Venue Information

Location:

This year’s Training Blitz will be held at the Cumberland Woods Village Conference Center, sponsored by UPMC Passavant, located behind UPMC Passavant McCandless
700 Cumberland Woods Drive
Allison Park, PA 15101

Since this building also serves as a residential senior community, we’re asking that you remain mindful and park in the designated area mapped below:

Breakfast and Lunch:

Join us to learn, and we’ll worry about the rest. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, August 23rd

08:00

Rescue Medicine: Taking Advanced Care to the Patient

The expectation of EMS providers has evolved over the years to include more advanced care in the field as evidenced by additions such as CPAP, Pre-Hospital Blood Product Administration, and other advanced procedures. While this care has revolutionized our ability to care for patients and improve patient outcomes, what happens when the patients we face aren’t in the normal confines of a home, facility, or ambulance? This course will discuss the principles of “Rescue Medicine” or caring for patients in the austere environment where often resources are limited, and the timeframe of patient care can be longer than we, as EMS providers, are used to. The course will discuss patient access issues, critical interventions for long-term care, and considerations of care for the austere environment. The course will discuss the pathophysiology of issues such as crush syndrome and long-term management of these patients in the rescue environment, and how our care can impact long-term outcomes for the patients we are managing.

Scott Studebaker, NRP, FAEMS

City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS

Peri-Inubation Disasters

This course will seek to provide EMS clinicians with the knowledge set necessary to reduce risk of peri-intubation patient harm, by using current evidence.

Jonathon W. Jenkins, BS, NRP, CADS, F-ABMDI

LITES Network

AEDs and ReBirthdays

This presentation will review the 7 US FDA-approved AED manufacturers along with their corresponding devices. The process and equipment needed to download the AED ECG and report will be explained, along with why this is important to do. Celebrating the Chain of Survival with the resultant ReBirthdays and Bonus Days will be shared and why this is significant to recognize for all involved in the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest medical emergency.

Cheryl Rickens, RN, BSN, PHRN

University of Pittsburgh

09:15

Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

This lecture aims to explore the intricacies of pediatric cardiac arrest, focusing on its epidemiology, underlying etiologies, and effective management strategies. Through case discussions, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of current evidence on pediatric cardiac arrest, as well as insights into post-arrest care and actionable next steps for improving practice.

Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, MPH, FAAP

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

TRAUMA AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE: Common Dynamics in Sexual Assault and Abuse

In this training, you will build on your existing experience as medical providers to support victims of sexual violence. You will learn the impact trauma has on the brain, the importance of trauma-informed care as it relates to victims of sexual violence, and common needs in receiving disclosures of sexual abuse. 

Nick Coleman, BS, CTSS

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape

Vivian Sentmier, BS, CTSS

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape

Blood Administration: How and When Based Upon the Literature

This course will review the literature related to prehospital administration of blood for patients in hemorrhagic shock. Published case reviews will be outlined, giving students concrete data related to when and how to administer blood. Other literature detailing blood administration in other EMS systems, including Europe is outlined. Mechanics of blood administration including how to spike the bags, is demonstrated.

Francis Feld, DNP, CRNA, LAT, NRP

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

From Clinician to Commander

This course is designed to equip EMS professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively implement incident command at emergency scenes. While EMTs and paramedics are trained clinicians, incident command requires a different set of skills. By teaching EMS-specific incident command techniques, this course aims to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and command responsibilities, enabling EMS professionals to confidently manage emergency incidents and improve overall response outcomes.

Adam Palmer, MBA, NRP

City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS

10:30

Mental and Physical Health Work Side By Side

Has anyone ever had a call that they really had a hard time dealing with? Add to that a few extra shifts that did not play out like they were supposed to, as well as adding a call or two that affected you the same way. How many people were told, this is what EMS is, either you can deal with it, or you can get out of it? Maybe this was just ingrained into our heads a long ago, but it is still seen that way today, even though there are ways to help cope with it. This presentation will discuss stress, burnout, PTSD, and how there are some common good and bad ways to help overcome the boundaries that they establish. There will also be examples of how this affected me both physically and mentally, as well as why I believe it is a subject that should not go unnoticed.

Rob Druga, BS, EMT-P

Allegheny Health Network

Beautiful Day for Leadership

What sets great leaders apart? Why do some seem born to command attention and respect, effortlessly inspiring others to follow their lead when they walk into a room? Others, however, may struggle to assert their authority or make decisions that earn the trust of their team. What makes a good leader?

Do you ever wish leadership were as simple as a friendly visit to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood? In reality, effective leadership requires a lifelong commitment to self-discovery, embracing complexity, and accepting imperfection. This is a time to learn that some days, despite doing our best, we can still fall short of we would like to do. We must understand that life is not perfect and we must do what we can with what we have.

This presentation will discuss effective leadership styles and focus on servant-style leadership while applying some learnings from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.

Brian P Maloney, Paramedic, MS

Plum EMS

Firefighter Down – CPR and Equipment Removal

This course will review what to do and how to remove the gear of a downed firefighter. Steps of removing the gear while still performing CPR will be reviewed and include a hands-on component.

Chris Snedeker, PSFA Instructor, FFI, EMT-B

Cranberry Twp VFD

LUNCH BREAK

12:30

My patient is having a stroke! Or are they…?

It looks like a stroke. It acts like a stroke. But the CT scan comes back clean. This course will review a case handled by this provider in which all symptoms pointed to a stroke, but the patient did not actually have one.

Megan Mason, MPH, NRP, PA EMS Instructor

Sergeant Rescue Training & Consulting

The MAST Trauma Concept course presents a focused and efficient trauma care framework designed for prehospital providers operating in high-stakes environments. This 1-hour session emphasizes rapid assessment, decisive interventions, minimizing on-scene delays, and prioritizing definitive care through timely transport. The course integrates current best practices in trauma care with real-world application, equipping EMS providers with a structured approach to improve outcomes in critical trauma situations.

Jason Tartalone, NRP, FAWN, FEWN, WP-C, TP-C

Sergeant Rescue Training & Consulting

Trauma in EMS: A Glimpse 10 years Into the Future

Trauma is one of the most rapidly growing populations in the realm of medicine.  Pittsburgh has always been at the leading edge of the world of trauma, especially in the pre-hospital space.  In this lecture, I will discuss what new techniques and technology will be coming, as well as touch on some trauma misconceptions that we are hoping will disappear in the future.

Peter Allen, MD

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

13:45

Planning for Special Events and Mass Gatherings: Ensuring Your Event Doesn’t Turn Into an MCI.

Special Events and Mass Gatherings are an important part of EMS Operations. These events put our services in the spotlight. We want to ensure that everything is covered in the planning process. Whether it is a Friday Night Football Standby, Community Days or Medical Coverage for large events, these events are not something that we as EMS providers plan for regularly. Taking the time to put together a solid plan is key to success. We must look at all aspects of each event, double-checking that nothing is missing. This presentation will encompass the planning process, implementing existing work, staffing and management of the events, use of technology, demobilization, and the importance of After-Action reviews.

Wes Semple, MS, NRP, CMTE, LIFT-C

Allegheny Health Network

Everyone is an IDtenT, Including You, and Especially Me

This presentation will explore the siloing of healthcare training/education, various skill sets across various groups of providers, lack of cross-training outside of one’s own specialization, the difference between known knowledge, known deficit, and unknown deficits and how to transform them in to known unknown knowledge, etc. It will also explore how all of this leads to few in healthcare having a good idea of what others actually do, while degrading the care others provide. There will also be a section on how to work with and learn from these issues and use the knowledge to build better relationships with those we interact with across healthcare.

Adam Liske, Paramedic

Allegheny Health Network

The Modern March Assessment

This course will review the MARCH assessment and how to properly utilize it for trauma patients. Traumatic injuries such as hemorrhage, chest injuries, pneumothorax, hypothermia, and head injuries will be discussed as well as treatment options.

Joseph Ogershok, Jr, NRP, NAEMT Instructor

Sergeant Rescue Training & Consulting

15:00

Return to Matchbox City

To prepare responders to properly make good command processes and tactical decisions while working in various command and incident structures through incident role-playing and hands-on activities.

Allen Baldwin, EMTB, CEMSO, Fire Chief

York County Department of Fire and Life Safety

The Dimensions of Difficult Airway Management

This course will cover adult airway management. It will cover the anatomy of the adult airway and the management of the airway using basic and advanced life support.

Chad Dill, RN, CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RRT

Allegheny Health Network

Trauma Cases and Updates

This course will focus on trauma cases that have occurred. The goal of this presentation is to evaluate each case from the time of injury until the patient was discharged from the Trauma Center. Focus will be on the assessment, care, transport, and disposition of the patient.

Allan Philp, MD, FACS, FCCM

Allegheny Health Network

Transporting A Patient With A Left Ventricular Assist Device

The CDC reports over 6.7 million Americans have heart failure, with numbers expected to rise to 8 million by 2030. With the staggering numbers of Americans suffering from heart failure, prehospital providers are increasingly likely to encounter patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs). This course covers LVAD identification, basic assessment, and management skills, equipping providers to safely care for these patients in the field.

Cheryl Graper BSN, RN, CCRN, PHRN, CFRN

Allegheny Health Network Medical Center

16:15

Why This is One of the Best Jobs and How We Shoot Ourselves in the Foot with the Next Generation.

This class will remind EMS professionals why they began their journey while addressing the cultural issues in EMS, focusing on how we treat students and new employees. This includes promoting the best practices with regard to new employee training and student precepting.

Fiore Londino, Paramedic, EMS Instructor

Allegheny Health Network

Flowtriever: First FDA-Cleared Mechanical Thrombectomy System For Pulmonary Embolism

Ramzi Khahlil, MD

Inari Medical and Allegheny Health Network

Sunday, August 24th

08:00

Hand Trauma – Initial and Definitive Treatment

The hand and upper extremity is commonly prone to injury because of the natural reflex to protect the head and face during injury, as well as its use in manipulating and exploring our environment. Injuries of the upper extremity can involve multiple organ systems including: bone, tendon, skin, nerve and vessel. In this course, we will review the standard treatments for each of these organ systems, initially and definitively. We will also review amputations, which may lead to replantations, as well as complex injuries, which both require expertise in all the injured tissues in order to maximize the best outcome for the injured patient.

Peter Tang, MD, MPH

Allegheny Health Network

Mental Health Resilience for First Responders and Peer Support

This course provides first responders with the information and tools to strengthen their mental health resilience in the workplace with the goal of managing the unique stressors of emergency work. Participants will learn to recognize signs of stress and trauma, apply coping techniques to maintain emotional well-being, and support their peers. The course also introduces the formation of Peer Support Teams, such as the one formed by employees at CTEMS, as a method for supporting employees and decreasing instances of mental health-related incidents. The training is particularly focused on reducing stigma, promoting psychological safety, and fostering a resilient and supportive workplace culture.

Mandy Cousins, EMT

Cranberry Twp EMS

Lilliana Goris, BS, NRP

Cranberry Twp EMS

Why Can’t I Get A Damn Raise?

Prepare to be enlightened in this upcoming presentation as we delve into the world of EMS finance. While the financial aspects of EMS may not be the most exciting topic for you as a clinician, it is crucial for everyone in the system to grasp these concepts in order to address and rectify the issues at hand. By increasing awareness among the public and local and state officials, we can work towards creating positive change.

Eric Schmidt, EMT-P, CMTE

Shaler Hampton EMS

09:15

Time Heals All Wounds or Does it?

This course explores the impact of long-term exposure to traumatic events on the mental health of EMS providers. Drawing from personal experiences and professional exposure, the presenter will offer insight into the unique challenges faced in the field. Attendees will examine current techniques and interventions used to treat both acute and chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as the physical health effects associated with PTSD. Additionally, the course will highlight a variety of support resources available to the EMS community

Talo Capuzzi, NRP, Fire Officer 2

Allegheny Health Network

EMS Safety Best Practices

“If you can predict it, you can prevent it.” EMS personnel are faced with some kind of unsafe situation on nearly every call we respond to. Knowing what to look for helps to ensure our safety. This course will highlight a wide variety of EMS safety topics. Participants are certain to have numerous takeaways they can apply to their very next shift and every shift thereafter.

Chris Dell, BS, NRP, CEMSO

McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance Authority

Types and Severity of Burns

This 60-minute lecture will discuss Thermal, Electrical, and Chemical injuries from an EMS perspective.   Learning objectives will include describing various burn types and estimating their severity, extent, and impact on patient care.  The lecture will include case studies from the author’s experience regarding each type of burn injury and its relation to EMS as well as ED management.

Greg Hellier, DO, FACEP

Allegheny Health Network

10:30

The Tale of Two Traumas

Best-practice trauma care including resuscitation, airway management, and prevention of the trauma triad.

Cassandra Asberry, BA, EMT-P, NRP, FP-C

Allegheny Health Network

Alaina Martini, MSN, RN, CCRN, PHRN, CFRN

Allegheny Health Network

Medically Fragile and High Tech Kids

Understanding what defines a child as medically fragile, what equipment they may use, and what concerns parents/caregivers will have with dealing with medical providers.

Mark Ford, MS, MPA, FO

Bellevue Fire Department

Pediatric Trauma

This session will discuss the differences in mechanisms of injury, injury patterns and management in pediatric trauma. It will review pediatric anatomy and how/when pediatric trauma injuries differ from adults. It will review more common injury patterns, pediatric shock, and how management of pediatric trauma differs from adults, both prehospital and on the initial trauma assessment. This session is appropriate for all EMS levels.

Rebecca Greenstein, MD

Allegheny Health Network

LUNCH BREAK

12:30

Face/Off – Not Just a Bad 90s Movie: Airway Management of the Severe Facial Trauma Patient

This course covers airway management in trauma patients. Anatomy, types of airway management and assessments, and case reviews will be discussed.

Clayton Ondrizek, Paramedic
Allegheny Health Network

Failure to Communicate

Review, explain and discuss therapeutic communication, verbal and non-verbal communication, conflict resolution and de-escalation.

Rich Kaufman, Paramedic, EMS Instructor

EMS West

Todd Shipley, Paramedic, K-9 Officer

Munhall Police Department

STEMI or Not?
Prehospital Cath Lab Activation

This session will review lessons learned from over a decade of prehospital activations at 7 STEMI Receiving Centers in Southwestern PA. We will review key challenges and opportunities for the care of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome, including an emphasis on identifying ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Common mimics leading to cancelled activations will also be reviewed.

Christian Martin-Gill, MD, NRP

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

13:45

Scene Safety (Situational Awareness) according to The Titanic

The concept of scene safety is paramount! We can’t help others if we are not safe. Learn scene safety, AKA Situational Awareness, in a very simple and humorous way that makes it easy to remember and relate to. We will use The Titanic (The Event and The Movie) to discuss what to look out for to avoid the icebergs when responding to an emergency..

Terry Berringer

CEO Church Emergency Consulting

A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

This course will explore the continuum of epilepsy, seizure disorders, and pseudoseizures.

Alan Shapiro, MD

UPMC Passavant

Adult Respiratory Emergencies

This course will go over the different adult respiratory emergencies. It will cover different respiratory emergencies and how to recognize the differences, how to assess these patients, treat these patients, and manage their airways. This will be interactive with a trivia game during the presentation.

Adam Frisch, MD

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Shot Through the Heart (but You’re Not to Blame)- An Overview on Penetrating Trauma

In this session, we will examine penetrating trauma based on each body system affected and will talk about some of the in-hospital interventions that are done to stabilize these patients. We will also discuss what can be done in the field for these patients and what information physicians care most about hearing in the Trauma Bay and why it is important.

Matthew Lovell, MD, MS, PHP

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

15:00

Keynote Presentation

Join us for a question-and-answer session with command physicians from AHN and UPMC to close out the conference. This interactive experience will allow you to submit your questions in real-time.

Panel Biographies:

Adam Frisch, MD, MS

UPMC

About Dr. Adam Frisch

Dr. Adam Frisch is a physician and researcher in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UPMC. Dr. Frisch is the Medical Director for Cranberry Township EMS and for the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company. He is also the Associate Medical Director for the McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority.

Alan Shapiro, DO

UPMC

About Dr. Alan Shapiro

Dr. Shapiro began his medical career in EMS in 1995, serving as a volunteer for Baldwin EMS. While attending college he worked as an EMT for Baldwin EMS and a Paramedic for Tri-Community South EMS. He completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. He then attended the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Internship at UPMC Horizon and his Residency in Emergency Medicine at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, PA. Currently serves as the Medical Director for Prehospital Care at UPMC Passavant and works as an Emergency Physician at UPMC St. Margaret, UPMC East, and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center..

Sharon Klapec, MD, NRP

Allegheny Health Network

About Dr. Sharon Klapec

Dr. Sharon Klapec’s passion for prehospital care began at the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Emergency Medicine, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in emergency medicine. She received her MD from Northeast Ohio Medical University and then completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital. She recently completed an EMS fellowship at Allegheny Health Network. She has 10 years of experience working as a paramedic in the area. Dr. Klapec is excited to continue her career as the EMS medical director for AHN Forbes Hospital and associate medical director for AHN LifeFlight.

Chadd Nesbit, MD, PHD, FACEP

Allegheny Health Network

About Dr. Chadd Nesbit

Dr. Chadd Nesbit is the System EMS Director for Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA, and the Program Director for the EMS Fellowship based at Allegheny General Hospital. He has been involved in prehospital medicine at many levels, starting out as a volunteer EMT in 1991. Currently, he is the medical director for several ALS and BLS services in Western Pennsylvania.

Dr. Nesbit completed a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh and received his MD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He completed his residency training at Allegheny General and is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. His research interests include EMS education and outpatient cardiac arrest resuscitation.

Learn More About This Year’s Presenters

Click Here for Bios

How to Register

To register, visit the links below for Saturday and Sunday. You must register for each class day individually. Please register for only one class per hour.

Saturday Classes

Sunday Classes

Once you arrive at the venue, you will check in at the registration table, where you will receive a name tag with a list of your classes.

Continuing Education Credit

Attendances: This is Important

At the end of each class, you will be asked to scan a QR code. This link will complete your continuing education registration and provide a course survey. If this step is incomplete, you will not receive credit for the course.

Disclaimers

PA EMS Continuing Education
- Course numbers are provided by the presenter or sponsor
- Course numbers may not be unique to the class
If you have taken a similar class, you may not receive credit
Certificate of completion: The certificate of completion will be sent to the EMAIL address on file with the PA Department of Health EMS profile. You might want to check your state profile and update it if you feel the need to. https://ems.health.state.pa.us/Registry/
National Registry: CTEMS is not responsible for National Registry Reporting. Visit the National Registry website to enter your classes at https://www.nremt.org/
If you need proof of education from any agency outside the PA Department of Health EMS, you must request a certificate by emailing training@ctems51.org within 5 days of completing the course.
If you are a nurse, PA, doctor, or other healthcare provider, please email training@ctems51.org within 5 days of completing the course for a letter of reciprocity.

Cancellations

CTEMS will refund any student who cancels before August 1, 2025. To cancel, please email training@ctems51.org.
Any cancellation on or after August 1, 2025, is not eligible for a refund. We apologize for the inconvenience.