2027 SCEMSA
Symposium

AB

Brook has more than 20 years of EMS and public safety experience. He works in local emergency management and previously directed Emergency Medical Science programs at Cape Fear Community College.

AM

Montes is a co-founder of Solutions Group Services, a national EMS revenue-cycle company. He wrote In Plain Sight, hosts The Leadership Lab podcast and presents the Space for Grace leadership series.

BC

A paramedic for 29 years, Collins serves as field training coordinator and South Carolina paramedic instructor with Lancaster County EMS. He leads the agency's EMT Bootcamp and supports public safety education.

CN

Ninomiya is a deputy chief of EMS at Valley Ambulance Authority whose work includes collaboration with Japanese EMS educators. His presentations explore international approaches to system design, field training and nurse-led triage.

CK

A field captain with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and a clinical educator with iSimulate, Kroboth focuses on scenario-based education, simulation, mentoring and leadership skills that help EMS teams develop.

DJ

Pedersen is a Pennsylvania attorney with nearly 25 years in health care law and about 20 years representing EMS agencies. His practice emphasizes Medicare reimbursement, HIPAA and regulatory compliance.

DL

Schwerin is a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine at Prisma Health–Upstate, an EMS medical director and a board-certified EMS physician. He brings experience in prehospital clinical education and disaster medicine.

EM

Director of Iredell County EMS, Morrison leads a 200-person team focused on clinical performance, workforce culture and care delivery. With more than 20 years across Carolinas EMS systems, he has overseen technology, capital and revenue-cycle improvements. He holds an MBA, FACPE, CEMSO and NC EMS Executive Officer credentials.

JA

Jimmy Apple, known as EMS Avenger, is a pediatric and neonatal critical-care paramedic, educator and national speaker. Through evidence-based teaching, storytelling and advocacy, he challenges outdated practices and emphasizes progressive resuscitation, pediatric care, clinician well-being, curiosity, humility and kindness.

KS

A nationally registered paramedic with Dillon County EMS, Skellett has 11 years of experience in 911 response, interfacility transport and peer support. She advocates for EMS mental health through education. She also owns Kayla Lee Photography, serves in her church media ministry and is a mother of four.

LS

Spurgeon is a neonatal nurse practitioner and founder of NeoHERO Foundation and Saving Babies. She develops neonatal education, prehospital training tools and equipment to support emergency newborn care.

MF

Fields is a medical training officer with Horry County Fire Rescue and an adjunct instructor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. His work focuses on recruit development, preceptorship, clinical education and EMS workforce training.

ML

An EMS director with Atrium Health in the Greater Charlotte area, Lewis focuses on workforce strategy, operational performance and developing EMS career pathways. His leadership work emphasizes structured organizational change.

TS

EMS trauma and safety presenter. His Symposium sessions explore rural trauma and transport decisions, ambulance collision lessons and injury prevention.