NATIONAL EMS ACADEMY - Key Persons
Aisha Burnham became an EMT in 2016 and volunteered in Lincoln, New Hampshire before starting with Acadian in 2017. Aisha attended NEMSA Baton Rouge and became a paramedic in 2019. She worked in Baton Rouge until 2021 as a paramedic and an adjunct at NEMSA. Aisha became a NEMSA instructor at Covington in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Instructor at the Baton Rouge
Alan Lambert has been involved in EMS since 1989. Alan is the paramedic course instructor at the Baton Rouge campus. He served on the board of directors of the National Association of State EMS Officials and as the Chairman of the National Education and Professional Standards Council. In 2011, he was invited to the Emergency Services and Homeland Security Education mission in Israel. He has an associate of applied science and AAS paramedic degree from Baton Rouge Community College.
Cameron Comeaux has been involved in Emergency Services since 2015 and currently teaches the EMT course at our Lafayette Campus. Before working for NEMSA Cameron was a field medic, preceptor, and CCT Medic for Acadian Amb. Cameron is a certified Louisiana EMS Instructor through the Louisiana Bureau of EMS and also teaches BLS, ACLS, and PALS courses and holds the position of training center faculty through the American Heart Association. Cameron is a graduate of the National EMS Academy and also received his Associate of Applied Science from South Louisiana Community College.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Chief Medical Officer, Lafayette / Lake Charles
Charles Burnell, M.D., serves as lead overall associate medical directors across Acadian's service areas. Dr. Burnell reviews on-scene medical procedures and protocols between medics and emergency room physicians. He oversees training and continuing education programs at NEMSA, Acadian's wellness and quality enhancement programs, as well as Acadian's HSE program. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine and is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Before becoming medical director, Dr. Burnell worked closely with Acadian for 16 years, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina where he served as the director of air transports of patients from the Superdome. Dr. Burnell graduated summa cum laude with a degree in biochemistry at Louisiana State University.
Chris Bearb has been working in EMS since 1993. Throughout his career, Chris has worked on an ambulance, as an offshore remote paramedic, education coordinator, and currently serves as a regional coordinator where he oversees the day-to-day operations at NEMSA's Lake Charles and Beaumont campuses. Chris has an associate degree in applied science and is working on a bachelor's degree in unified public service management from Northwestern State University.
Chris Mixon has been involved in EMS since 1981. He completed his EMT, intermediate and paramedic training with Acadian and has worked as a medic in multiple fields. Since 1997, he has been a part of NEMSA serving as the developmental editor where he assists subject matter experts in writing and developing new educational materials for EMS providers. Chris has an associate degree in emergency health science from South Louisiana Community College, a bachelor's in unified public safety from Northwestern State, and a master's degree in adult education from Northwestern State.
Chris Warrick started his career in EMS with Acadian in 2016 as an EMT. In September 2017, he earned his Paramedic at NEMSA. He began teaching at NEMSA Alexandria in the fall of 2019.
Christian Wild has been involved in EMS since 2013 and became an instructor in 2019. He became an EMT in 2013 and became a paramedic through the NEMSA program in 2015. He also received an associate degree in applied science from South Louisiana Community College in 2015. Currently, Christian teaches the EMT program at NEMSA's New Orleans campus and is a BLS and ACLS instructor.
Clay Romero has been involved in EMS as a paramedic since 2005 and teaches EMT and Paramedic courses. Clay is a certified Louisiana EMS Instructor through the Louisiana Bureau of EMS and also teaches PHTLS, AMLS, BLS, ACLS, and PALS courses and holds the position of training center faculty through the American Heart Association. Clay has an Associate of Applied Science from South Louisiana Community College and is also a graduate of the National EMS Academy.
Corey Blue has been involved in EMS since 2016, earning his Paramedic in 2017 and serving the Greater New Orleans Area for the past 6 years. Corey served as an adjunct instructor with NEMSA prior to taking a full-time instructor position. Corey graduated from Delgado Community College with an Associates Degree in General Studies with a concentration in Emergency Medical Services.
Danielle Crochet has been involved in EMS since 2013 and teaches Paramedic and Remediation courses. Danielle is a certified Louisiana EMS Instructor through the Louisiana Bureau of EMS and also teaches BLS, ACLS, and PALS courses. Danielle is working towards an Associate of Applied Science from South Louisiana Community College and is also a graduate of the National EMS Academy.
David Finley has been involved in EMS since 1989 and an EMS instructor since 2005. He is the regional coordinator for the Baton Rouge and Covington NEMSA sites and also serves as an assistant instructor for the paramedic program. David has an associate degree in applied science paramedic from South Louisiana Community College.
After serving as a full-time medical director for SMS for many years, Dr. Thibodaux now serves as a consultant for our medical team. Dr. Donald Thibodaux's background in emergency and occupational medicine provides an advantage in understanding OSHA incident classifications and their effects on the oil and gas industry.
A graduate of Nicholls State University, Dr. Thibodaux received his bachelor's degree in chemistry before attending LSU Medical Center in New Orleans. After completing his emergency medicine residency at Charity Hospital at New Orleans, he spent 20 years practicing hospital-based emergency medicine in Houma, Louisiana.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Acadian 's Texas Medical Director
- Medical Director, Beaumont / Austin
Dr. Emily Kidd, Acadian's Texas medical director, oversees the company's clinical operations throughout the state. She has an extensive background in clinical Emergency Medicine and EMS and serves as the assistant medical director for the San Antonio Fire Department and the assistant medical director for the Houston Fire Department's Division of EMS. Dr. Kidd is also a member of the Texas Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Committee and the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Advisory Council.
Dr. Kidd is a double-board certified in Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. She is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Emergency Health Sciences at San Antonio.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Medical Director, Baton Rouge
Dr. Michael Loewe started as an EMT and obtained his paramedic license while attending Tulane University. He worked in New Orleans as a paramedic before starting medical school at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Dr. Loewe trained in emergency medicine at Charity Hospital/LSUHSC. He has been working in the emergency medicine department of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge for 14 years.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Medical Director, Covington
Dr. Fredro Knight is board certified in Emergency Medicine. He trained in EMS and Emergency Medicine at the University of Chicago where he participated in the flight and international transport program. He also serves as the medical director for three St. Tammany Fire Districts.
Job Titles:
- Paramedic Program Manager
- Program Manager for NEMSA
Gifford Saravia began his EMS career in 1991 and has been a paramedic since 1994. Gifford is the paramedic program manager for NEMSA and serves as the department chair for the paramedic program at South Louisiana Community College. He also oversees orientation, the American Heart Training Center, and the supervisory training program, ACES, for Acadian Companies. He is a graduate of Northwestern State University with a Masters of Arts degree in adult education with a minor in Unified Public Safety Administration, South Louisiana Community College with an associate degree in applied science paramedic, Southern Technical College with an associate in electronics technology, and the Moody Executive Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Glenn Naquin started in EMS in 1993 and received his paramedic certification in 1996. He has worked in fire, ground ambulance, offshore medic, and aviation medical services. Glenn became an education coordinator for NEMSA in 2010. He has a bachelor's in psychology and a master's degree in professional counseling from Liberty University.
Harry Murphy started his EMS career in 1985 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and has practiced in six states before joining NEMSA in 2008. Harry teaches the EMT and paramedic programs and administers learning management system platforms for the paramedic level. He has an associate's degree in emergency health science and a bachelor's degree in public safety administration from Northwestern State University.
James Stuart began working in EMS in 2000. He made his start with Acadian in 2007 and over the course of his career has held positions as a paramedic, preceptor, field training officer, EMS instructor, Allsafe & EVOC instructor, AHA instructor and national EMT instructor. James teaches the EMT class in Austin and assists with the paramedic class, AHA courses, and orientation for new employees to Acadian.
Jennifer Melancon began her EMS career in 1998 and became a paramedic in 2005. Jennifer develops and teaches recertification material and coordinates the recertification process for the nationally registered medics in Louisiana and Texas. She has a bachelor's in education from Louisiana State University, an associate degree in emergency health science from Our Lady of the Lake College and is a graduate of the National EMS Academy.
Jessica Broussard has been a part of the Acadian family and involved in EMS since 2015. She has been a paramedic instructor with NEMSA since 2020. She holds an Associate of Applied Science from South Louisiana Community College, a Bachelor of Science from McNeese State University in Biology and Chemistry and a doctoral degree from Louisiana State University Health Science Center.
Jessica Hirtzler has worked for Acadian since 1994 as an EMT and paramedic. She currently teaches the paramedic classes in Alexandria. Jessica has an associate degree in applied science from South Louisiana Community College.
Johnathan Dees has been involved in EMS since 2009 and an instructor since 2012. A NEMSA alumni, he received his associate degree in applied science from South Louisiana Community College. Johnathan decided to change his career from IT to the EMS field after being inspired by his paramedic father-in-law. He attended the National EMS Academy's EMT class in Jefferson Parish and joined the Acadian family in 2009. He immediately recognized that he loved this line of work. He then went through the paramedic course in Gretna. During his time as an EMT and while going through paramedic class, Johnathan volunteered at the Academy every chance he got. He began teaching the paramedic class full-time in 2012.
Justin obtained his EMT with NEMSA in 2014 and became a Paramedic in 2015. Justin worked in the Baton Rouge area as a CCT medic while serving as an Adjunct and Associate Instructor. In January 2022, he became a NEMSA instructor for Baton Rouge. Justin received an Associate's Degree of Applied Sciences from South Louisiana Community College, as well as a Bachelor's Degree of Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University.
Karri Douget has been involved with EMS since 1991 and has worked on the ambulance, in Air Med, and education divisions of Acadian. Karri has been an EMT and paramedic instructor with NEMSA since 2009. She has an associate degree in criminal justice from SOWELA Community College in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Kiara Gills has been involved in EMS since 2015 and became a NEMSA instructor in 2021. She became an EMT in 2015 and later earning her Paramedic through the NEMSA program in 2017. She began teaching ACLS and BLS classes and transitioned into assisting EMT and paramedic classes. Now, she is the paramedic instructor at NEMSA's Stennis campus.
Langston Hayes has been involved in EMS since 2019 and became an instructor in 2021. Prior to his EMS career, he worked as an emergency room technician and decided to advance his medical career by attending EMT school. In 2019, Langston became a certified EMT and by 2020 he was a registered paramedic. Langston holds a bachelor's degree from Nicholls State University. In 2019, he received his associate degree in applied science from South Louisiana Community College. Langston is the EMT-Basic instructor at the Houma campus.
Lisa Grundmann has been involved in EMS since 2011. Alumni of NEMSA, she has been a paramedic since 2016. Lisa began helping at the academy shortly after graduation and officially joined the Acadian family as a paramedic instructor in Elmwood in 2019. Lisa graduated with an associates degree of applied science from South Louisiana Community College. Afterward, Lisa obtained her bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University.
Martin Lee has been involved in EMS since 1996 with the U.S. Army. He has been directly involved in the EMS training programs, continuing education, and the new hire process at NEMSA's Austin campus since 2007. In addition to his EMS instructor credentials, Martin has a master's degree in acupuncture and oriental medicine from the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin.
Michael Chiappetta obtained his EMT through Baton Rouge Community College and immediately began working for Acadian Ambulance in 2016. Michael attended the National EMS Academy in Baton Rouge and became a paramedic in 2018. He worked for Acadian as a paramedic in the Capital Area from 2018-2021. During that time, he also worked as an adjunct with the NEMSA Baton Rouge paramedic classes and as a National Registry Examiner. He became the Covington paramedic instructor in January of 2021.
Paul Duplantis has been involved with EMS since 1992 and teaches EMT and paramedic courses. Paul is a certified Louisiana EMS Instructor and also teaches, PHTLS, AMLS, ACLS, and BLS courses. He has an associate degree of applied science from South Louisiana Community College and is a national registry representative.
Rebecca Gallagher has been involved in EMS since 2005 and became a paramedic through NEMSA in 2011. She began working full-time with NEMSA as an EMS instructor in 2014. She now the lead instructor for the Beaumont paramedic class and the Clinical Coordinator for the Beaumont site.
Robert Clement has been involved in EMS since 1984 and EMS education since 1995. Rob oversees all aspects of training at the National EMS Academy campuses in Houma and Gretna and has an associate degree in applied science from South Louisiana Community College.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Medical Director, Alexandria
Dr. Rosemary St. Clergy began her medical career in 1984, after graduating from LSU Medical Center in Shreveport. Though her heart was in emergency medicine, ER residencies were not available at the time, so she completed a residency in family medicine at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge. She then worked as an emergency room doctor at Our Lady of Lourdes in Lafayette until 2004, earning an MBA from Tulane and becoming OLOL's Medical Director at that time. Dr. St. Clergy came to NEMSA in 2007 and helped create the CCT program. In her spare time, she loves gardening and spending time with her two dogs, two cats, and two grandchildren.
Kenneth "Ryan" Starr began his EMS career in 2011, after completing an active duty assignment with the US Marine Corps. Ryan previously worked in the Jefferson Parish area. In addition to teaching with NEMSA, Ryan obtained his AHA instructor certification.
Seth Wood began his career in emergency medical services in 2011 with the American Red Cross at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Throughout his career, he has served as a medic in the pre-hospital setting, emergency department, adult and pediatric medical-surgical units, critical care and step-down units, and as a Flight Line Medic. Seth also served as an Emergency Medical Technician Instructor for Central Texas College, Europe, andAmerican Heart Association Instructor for the Military Training Network,and AMR. He achieved his paramedic certification in December of 2019. Since then, he has served as a field paramedic and Critical Care Field Training Officer Paramedic for AMR and Acadian in San Antonio, Texas. He is currently serving as the Lead EMS Instructor for the National EMS Academy, in San Antonio, Texas. He is currently working towards a bachelor's degree in Emergency Health Sciences. Awards and distinguished achievements include the Clara Barton Honor Leadership Award (April 2015), the President's Volunteer Service Award-gold level (May 2012, May 2013, May 2016), and the Presidential Lifetime Call to Service Award. Outside of work, he is a husband, outdoor enthusiast, Adventure motorcycle rider, and an avid numismatist.
Stacey Kaizer has been involved with EMS since 1997 and has been an EMS Instructor since 2007. Stacey develops and instructs recertification material for EMS providers. She has an associate degree in EMS-paramedics and a bachelor's degree from Nicholls State University in allied health management and supervision. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, exercising, and spending time with her family.
Taylor Richard completed his EMT and paramedic training through the National EMS Academy and began his EMS career in 2010. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Taylor joined the Acadian team as an EMT serving the Baton Rouge area. Throughout his career Taylor held many roles such as Operations Coordinator in Dallas, Texas and Operations Manager in Monroe, Louisiana and advancing to Director of the National EMS Academy. As the director, he oversees initial education for EMR/ECA, EMT and Paramedic training, CCT training and recertification initiatives for current employees and external customers through continuing education. In addition, he also oversees external education through the American Heart Association and the recruitment of students and ground operation personnel.
Taylor holds an associate's degree in Applied Sciences from SLCC and is working toward his Bachelor of Science in Unified Public Safety Administration from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Timothy (TJ) Dronet has been involved in EMS since 2009 and is currently serving as Operations Coordinator for NEMSA . TJ is a certified Louisiana EMS Instructor through the Louisiana Bureau of EMS. He also teaches BLS, ACLS and PALS courses. Additionally, TJ holds the position of training center faculty through the American Heart Association. He is a graduate of the National EMS Academy and obtained an associate of applied science from South Louisiana Community College.