TraumaCon 2026 - Bios

René Ackermann is a nationally and internationally recognised trauma and emergency care leader with more than 25 years of experience in clinical, operational, academic, and strategic domains. She currently serves as Clinical & Technical Expert for Lenmed Group, leading trauma centre accreditation, transplant programme development, and emergency systems strategy across South Africa and international projects. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing South Africa, Executive Council Member of the Trauma Society of South Africa, and International Council Co-Chair of the Society of Trauma Nurses (USA).

Zakk Arciaga is the Assistant Director of Trauma Surgery and Trauma Program Manager at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He oversees trauma operations, performance improvement, registry quality, injury prevention, and the Break the Cycle Health System-Based Violence Intervention Program across the Johns Hopkins Health System.

Zakk serves in multiple statewide leadership roles with Maryland: Chair of Maryland Trauma Quality Improvement Program, Legislative Chair of Maryland's TraumaNET, and collaborates nationally and internationally on initiatives advancing trauma systems, data-driven care, and trauma survivorship. His work focuses on strengthening trauma readiness, improving patient outcomes, and integrating trauma-informed approaches across the continuum of care.

Abigail Blackmore, MSN, RN, TCRN, has over 20 years of experience in neurotrauma and critical care nursing at major trauma centers. Abbie has served as Trauma Program Director at both Level I and Level II facilities and as a Trauma Nurse Reviewer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Ms. Blackmore has extensive experience as a nurse educator and has published multiple professional works, and is currently the clinical education specialist for TCAR Education Program.

Cindy has worked in many areas in her nursing career from a med/surg floor, the ICU, the ED, pre-hospital setting and as a Trauma Program Manager. For the past 20 years she has been at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia as the Trauma CNS and now as the Trauma PI and Research Coordinator. She has published and lectured nationally and internationally on a multitude of nursing topics. She has served in multitude of leadership positions in STN including serving on the Board of Directors and she is a past president of the organization.

Kristin M. Bradley-Selway is an emergency and trauma nurse, family nurse practitioner, former ED director, nurse leader, and academic educator. She specializes in evidence-based initiatives to support healthcare professionals, including interventions addressing moral injury and clinician well-being. Kristin integrates clinical expertise, leadership, and scholarly inquiry into teaching, mentorship, and academic practice. Her work bridges clinical care, administration, academia, and research, translating evidence into sustainable improvements in trauma care.

Jessica Cofran is a Director of Trauma Services at Common Spirit Health. She has 16 years’ trauma nursing experience with specialty in trauma critical care, emergency care, trauma registry, and process improvement. Jessica is currently serving as the Chair of the American Trauma Society Trauma Nurse Leadership Council, Co-Chair of the Society of Trauma Nurse Leadership Development Committee, and contributing member of the Trauma Outcomes Performance Improvement Course (TOPIC) Committee. Jessica has special interest in utilizing technology to elevate performance improvement processes, trauma data analytics and implementation, and development of regional systemization and inter-facility collaboration.

Jennifer Colona, RN, is a Clinical Educator II at Cooper University Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center. She began her career in the Trauma Department in 2003 as a nurse extern and critical care technician, later joining the Trauma Step‑Down Unit as an RN in 2005. Since 2007, she has provided high‑acuity care in both the Trauma ICU and the Trauma Resuscitation Bay. Jennifer has served as the Trauma Department’s Clinical Educator since 2019, advancing staff competency, education, and evidence‑based trauma practice.

Elwood Conaway, is the Trauma Program Manager at The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He manages all trauma operations, performance improvement, quality, and injury prevention, and works collaboratively with all the trauma centers in MIEMSS to improve outcomes.

Elwood serves as the Vice Chair for Maryland’s TraumaNET and worked with the UAE to initiate the development of international trauma guidelines and standards. Elwood is the Vice Chair of the STN Geriatric Committee and former Chair of the STN Burn SIG. His areas of interest include the development of military-civilian partnerships for burns and trauma program management in preparation for large-scale operations, as well as geriatrics. Elwood is a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves, where he serves as the commander of the 818th Hospital Center in Utica, New York.

Tracy Cotner-Pouncy is the Director of Trauma & Forensic Services for Baylor Scott & White in Temple, TX, overseeing three trauma centers and a regional Forensics program. Ms. Cotner-Pouncy has over 25 years of trauma management and system development experience and specializes in trauma performance improvement and survey preparedness.

Ms. Cotner-Pouncy is a regional, state, and national leader in trauma management. She currently serves as the Secretary for the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN). In addition to serving on the STN Board, she is a member of the Trauma Outcomes & Performance Improvement Course (TOPIC) Committee, the STN International Committee, and the STN PI Special Interest Group (SIG). Ms. Cotner-Pouncy is also a member of the Trauma Nursing Leadership Council for the American Trauma Society (ATS) and a member of the Trauma Systems Committee for the Trauma Centers Association of America (TCAA). Ms. Cotner-Pouncy serves as a Nurse Reviewer for the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as well as a Nurse Partner for the ACS Best Practice Guideline Workgroup. Ms. Cotner-Pouncy is also a member of the Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum (TTCF).

Dr. Criddle has been a clinical nurse specialist since 1990, working as an emergency, trauma, flight, or neuroscience CNS at six healthcare organizations across the country. Throughout her career, Laura has cared for neonatal, pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations and has published over 100 journal articles, books, and book chapters covering a wide range of topics. Dr. Criddle ihas held academic positions at four colleges and universities and is the co-founder of TCAR Education Programs, where she currently serves as the clinical nurse specialist and chief clinical officer. Dr. Criddle has a long history of presenting to healthcare audiences in the U.S. and internationally.

Dr. Cutugno has more than 40 years of critical care & emergency nursing experience in staff, education & administrative positions in large medical centers in NYC and NJ. She is currently an adjunct faculty member in Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing’s Advanced Practice Nursing program where she teaches Graduate Pathophysiology and an annual graduate Trauma Nursing elective. She has published several critical care and trauma journal articles and has given presentations at local and national nursing conferences.

Janice Delgiorno is the Director of Operations for the Center of Trauma Services at Cooper University Health Care, where she leads initiatives to advance trauma care and operational excellence. She earned her BSN from Villanova University and her MSN from Thomas Jefferson University. Janice is a recognized leader in advanced practice nursing, honored with the Villanova M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Alumni Medallion for Leadership in Nursing (2024), named Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year by the NJ Forum of Nurses in Advanced Practice (2024), and awarded Cooper University Medical Center’s Advanced Practice Provider of the Year (2025).

Nurse for over 20 years, with experience in Trauma Care, Health Management, and Nursing and Medical Education, working mainly in Emergency Departments and Emergency Medical Services, providing care and developing management activities including training and trauma centers organization. Consultant in Development and Management of Trauma Services/Systems and Coordinator at All Trauma Company. Society of Trauma Nurses ATCN Committee and International Council Member. ATCN International Vice-Director. Panamerican Trauma Society Nursing Committee Member.

Evan Edminster is a nationally recognized trauma and emergency care leader with three decades of experience spanning military aeromedical evacuation, prehospital critical care, flight nursing, emergency nursing, and trauma system leadership at the local, state, and national levels. A former U.S. Air Force Flight Medic and Flight Nurse, he served in the Global War on Terror, conducting fixed- and rotor-wing aeromedical evacuation missions before transitioning into California rotor-wing HEMS, fire service, and civilian trauma systems. Evan is a nationally active trauma educator, published author, and frequent invited speaker on bleeding control, disaster preparedness, and trauma system integration. His work has earned multiple American College of Surgeons and national nursing excellence awards for innovation and measurable impact in trauma care.

Katie Fisher is the Trauma Program Manager for Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, bringing nearly two decades of nursing experience across emergency care, flight nursing, and trauma program leadership. She is Lean Six Sigma certified and focuses on evidence-based performance improvement to drive sustainable change and improve patient outcomes. Katie has presented at multiple professional conferences and was most recently honored with the Dr. Michael Shabot Quality and Safety Award in 2025. Her leadership and commitment to excellence were further recognized when she was named the 2024 Leader of the Year for Memorial Hermann Greater Heights.

Dr. Michelle Scotton Franklin is a nurse practitioner and nurse scientist dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), with a particular focus on individuals from racial and ethnic minorities and rural communities. She is an Assistant Professor in the Duke Department of Psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine and the founder of Optimizing Health Collaborative, PLLC. Dually certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner, her research and clinical work leverage multilevel interventions, Medicaid and administrative data, and health policy solutions to address health inequities and unmet needs across the lifespan. With more than 23 years of experience working with families affected by IDD and other disabilities, she is a national leader in disabilities-informed care, workforce training, and policy advocacy.

Mr. Guarino, BSN, EMT-P, has worked in various facets of Trauma, including E.M.S., Emergency Medicine, and Critical Care nursing for the last 40 years. He currently serves as the Trauma Educator and Quality Improvement Coordinator for a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, where he provides education on pediatric trauma care and coordinates quality improvement initiatives.

Melissa N. Hall, MSN, RN, is a dedicated trauma nursing leader with extensive experience in trauma program development, education, and quality improvement. As the Director of Trauma Services at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, she leads multidisciplinary teams to enhance trauma care, compliance, and patient outcomes. A recognized speaker and advocate, Melissa is passionate about trauma education, trauma system development, and advancing the field through leadership and mentorship.

Grace Harvey is the Trauma Program Social Worker, Trauma Survivors Network Coordinator, and primary mental health provider for the INTEGRIS Health Level II Trauma Center in Oklahoma City. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oklahoma Baptist University and her Master of Social Work from the University of Oklahoma. Her career spans diverse healthcare and nonprofit settings where she has focused on providing high-quality therapeutic care to vulnerable populations. Grace played an integral role in the opening of the INTEGRIS Health Trauma Center and is committed to advancing and standardizing mental health interventions within trauma care.

Laura Harwood is the co-founder of the Colorado Whole Blood Coalition and an Independent Consultant. She served as the trauma program manager at St Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado, an ACS verified Level I trauma center for 5 years and as a trauma PI nurse for 4 years prior to this and has led the development and launch of several prehospital whole blood programs in Colorado.

Kaity is an experienced Trauma Coordinator with over five years of leadership experience in a Level III trauma center. With a strong clinical foundation in trauma resuscitation and critical care, Kaity has played a key role in coordinating multidisciplinary trauma teams, supporting evidence-based practice, and maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and outcomes. Passionate about trauma care, Kaity is deeply committed to mentoring and developing new nurses. Through hands-on teaching, preceptorship, and leadership support, Kaity strives to foster clinical confidence, critical thinking, and resilience in the next generation of trauma nurses.

Heidi Hotz is an executive leader in trauma nursing, currently serving as the Director of Trauma, Emergency General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Her career is marked by exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing trauma care, both nationally and internationally. Throughout her career, Heidi has held the esteemed position of President in four major trauma professional organizations: The Society of Trauma Nurses, The American Trauma Society, The Trauma Managers Association of California, and the Los Angeles Association of Trauma Program Managers. These roles underscore her commitment to shaping the future of trauma care and enhancing optimal trauma care across the continuum. Her contributions have been widely recognized with numerous awards. She is a recipient of the Society of Trauma Nurses’ Trauma Leadership Award and the Distinguished Trauma Lectureship Award. Notably, Heidi was honored with an honorary membership by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, becoming only the second nurse ever to receive this prestigious recognition. Her expertise also extends to accreditation, where she serves as a senior survey team member for the American College of Surgeons Trauma Systems and Evaluation Program. She is also a trauma hospital site surveyor retained by governmental agencies, and consulting firms.

Beyond administrative leadership; she has been a leader in trauma education. As the inaugural Chair of the ATCN National-International Committee, she led efforts to secure approval from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma for this educational program, collaborating closely with the ATLS Subcommittee. Her global lectures on trauma topics and participation in national initiatives have further cemented her role as an expert and advocate in trauma nursing. Heidi Hotz exemplifies visionary leadership in trauma through her extensive roles, awards, and educational initiatives. Her work continues to shape trauma care standards supporting professionals dedicated to improving outcomes for trauma patients worldwide.

Darrell L. Hunt was named the Trauma Medical Director of TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, TN in February of 2021 and the Division Trauma Medical Director for the TriStar Division of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in 2022. He is also the program director for the TriStar/Nashville surgical critical care fellowship, which started in 2023. Dr. Hunt completed medical school at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He then completed his residency in General Surgery, PhD in molecular cell biology, and fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Florida in Gainesville. In his free time, Dr. Hunt enjoys traveling with his wife and two children.

Wendy Hyatt is a Trauma Program Manager with 15 years of emergency nursing experience and over a decade in trauma performance improvement. Her professional interests include geriatric trauma, fall prevention and system level quality improvement.

Helen Jowett is a Trauma Program Manager a The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, leading trauma care, quality improvement, and holistic staff and family support initiatives.

She is International Director at Large and the Chair of the International Council for the Society of Trauma Nurses. She is the Immediate Past President of the Australian & New Zealand Trauma Society, and a founding leader of the Australian & New Zealand Trauma Quality Improvement Program. Helen also serves on multiple national and international trauma, ethics, verification, and education committees, championing excellence in trauma care across Australasia and globally.

Emily Kesner is a nurse leader with extensive experience in pediatric emergency and hospital administration. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Systems Leadership (2025) and Master of Science in Nursing Administration (2023) from Mount St. Joseph University. Throughout her career at Dayton Children’s Hospital, she has held various roles, including emergency department staff nurse, clinical logistics coordinator, administrative supervisor, assistant nurse manager, and research and quality improvement specialist. Emily’s academic and research interests focus on advancing pediatric emergency care and leadership development. She has published on the implementation of low-titer whole blood in pediatric hospitals and has presented her work at national and regional conferences, including the Trauma Quality Improvement Program Conference. In recognition of her leadership and contributions, she has received multiple awards, including the OONL Aspiring Nurse Leader Award (2023) and the MSJ Leader in Nursing Award (2024). Beyond her professional roles, Emily serves her community through board positions with local organizations and advocacy initiatives, reflecting her passion for children and her commitment to both patient care and the advancement of nursing practice.

Brianna Kimbrell, MSN, RN, has over 10 years of adult and pediatric nursing experience, including 8 years specializing in pediatric trauma, and holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in education from Liberty University. She has served for four years as the Pediatric Trauma Coordinator at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she leads pediatric trauma performance improvement, education, research, injury prevention efforts, and actively contributes to state and national trauma organizations and committees.

A senior nurse leader and trauma care specialist with extensive experience in traumatology, anesthesia nursing, and health administration. Holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration and a Master’s degree in Nursing Science from the University of Oslo, in addition to advanced specialization as a Nurse Anesthetist. Currently serves as Assistant Head of the Department of Traumatology and Regional Trauma Coordinator for South-Eastern Norway, with long-standing leadership responsibility for trauma coordination at Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål. Has broad experience from clinical practice, system-level patient safety work as Senior Advisor at the Norwegian Healthcare Investigation Board (UKOM), and national and international trauma education, including leadership of trauma nursing programs. Actively engaged in international trauma nursing through editorial and leadership roles in the Society of Trauma Nurses.

Amber Kyle, has over 30 years of experience in trauma care and trauma system development. She serves as the Director of Trauma & Burn Services at the University of MS Medical Center. Amber is an active member of the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) where she has served on the board of directors, various committee chair, and author of a variety of organization documents. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Trauma Centers Association of America, and was the TCAA intern in 2022.

Mary Maginas is the Trauma Program Manager at Rady Children's Health of Orange County. Mary holds over a decade of experience working as a Pediatric Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner and Trauma Nurse Practitioner at a Level 1 Trauma Center. She is the Co-Chair of the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association Trauma SIG, a member of the Pediatric Trauma Society Advanced Practice Committee, and a TNCC instructor.

Sarah Mattocks serves as Trauma Program Director at UPMC Hamot, a Level II Trauma Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Nursing from Gannon University. Ms. Mattocks began her nursing career in emergency medicine and brings over two decades of progressive leadership experience in trauma program coordination, management, and direction. She maintains active membership in the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) and was honored as the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) – EAST Foundation Nurse Fellow in 2014.

Her extensive service to the profession includes former treasurer of the Pennsylvania Trauma Nurse Advisory Council (PATNAC), current Vice President of the American Trauma Society Pennsylvania Division, and participation on multiple Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation committees. Within STN, where she has contributed for over 19 years in various capacities, she currently serves as co-chair of the TOPIC Committee and is a past president of the board of directors. Ms. Mattocks is a recognized speaker who has presented on diverse trauma topics to multidisciplinary audiences at local, national, and international venues. She additionally serves as a trauma center consultant and site surveyor for the states of Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

Dana Mayer is the Trauma Program Director for the Joint Trauma System. She works with various teams to improve trauma readiness and outcomes through evidence-driven performance improvement. Recently, Dana was the Director of Trauma for the trauma and rehabilitative medicine team in the UAE. She contributed to the development of international trauma guidelines. Dana is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. She was a critical care air transport nurse and later became the Chief Nurse.

I began my nursing career in the Boston Children's Hospital Emergency Department in 2004, first as a new graduate RN and then as a NP. I spent 15 years working as a nurse on the BCH Critical Care Transport Team. I have recently transitioned to the Trauma Program Nurse Practitioner role.

Christine Perlick has an extensive background in pediatric nursing, with a strong specialization in trauma care. For more than eight years, she has advanced pediatric trauma services through Trauma Program Management at a Level I pediatric trauma center. Her clinical experience includes pediatric trauma, burn care, and neonatal intensive care. Christine is deeply committed to trauma excellence and professional advancement and is an active member of the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) and the Pediatric Trauma Society (PTS).

Eman Qzih is a Jordanian nurse specializing in operating room nursing with advanced expertise in emergency and trauma surgery. She served for four years as a Trauma Program Manager, contributing significantly to trauma system development and clinical excellence. Eman currently works as a lecturer at the Military Nursing College at Mutah University. She holds a PhD from the University of Jordan and has completed advanced trauma and emergency training, including ATCN, PHTLS, TOPIC, and TPM.

Ray served as the 13th State Fire Marshal in Iowa and has led a state-wide smoke alarm installation program in Iowa that not only saw the installation of 60,000 smoke alarms but documented 731 lives saved. His passion for preventing tragedy from fire makes him a community risk reduction leader in the U.S. Ray currently serves as the HOT working group leader for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) as a board member for the Fire and Life Safety Section (FLSS). His goal is to eradicate home oxygen fires using engineered solutions to save lives and protect firefighters from the tragedies associated with these fires.

Nurse with 20 years of experience in different areas of healthcare, including emergency and trauma care, continuity of care in a referral inpatient unit for trauma patients, healthcare management, and trauma education for nurses. Currently, she is a nursing supervisor in surgical inpatient units that receive post-traumatic patients and has managed fall incidents at the institution for over 5 years. She earned her bachelor's degree in Nursing from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo and her Master of Science from the University of São Paulo. She is dedicated to research in the field of nursing, including evidence-based practices, which also includes improving trauma care and patient outcomes.

Anthony is the Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator at Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, NY (Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center). He brings over a decade of experience in emergency services, with a clinical background in trauma nursing and experience in emergency management. His work focuses on data-informed injury prevention, trauma system collaboration, and community-based education. He serves as an instructor for multiple courses, including TNCC, BLS, ACLS, BDLS, and ADLS, and is also an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Course Coordinator at his institution. He holds an MBA in Healthcare Management and is currently completing both his MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner degree and Doctor of Healthcare Administration at Oklahoma State University.

Diana Skaff is a healthcare executive, academic, and program evaluator with over 20 years of progressive experience across clinical practice, healthcare management, higher education, research, and international consultancy. Her career spans leadership roles in major tertiary hospitals, academic institutions, professional societies, and consultancy firms across Lebanon, the GCC, and internationally. She held senior nursing leadership and executive roles at institutions such as the American University of Beirut Medical Center, American Hospital Dubai, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Kanad Hospital, where she led quality improvement, accreditation, workforce optimization, and patient safety initiatives. In academia, she currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Nursing Program at the University of Balamand and has extensive experience in curriculum design, clinical education, simulation, and mentoring at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Since 2020, She worked as a Healthcare Executive and Program Evaluation Consultant through Octahedron FZ LLC (Dubai), leading healthcare management, research, program evaluation, and organizational efficiency projects aligned with international accreditation standards. She is also a recognized international trauma education leader, serving as ATCN Director, Instructor, and Educator, ATLS Coordinator, and active contributor to global trauma education, quality improvement, and research initiatives.

Kim Smith is the Trauma Education Coordinator at Northside Hospital Gwinnett, a Level II Trauma Center, and practices part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Department. With 40 years of nursing experience, including service as an ED Clinical Specialist, she provides leadership in trauma education, competency development, and workforce readiness. Her work includes trauma policy development, clinical product implementation, and leadership of advanced trauma initiatives to support standardized, high-reliability trauma care.

Haley Strebler is the Administrative Supervisor for the Trauma Training Institute, Injury Prevention, and Trauma Outreach programs at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Her clinical background began as a Certified Athletic Trainer providing sports medicine services for the five years of her career. Following nursing school, she has spent her entire 11-year nursing career in trauma, starting as a Trauma ICU nurse before transitioning into her current leadership role.

Ryan Toriello is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) working as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) at Stanford Emergency Department; he leads high-fidelity initiatives in trauma training, interdisciplinary in-situ trauma simulations, TNCC training, and ultrasound-guided vascular access courses.

Retired professor of Trauma Nursing. Spearheaded the committees that developed nursing protocols, core competencies, and a standardized curriculum for trauma nursing at both nursing students as well as nursing working in the hospitals that comprise the trauma system network in Thailand. Played an integral part in the development of the trauma registry for Thailand. Member of the STN International Council.

Dr. Melissa Wholeben is an Associate Professor of Nursing specializing in trauma-informed care and emergency nursing. Her research advances strategies for improving trauma care, including interventions for interpersonal violence survivors, forensic evidence collection, and culturally informed approaches to reduce health disparities. She has led and collaborated on NIH-funded and foundation-supported projects that evaluate trauma-informed practices and develop training for emergency department nurses. Through her publications and funded research, Dr. Wholeben contributes to evidence-based improvements in trauma care delivery and patient outcomes.