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
Chief
Julie Bates-Maves
Julie Bates-Maves
UW-Stout Polytechnic
Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Justin Behlke
Justin Behlke
Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Emergency Medicine
Senior Medical Student
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
N/A
RN
Sarah Brock
Sarah Brock
LifeLink III
Registered Nurse
Greg Burek
Greg Burek
The BRAVE Program / Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical Director
Dan Carlascio
Dan Carlascio
Hamilton Medical
Emergency and Transport 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
Dr. Jeffrey Collings
Dr. Jeffrey Collings
Medical College of Wisconsin
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
Michael Davis
Michael Davis
Hamilton Medical
EMS Account Manager
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
Tito Espiritu
Tito Espiritu
Hamilton Medical
EMS Strategic Account Manager & DoD Account Manager
Sara Esselman
Sara Esselman
Ascension Healthcare
Clinical Nurse Leader
Nicholas Ferro
Nicholas Ferro
EMS Instructor
Bryan Fleischman
Bryan Fleischman
North Country Healthcare
Physician Associate, Firefighter-Paramedic
Greg Friese, MS, NRP
Greg Friese, MS, NRP
Plover Fire & EMS
Paramedic
Dr. Nicholas Genthe
Dr. Nicholas Genthe
University of WI - Madison
Assistant Professor (CHS)
Diane Glick
Diane Glick
Endeavor
Nurse Practitioner
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
Registered Nurse
Ben Holstine, RN, BSN, CCRN
Ben Holstine, RN, BSN, CCRN
Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department/Milwaukee VA Emergency Department
Emergency Department/ Trauma Staff Nurse
Michelle Hughes
Michelle Hughes
University of Wisconsin
Emergency Medicine Physician
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
Sarah Kastern
Sarah Kastern
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management Mobile Integrated Health
Mobile Integrated Health Captain
Robert Kelsall
Robert Kelsall
Colfax Rescue
AEMT
Michael Kim
Michael Kim
WI EMS for Children
Doctor
Teresa Lass
Teresa Lass
Ascension Healthcare
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
Jamie Mendez
Jamie Mendez
Ascension
Clinical Nurse Educator
Dr. Jonathan Merrell
Dr. Jonathan Merrell
Compact Medical Inc.
Co-Founder & CEO
Laura Meyer, EDT
Laura Meyer, EDT
Gerald Minor
Gerald Minor
Pittsville Fire Co.
Fire Chief
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
Fairview Health Services
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
Christina Philpott
Christina Philpott
Hamilton Medical
EMS Account Manager
Courtney Pickar
Courtney Pickar
Ascension
Perinatal CNS
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 Schaefer
Dr. William Schaefer
Medical College of Wisconsin
Assistant Professor; Assistant Director, Residency Program
Dr. William Scheels
Dr. William Scheels
Froedtert Hospital
Physician
Kyle Schoppel
Kyle Schoppel
University of Wisconsin- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health
MD
Dr. Mark Schultz
Dr. Mark Schultz
Wisconsin EMS Association
Medical Director
Mark Schwartz
Mark Schwartz
CVTC/Bloomer EMS
Chief/Director
Jennifer Seering
Jennifer Seering
Ascension Wisconsin
RN Manager
Jason Selwitschka
Jason Selwitschka
Medics Wisconsin
CCEMTP/Co-Owner
Rachel Semenak
Rachel Semenak
Froedtert ThedaCare Health Inc.
Registered Nurse
Terence Sheehy
Terence Sheehy
Virginia Beach EMS
Deputy Chief
Allen Skochenski
Allen Skochenski
Essentia Health
EMS Regional Manager
Angela Smith
Angela Smith
Fairview Health Services
Critical Care Paramedic
Timothy (Tim) Smith
Timothy (Tim) Smith
Erlanger Fire & EMS
Paramedic/EMS Educator
Kirk Smith
Kirk Smith
Hamilton Medical
Respiratory Therapist/Account Manager
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
EMS Educator

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