outside your control. But real leadership doesn’t require a title or a promotion. It starts with owning your impact — and recognizing that everyday choices, even small ones, can shape culture, spark connection, and bring joy back to the work. Whether you're a career medic or a volunteer, brand new or decades in, this keynote challenges the belief that burnout, frustration, and turnover are just part of the job. Through real stories, science-backed insight, and a little humor, we’ll explore how showing up with intention and presence — even in the chaos — is one of the most powerful forms of leadership available. We’ll dig into how purpose and human connection fuel retention, satisfaction, and staying power. And we’ll look at how our brains respond to things like trust, laughter, belonging, and micro-moments — the natural highs (hello dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin) that help us thrive in this high-stakes profession. Expect to leave recharged, reminded of what matters, and ready to lead — right where you are.

Courtney Hull
Plugged In, LLC
Courtney Hull is the Associate Dean of Fire/EMS Training at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and the founder of Plugged In, LLC, a company focused on leadership development, communication, and connection in high-stakes environments. A former career Firefighter/AEMT, Courtney transitioned to Fire/EMS education full time in 2010 after teaching part-time since 2007. She holds a master’s degree in Training & Development and is passionate about shaping the future of emergency services through inclusive, high-quality education.
As a classroom leader, Courtney is known for building strong relationships with students, designing creative, engaging lessons that proactively manage classroom dynamics, and providing holistic support to increase student success. Her leadership style is driven by her CliftonStrengths of Learner, Developer, and Relator—she’s energized by helping people grow, learn, and connect with purpose.
Courtney’s strategic mindset shines in her ability to rally teams around a shared vision, foster inclusive and engaged cultures, and generate fresh, effective solutions to stubborn challenges. Whether in a classroom, firehouse, or boardroom, she’s committed to developing resilient, high-performing teams that thrive under pressure.

Jeremy Blair
Plugged In, LLC
Jeremy Blair is a career Battalion Chief with the City of Wauwatosa Fire Department and a seasoned Fire/EMS Instructor at Waukesha County Technical College, where he has been preparing the next generation of firefighters for state certification and real-world service. With 29 years of experience in fire and emergency services, Jeremy brings a grounded, real-talk approach to leadership, communication, and personal development.
A dedicated mentor and motivator, Jeremy thrives in every setting—whether leading crews in the firehouse, instructing in the classroom, or presenting in front of a professional audience. He is known for creating learning environments that are practical, engaging, and growth-focused, blending high standards with high support. His leadership is anchored in clear direction, accountability, meaningful feedback, and a deep commitment to helping others reach their potential.
8:00 AM | Keynote Lead From Where You Stand: How Everyday Choices Create Culture, Spark Connection, and Bring Joy Back to the Workplace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:00 AM | Events Expo Hall Open | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:15 AM | Expo Hall Break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:45 AM | ALS Complex Overdoses: Beyond Narcan | BLS Diabetes 101: Diabetes for the 911 Provider | BLS Fundamentals in Rural Pediatric Trauma | Educators Integrating AI in EMS Training and Education | Management Adjust your Lens: The Leadership Blind Spots That Keep Us from Seeing (and Serving) Clearly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:00 AM | ALS Beyond the Dart: Mastering Needle Thoracostomy for Optimal Outcomes | BLS Choking on the Truth: The EMS Role Identifying Strangulation in Domestic Violence | BLS How to Become a Professional Pickup Artist | Educators Enhancing your Continuing Education Program – An Instructors Guide | Management Grant Writing 101 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:00 PM | Lunch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:15 PM | ALS Critical Circulation: EMS Essentials for Cardiogenic Shock | BLS ECG Basics for Basics | BLS See Something, Say Something - Be an Advocate | Educators From Feedback to Growth: Providing Effective Feedback that Drives Success | Management Recipe for Whole Blood in Your Agency: What EMS Docs, a Paramedic, and Blood Bank Director can Offer for a Successful Role out in any Size System | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:30 PM | ALS At the Intersection of Hospice and EMS | BLS Pediatric Pain Management - Preshospital Assessment, Recognition, & Treatment | BLS Russian Roulette – The American Way | Educators People Before Protocols: Building Relationships That Stick (So Learning Does Too) | Management Real-Time, Real Lives: A Multi-City Model for Patient Tracking and Safety During Major Presidential Conventions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:00 PM | Keynote Anatomy of an infant PNB: Critical dissection from 911 call to debrief |
afternoon Keynote
Anatomy of an infant PNB: Critical dissection from 911 call to debrief
Infant pulseless non-breathers (PNB) are among the most high-stakes and emotionally challenging calls an EMS provider may face. This lecture will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to respond with confidence and precision. Through evidence-based guidance, attendees will learn the most common causes of infant PNB, how to prepare effectively before the call, and the critical first steps in assessment and intervention. The session will also highlight proven measures to improve survival outcomes, giving providers practical tools to make a lifesaving difference when every second counts. Whether you’re new to pediatrics or looking to sharpen your skills, this course will help you feel more prepared, capable, and confident the next time you encounter one of these difficult scenarios.
Dr. Michael Kim is an academic pediatric emergency physician passionate and driven to improve care for children in the emergency department and prehospital arenas. As the co-chair of WI EMSC, pediatric medical director for UW EMS Consortium of Dane County EMS, and UW Department of Emergency Medicine Section of EMS, he looks forward to assisting all emergency care providers in Wisconsin in providing the best care for sick and injured children.

Dr. Michael Kim
Co-Chair & Medical Advisor, Wisconsin EMS for Children
Morning keynote
Sanctuary Trauma – When You’re Stuck Between the Rig and a Hard Place
This session explores sanctuary trauma—what happens when trusted systems like the department or the home become sources of psychological harm instead of safety. We’ll examine how moral injury, institutional betrayal, and strained personal relationships impact mental health and long-term functioning for EMS professionals. Attendees will gain practical tools to identify sanctuary trauma, advocate for cultural change, and foster safer spaces within leadership and peer dynamics. With real-world insight and trauma-informed strategies, this session offers both validation and action for those stuck in the middle.

Nikki Hensler Gordon
Licensed Trauma Therapist & EMDR Consultant
Perspectives Consulting/Iron Star Peer Support & Resiliency
Nikki Hensler Gordon is a licensed professional counselor, certified EMDR clinician, and certified crisis interventionist with over a decade of experience specializing in trauma, moral injury, and institutional betrayal. She is the founder of Perspectives Consulting LLC and Iron Star Peer Support & Resiliency, where she provides clinical therapy, expert evaluations, and training programs tailored to the unique needs of EMS, fire, and military personnel. As both a clinician and EMS spouse, Nikki brings cultural competence, clinical depth, and lived understanding to every training she delivers.

Tim Lorenz
Critical Care Transport RN, Flight RN, US Army Combat Medic (Ret)
Perspectives Consulting/Iron Star Peer Support & Resiliency
Tim Lorenz is an Army veteran, ED/ICU/Flight Registered Nurse, and Critical Care Paramedic with nearly two decades of civilian EMS experience. He began his medical career in 2000 as a U.S. Army Combat Medic, earning his EMT-Basic certification during his service. After transitioning to civilian life, Tim entered EMS in 2006 as a first responder and became a paramedic in 2008. Since then, Tim has built a career spanning emergency medical services, critical care, and nursing. He currently serves as a Critical Care Transport RN with extensive experience in prehospital medicine, hospital-based care, and critical care/flight transport. Tim is also the Program Coordinator and public face of Iron Star Peer Support and Resiliency, an initiative dedicated to strengthening responder wellness, reducing stigma, and building sustainable support systems for EMS providers, firefighters, law enforcement, and veterans. With a professional background that bridges military medicine, civilian EMS, and nursing practice, Tim brings a unique dual perspective to both patient care and provider wellbeing.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Keynote Sanctuary Trauma – When You’re Stuck Between the Rig and a Hard Place | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Expo Hall Break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Events Expo Hall Open | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | ALS The Tachycardias | BLS To Breathe to Breathe… Hands on? Or Hands Free? What does the evidence say it should be? | BLS Clinical Clues for Critical Thinking: Tracking Down the Differential Diagnosis | Management Advanced Documentation Efficiency for EMS Clinicians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM | ALS From Chaos to Coordination: The Pit Crew Method for Traumatic Arrest | BLS How to be a stroke super hero 2.0 | BLS Top 10+ things a rural provider should know about caring for burn injuries | Management Grant Writing 202 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM | Lunch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM | ALS It’s not a STEMI, but… Four not-to-be-missed 12-Lead ECG patterns | BLS Addressing Falls Through Coordinated Collaboration with Emergency Medical Services | BLS Does this Patient have Ketoacidosis or Not? | Management Prepared and Ready for the Expected | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | ALS Help! I'm in Labor! | BLS Basic Cardiac Screening for Rural First Responders | BLS Red Lights, Rotors, and Reflection: Unconscious Bias in Public Safety | Management Beyond Patient Care: Harnessing AI to Revolutionize EMS Operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Expo Hall Break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Keynote It Made Me Cry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6:00 PM - 7:20 PM | Events Dinner & Pictures for Awardees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7:45 PM - 11:30 PM | Events Wild West Night at WEMSA - 2026 Attendee Party 🤠 |
afternoon keynote:
it made me cry
This is a series of stories about rescue encounters that made me cry. I vividly explore the circumstances surrounding these events and the lasting impact each has made. I also relate my sense that we (rescue personnel) aren’t expected to cry. Eventually, we investigate the physiological factors that are in play, what happens when we fail to express or admit that some events are overwhelming, how to support our patients, their families, ourselves and our colleagues in these circumstances. We move on to the impact of these events on those we are charged with helping, strategies for helping them, strategies for developing our own resilience, and the need to support each other. Note: I will likely cry during this presentation. Additionally, I may describe events that may overwhelm or stress the attendee. The attendee should feel free to excuse themselves from the presentation, if necessary. Bring tissues. I know I’m bringing tissues.

David Brenner
Paramedic/ Firefighter & Medical Education Consultant
David Brenner has been providing advanced life support as a member of the Holbrook Fire Department since 1979. He continues to provide active service and leadership as the ex-Captain of the medical company. Mr. Brenner has provided instruction in EMS since 1981 teaching EMT, EMT-Critical Care for Suffolk County EMS and as a full professor at Suffolk County Community College. Since 2010, he has been instructing at LaGuardia Community College in the EMT and Paramedic programs. Mr. Brenner is a Paramedic, Certified Instructor/Coordinator, Regional Faculty, and Instructor of ACLS, PALS, CPR, PHTLS, AMLS, GEMS, PTEP, and EMS Safety.
Mr. Brenner serves as New York State regional faculty in both Suffolk County and New York City, training EMS providers to be instructors. Mr. Brenner also served as a member and chair of the Suffolk Regional Emergency Medical Services Council charged with oversight and guidance for the region. Mr. Brenner reports that his involvement in the development of the new NAEMT course, Psychological Trauma in EMS Patients (PTEP), has been one of the most rewarding and practice-changing endeavors in his career. He is also the author of his 12-Lead ECG Made Clear and Simple Lecture and Practice course. He is looking forward to sharing his knowledge and strategies with other EMS professionals.
8:00 AM | ALS Bizarre and Unusual Trauma 2026 | BLS “Who’s your PAPPA?” Rapid recognition of high acuity emergencies presenting with chest pain for BLS providers. | Management Stage Presence on Scene: How Theater and Public Speaking Skills Can Transform EMS Communication and Leadership | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:15 AM | ALS Device Demystification: Demystifying implantable pacemakers and defibrillators for EMS | BLS That @#$%! ePCR Documentation! How to incorporate documentation into the choreography of every call and create cohesive patient care reports that won’t get flagged! | Management When Systems Collide: Bridging EMS and Hospital Command During Crisis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:45 AM | ALS Patient Centered Airway Management - Don't be the Airway Icarus | BLS EMS and Mandated Reporting, Red Flags in the Field: Recognizing and Reporting Abuse and Neglect of Children and the Elderly | Management Direct Line to Medical Direction: A Panel Discussion from the Board of the Wisconsin Chapter of NAEMSP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:00 PM | Keynote Autism and EMS Response: Answering the call without causing more trauma! |
Closing keynote
Autism and EMS Response: Answering the call without causing more trauma!

Snaith, a Critical Care Paramedic and Medic Training Officer at Medic EMS of Scott County, is both a healthcare professional and a parent of two autistic children, Gracie (12) and Christian (7). In 2019, Snaith and his family launched the ASD Sensory Project at Medic EMS after recognizing the need to better educate healthcare providers about autism and reduce the risk of meltdowns and severe stimming during EMS or healthcare encounters. Together with his wife, Elizabeth (a Behavioral Health Specialist) they developed this presentation to blend personal experience with professional expertise. Drawing on both perspectives, they aim to help EMS providers deliver care that is less traumatizing for individuals with autism and sensory disorders. This session provides education from a parent’s viewpoint, enhanced by professional insights into best practices for care. Participants will view videos offering a perspective on what it is like to experience autism, along with live demonstrations of effective de-escalation techniques. The project’s mission is to ensure that individuals with autism receive compassionate, supportive EMS care that avoids turning emergencies into lasting traumas. Since its launch, the ASD Sensory Project has trained EMS personnel across Iowa and has been featured at events such as the Southeast Iowa EMS Conference and the IEMSA Conference in 2025. Through this program, the family continues to advocate for quality care that addresses sensory, emotional, and communication challenges in emergency settings.
Thank you to our 2026 education sponsors: