Staff Profiles

About Us
	Company Story
	Staff Profiles
		Dee Allen, WEMT, Instructor
		Lise Armstrong, Remote Site Paramedic
		Melissa Arnot, WEMT, Instructor
		Christine Avakian, Director, Human Resources
		Justin Ball, Director, Medical Support Group
		Vikki Buzzard, NREMT-P, SEI Instructor
		Tyler Cascade, Remote Area Paramedic
		Dewayne Cecil, Remote Site Paramedic
		Rich Chatman, NREMT-P, Instructor
		David Churchill, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic
		Andrew Cull, Chief Executive Officer
		Michael Dann, Remote Area Paramedic/Instructor
		Will Day, Remote Site Paramedic
		Phong Duong, J.D. General Counsel, Instructor
		Kate Earle, WEMT/MPIC, Instructor
		Dan Erickson, Warehouse Manager
		Sandy Fraser, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic, Instructor
		Julie Garren, Project Coordinator, Training Group
		Marika Geertz, Remote Site Paramedic
		Jason Griffin, Remote Site Paramedic
		Daniel Hegg, WEMT, Instructor
		Mark Howder, Remote Site Paramedic
		Mary Howland, Customer Service Coordinator
		Tamira Jenlink, WEMT, Instructor
		Thaddeus Josephson, Paramedic, Instructor
		Mitch Kadlec, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Chris Kenney, Director, Equipment & Supply Group
		Andy Kimmell, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic
		Dik Lagerwerff, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Jack M. Levine, DDS, Medical Advisor
		Kristen Looper, WEMT, Instructor
		JC Lujan, NREMT-B, Remote Site WEMT
		Lucas Martin, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic
		Genevieve Mayer, Account Manager, Military and Law Enforcement
		Dan McDermott, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Bill McKnight, PA-C, Instructor
		Loren McWethy, Product Information Coordinator, Equipment & Supply Group
		Sean Meade, Account Manager, Energy
		Tom Milne, Corporate and Executive Protection Account Manager
		Brent Molsberry, WEMT, Instructor
		Dave Mull, EMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic/Instructor
		Tyler Nielsen, Field Operations Manager, Training Group
		Patty O’Keefe, PA-C, Remote Site Physician Assistant
		Cait Parker, WEMT, Instructor
		Carrie Parker, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Kate Peters, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Emily Petersen, Project Manager, Medical Support Group
		Janet Peterson, DrPH, WEMT, Instructor
		Evan Rees, Remote Site Paramedic
		Jasmine Richards, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Phoebe Robinson, EMT-B/RN, Instructor
		Dash Rodman, RN, Instructor
		Adam Russell, WEMT, Instructor
		Claire Scarbeary, Project Manager, Equipment & Supply Group
		Adam Shain, PA-C, Remote Site Physician Assistant
		Paul Shovelier, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic
		Don Slack, MD, Instructor/Advisor
		Debi Solberg, RN,MSN, Medical Advisor/Instructor
		David Svobodny, EMT-II, Instructor
		Kevin Thompson, Director, Training Group
		Karl Tjerandsen, NREMT-B, Remote Site WEMT
		David Townes, MD, Medical Director
		Jarod Trow, NREMT-P, Instructor
		Amber Valenti, MPAS, PA-C
		Loreen Vasel, NREMT-P, Remote Area Paramedic, Instructor
		Maile Wade, WEMT, Instructor
		Phil Wesseler, Warehouse Associate, Training Group
	Project Portfolio
	Site Map
	Contact Us
	Help Section
	Health & Safety
	Career Opportunities
	Request a Catalog

Staff Profiles

Welcome. You have reached the core of Remote Medical International. With backgrounds in tactical medicine, disaster medicine, emergency medical services, and Search and Rescue operations across the globe, you'll find us to be among the most highly trained remote medicine specialists in the field.

We know first hand what it is like to be 300 miles out at sea, perched mountain ridge with an ill or injured patient, or working in a flood or earthquake zone.

Seasoned professionals and those new to the outdoors will find that our courses and products advance their knowledge and ability to offer care far beyond what they thought possible. On behalf of the instructor and sales corps at Remote Medical International, thank you for considering us to fulfill your remote medicine needs.

Dee Allen, WEMT, Instructor

Dee is an instructor with Remote Medical International's Training Group, and brings her passion for educating diverse audiences and her drive for preparing individuals to safely venture into any environment, whether for work or play.

Lise Armstrong, Remote Site Paramedic

Lise is a NREMT-P working in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. Lise started her remote medicine career as a wilderness EMT/canoeing guide in northern Ontario and Quebec.

Melissa Arnot, WEMT, Instructor

Melissa has been teaching wilderness medicine since 2002, and working as a professional mountain guide for Rainier Mountaineering Inc. since 2004. Currently certified as a Wilderness EMT, she regularly works with our medical support group as well as in search and rescue, she also works part-time with a rural ambulance service.

Christine Avakian, Director, Human Resources

Christine came to work at Remote Medical International in 2005. She received her BA from Western Washington University and has worked in the outdoor industry ever since.

Justin Ball, Director, Medical Support Group

Justin has fourteen years of prior military service, all in Army Special Operations and has been an 18D - Special Forces Medic for ten years. Along with his position at RMI, he continues to serve in the WA National Guard as an SF Team Sergeant in 19th Special Forces Group.

Vikki Buzzard, NREMT-P, SEI Instructor

Vikki lives in Twisp, Washington where she has been a paramedic for the last 15 years. Along with responding to EMS calls in the remote mountainous town she lives in she’s also involved with search and rescue; working on the mountain rescue team, high angle team, swift water, and SAR dog team.

Tyler Cascade, Remote Area Paramedic

Tyler is a certified flight paramedic and critical care paramedic, with more than 16 years of experience in EMS

Dewayne Cecil, Remote Site Paramedic

Dewayne Cecil is a remote site paramedic in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He has been involved in EMS full time since 1991. He made the leap to remote duty in 2005, running a clinic in Iraq.

Rich Chatman, NREMT-P, Instructor

Rich is a Paramedic Firefighter for Portland Fire and Rescue. He also works on a Heavy Rescue in downtown Portland, Oregon and is a member of the Technical Rescue Team for Portland and for the Oregon Urban Search and Rescue team (USAR). In 2005, he was deployed to New Orleans, Louisiana as part of Oregon's Disaster Medical Team (DMAT), to assist with rescue effort for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

David Churchill, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic

David is a remote site paramedic in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He discovered his love of remote locations and harsh environments while serving in the British Army

Andrew Cull, Chief Executive Officer

Andrew is passionate about remote medical care and rescue. He is an active tactical/remote site paramedic who is routinely deployed on Search and Rescue and medical support operations. He founded Remote Medical International in 2001 to provide the finest and most advanced wilderness/remote medicine training, equipment, and direct medical and rescue support based on real and continued experience in remote settings.

Michael Dann, Remote Area Paramedic/Instructor

Michael Dann works as a Remote Area Paramedic in Medical Support Group and as an Instructor in the Training Group. He is certified in wildland and structure firefighting, along with swift water and high angle rope rescue.

Will Day, Remote Site Paramedic

Will is a NREMT-P working in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He is from Pittsburgh, PA, where he began working as an EMT at the old age of 16.

Phong Duong, J.D. General Counsel, Instructor

Phong is General Counsel for Remote Medical International and joined the company to escape the suit and tie lifestyle of the law firm and corporate world. Prior to joining Remote Medical International, Phong worked as a W-EMT, kayak guide in the San Juan Islands, ski and mountain bike patroller in Park City, Utah, and corporate attorney.

Kate Earle, WEMT/MPIC, Instructor

Kate has spent the majority of her life traveling, living, and working in remote environments from the Indian Himalayas to the Sahara Desert. She has worked as an EMT for Tulane University EMS and the New Orleans Health Department and has worked in medical clinics in the Pacific and West Africa.

Dan Erickson, Warehouse Manager

Dan has been in the outdoor industry since 2005. Starting at NEMO Equipment as their Operations Manager and after a relocating back to Washington State he joined Outdoor Research as their Inventory Control Lead. He joined the RMI team in 2010.

Sandy Fraser, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic, Instructor

Sandy is a skilled remote paramedic, providing emergency medical services in a variety of civilian and military environments. He has served as a US Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer and as a Naval Coastal Warfare Corpsman. Sandy has continued to work as an independent contract medic in remote and hostile locations such as Bosnia, Iraq and offshore.

Julie Garren, Project Coordinator, Training Group

Julie has worked in project scheduling and coordination since 2000. Heralding from the Los Angeles area, her career has primarily been focused within the entertainment industry, where she worked on television shows like "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "The X-Files" and on films for Universal Pictures.

Marika Geertz, Remote Site Paramedic

Marika is a NREMT-P working in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. She started her medical career as an EMT, working at ER clinics on a remote island in Alaska.

Jason Griffin, Remote Site Paramedic

Jason has been a paramedic for over 16 years, and has extensive maritime experience from 4 years active duty in the US Coast Guard. Serving aboard ships for his entire tour, Jason has experience in all aspects of shipboard life including rescue, law enforcement, and safety of life at sea.

Daniel Hegg, WEMT, Instructor

Dan brings to Remote Medical his commitment to the service of others and a diverse background in field operations with difficult operating conditions and considerations.

Mark Howder, Remote Site Paramedic

A paramedic with extensive international experience, Mark has practiced in remote areas such as Mozambique, Somalia and Kenya, and most recently in Iraq. Mark has also put his paramedic skills to good use in the United States, as a California firefighter, and a firefighter/medic for NASCAR races.

Mary Howland, Customer Service Coordinator

Mary joined the RMI team in July 2011 as a Customer Service Coordinator, bringing years of enthusiastic customer service and managing skills along with her.

Tamira Jenlink, WEMT, Instructor

Tamira has worked in the outdoor industry teaching, professionally guiding and facilitating group dynamics for the last twenty years. She is certified as a WEMT, and works as an Instructor in the Training Group.

Thaddeus Josephson, Paramedic, Instructor

Thaddeus has been working in the EMS field since 2003 in a variety of settings, including Gallatin County Search and Rescue, American Medical Response in Bozeman, Montana, and Ski Patrol at Yellowstone Mountain Club in Big Sky, Montana. Thaddeus is a Paramedic, and an avid outdoorsman.

Mitch Kadlec, NREMT-P, Instructor

Mitch Kadlec works as a paramedic for Skagit County Medic One, located in the Skagit Valley of northwest Washington. Prior to becoming a medic, Mitch has a background in wildland firefighting with the U.S. Forest Service.

Chris Kenney, Director, Equipment & Supply Group

You will also see Chris on medical and rescue support operations doing rope rescue and exercising his WEMT skills. His technical expertise, experience as an EMT, degree in biochemistry, and experience in remote care has allowed us to become a premier source for the remote medical and rescue community.

Andy Kimmell, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic

Andy is a remote area paramedic in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He is an Advanced Tactical Practitioner and Paramedic. His love of the outdoors and austere medicine came from his time spent as a medic in the US Army.

Dik Lagerwerff, NREMT-P, Instructor

Dik currently works for RMI as an Instructor and a Remote Site Paramedic. He has a background in wilderness fire, working as a Smokejumper with the Bureau of Land Management and as a Paramedic with a local EMS ambulance company.

Jack M. Levine, DDS, Medical Advisor

Jack M. Levine, DDS is a member of Remote Medical International’s Medical Advisory Board. In addition to his private practice in New Haven, Connecticut, Dr. Levine has traveled the globe as a volunteer dentist and guest lecturer, serving in such places as Tipling, Ilam, and Mustang, Nepal; the Republic of China; Iquitos, Peru; Jeremie, Haiti; and Hanover, Jamaica. In the U.S. he currently volunteers for Tibetan Resettlement of Connecticut; Doctors with a Heart, Operation Smile, the Special Olympics, and is on the board for Himalayan HealthCare.

Kristen Looper, WEMT, Instructor

Kristen currently lives in the Bay area where she spends her time exploring the Sierras and attempting to surf. She is an instructor with RMI and has been guiding professionally with the American Alpine Institute for the last five years.

JC Lujan, NREMT-B, Remote Site WEMT

JC began working for Remote Medical in our Medical & Rescue Support Division in 2008, where he continues to deploy as a Remote Site EMT-B. He has previously worked in the ER, Trauma/Burn ICU, and rural ambulance services.

Lucas Martin, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic

Lucas Martin is a remote site paramedic in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He is currently a United States Air Force Reserve Pararescueman (PJ) in the 304th Rescue Squadron out of Portland, OR where he has gained a wealth of knowlege and experience in both Combat Search and Rescue and Civil Search and Rescue.

Genevieve Mayer, Account Manager, Military and Law Enforcement

After joining the King County Search and Rescue team and becoming a Red Cross First Aid and CPR instructor, Genevieve obtained her WFR certification and found Remote Medical International. She joined the team in July of 2010 and currently works as the Account Manager for our Military and Law Enforcement customers.

Dan McDermott, NREMT-P, Instructor

Dan is a Instructor in our Training Group. He is a Paramedic Firefighter for Whatcom County Medic One, and has been working for the Bellingham Fire Department since 2001

Bill McKnight, PA-C, Instructor

Bill works as an instructor for RMI and is a PA-C with 13 years of clinical experience. He has earned a fellowship from the Wilderness Medical Society and worked with the Idaho Health Department doing research on infectious disease and environmental medicine.

Loren McWethy, Product Information Coordinator, Equipment & Supply Group

Loren joined the RMI team in April of 2011 after working for several years as a Spanish Medical Interpreter. With his medical experience and passion for managing logistics, Loren coordinates how product information is presented at RMI.

Sean Meade, Account Manager, Energy

Sean Meade is the primary point of contact for our research, exploration, mineral, oil, and gas customers. Sean comes to us possessing an extensive medical sales and fire service background. This provides him with a solid foundation in sales, while giving him the required technical knowledge to ensure that our clients receive the highest level of service possible.

Tom Milne, Corporate and Executive Protection Account Manager

Tom works with corporations, foundations and executive protection teams to create and sustain their medical capability. Tom holds Wilderness EMT and USCG MPIC medical certifications, and for over a decade prior to working at Remote Medical instructed and guided rock, alpine, backcountry skiing and high altitude peak climbs all around the world. He brings his extensive operational experience and commitment to authentic and personal service to his work at Remote Medical International.

Brent Molsberry, WEMT, Instructor

As a licensed USCG Captain and professional sea kayak guide, Brent has worked in a variety of outdoor industries including guiding, ski patrol, and firefighting.

Dave Mull, EMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic/Instructor

Dave has over 15 years experience in rural, urban and wilderness medicine. He is currently deployed overseas with our Medical & Rescue Support Group and when he has the time, he helps teach courses with our Training Group.

Tyler Nielsen, Field Operations Manager, Training Group

Tyler Nielsen is a Whatcom County Paramedic with Bellingham Fire & Rescue. As a firefighter since 2001, Tyler has extensive experience providing emergency medical care and rescue in rural setting (where the ambulance has to take a ferry to the hospital).

Patty O’Keefe, PA-C, Remote Site Physician Assistant

Patty is a remote site physician assistant in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. She comes to RMI with a background in emergency medicine and wound care as a PA. She graduated from University of Washington School of Medicine’s Medex program in 2008 after working for 20 years as a registered nurse.

Cait Parker, WEMT, Instructor

Cait is currently certified as a WEMT, with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Along with her interest in medicine, she is passionate about experiencing the outdoors and enabling others to do so safely.

Carrie Parker, NREMT-P, Instructor

Carrie Parker has worked professionally as a mountain guide with Rainier Mountaineering Inc. since 2008. In 2009, she obtained her Paramedic certification, and works in the Training Group as an instructor.

Kate Peters, NREMT-P, Instructor

Kate lives and works in Central Oregon. She has a strong background in EMS with both city fire and private ambulance as an EMT and Paramedic. She has spent many summers as a seasonal wildland firefighter for the Forest Service and BLM.

Emily Petersen, Project Manager, Medical Support Group

Emily hails from Calistoga, CA. and joined Remote Medical in 2008 as our Project Manager, Medical Support Group. She graduated from Sonoma State University in Northern California with a B.A in Communications.

Janet Peterson, DrPH, WEMT, Instructor

Janet is an associate professor of health and human performance at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon and she joined Remote Medical International as an instructor in the fall of 2008. Janet has a wealth of clinical and teaching experience combined with a passion for teaching wilderness medicine.

Evan Rees, Remote Site Paramedic

Evan is a NREMT-P working in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He has worked for the Department of Public Health, on a Mobile Intensive Care transport unit, for a rural 911 service, and as a aeromedical critical care paramedic.

Jasmine Richards, NREMT-P, Instructor

Jasmine has spent the majority of her life living, working, and playing in remote area. She currently lives the Northern California working as a rural and urban area paramedic in addition to teaching EMS classes at the local community college. Jasmine has had a passion for playing in the wilderness her whole life which has lead her to become a whitewater river guide and instructor.

Phoebe Robinson, EMT-B/RN, Instructor

Phoebe is an Instructor with the Training Group and EMT-B/RN for the Medical Support Group. She is originally from Maine, but currently lives in New Hampshire working in an Emergency Room and playing in the White Mountains.

Dash Rodman, RN, Instructor

Dash works as an Instructor for RMI bringing with him years of experience working as an RN in Emergency Departments, a backcountry guide, and adventuring into the mountains pursuing his passions.

Adam Russell, WEMT, Instructor

Adam is certified as a Wilderness EMT, he teaches wilderness medicine and is passionate about enabling others to explore the remote places of the world. You will find Adam teaching our WFA, Wilderness First Responder, and WEMT courses.

Claire Scarbeary, Project Manager, Equipment & Supply Group

Claire graduated Cum Laude from the University of Washington in Community Psychology. Her love for hiking, camping, mountain biking, and snowboarding, along with her intuitive, personal and communication skills, are a great fit with the Remote Medical Equipment and Supply Group.

Adam Shain, PA-C, Remote Site Physician Assistant

Adam Shain is a remote site physician associate with a background in emergency and wilderness medicine. Adam completed PA training and received a master's degree in medical science from Yale University School of Medicine in 2009.

Paul Shovelier, NREMT-P, Remote Site Paramedic

Paul is a remote site paramedic in our Medical & Rescue Support Division. He has 20 year experience in military medicine 15 of those as an Independent Duty Medical Technician and Paramedic providing care in a variety of remote environments.

Don Slack, MD, Instructor/Advisor

A practicing emergency medicine physician and EMS medical director for Skagit County, WA, Dr. Slack has been active in mountaineering and mountain-rescue since 1976.

Debi Solberg, RN,MSN, Medical Advisor/Instructor

Debi is an ER nurse at the University of Washington Emergency Department and maintains her position as a flight nurse with Airlift Northwest, all while doing research for the Resuscitation Outcome Consortium at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. She is a member of the WA-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team with deployments to New York City in 2001; Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005; and others.

David Svobodny, EMT-II, Instructor

David’s love for the outdoors and adventure has lead him to a career has a professional sea kayaking, rafting, and glacier guide in Alaska. David has been active in wilderness medicine as long as he has guided.

Kevin Thompson, Director, Training Group

Kevin began working at Remote Medical in 2007 after five years of prior experience in the industry. After graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration from Nazareth College, Kevin moved west to Montana where he spent most of his time mountain biking and backcountry skiing.

Karl Tjerandsen, NREMT-B, Remote Site WEMT

Karl joined Remote Medical International in 2011 as a Remote Area EMT. He previously worked as a health care regulatory attorney for a law firm in Oregon.

David Townes, MD, Medical Director

Dr. David Townes joined Remote Medical as our Medical Director. His extensive contributions to the fields of wilderness and emergency medicine make him an exceptional asset to our team. He is board certified in emergency medicine and has been a physician volunteer for the National Ski Patrol, the search and rescue team at Yosemite National Park, the Indian Health Service and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Wilderness Medical Society.

Jarod Trow, NREMT-P, Instructor

When he's not teaching for the Training Group, Jarod is a Paramedic Firefighter with the City of Bellingham. He also works in the aid room at Mt. Baker Ski Area, volunteers for the Bellingham Mountain Rescue Council and has been a rope rescue instructor since 1999.

Amber Valenti, MPAS, PA-C

Amber joined Remote Medical International in 2008 as a WEMT instructor and now shares her contagious passion for teaching and practicing remote medicine as a Physician Assistant.

Loreen Vasel, NREMT-P, Remote Area Paramedic, Instructor

Loreen works for Remote Medical International as an instructor and as a remote site paramedic.

Maile Wade, WEMT, Instructor

Maile is certified as a WEMT and works as an instructor for Remote Medical International. When she’s not teaching, she works as a mountain guide for Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. and as a ski patroller in Aspen, Co.

Phil Wesseler, Warehouse Associate, Training Group

Phil operates the warehouse in the Training Group. A long time whitewater paddler and passionate rock and ice climber, he is excited about the outdoors and wilderness medicine, most recently completing his EMT-B. Phil joined the RMI team in June of 2011.