CommHIT25 Pre-Symposium

Jesse Blaire is the EMS Captain for Ocala Fire Rescue. Jesse began providing BLS services as a transport EMT in 1997, transitioning to the paramedic role in 2000. Since then, Jesse has begun practicing as a first response paramedic for Ocala Fire Rescue, a flight paramedic for the Shands Care Critical Care Transport Program and a TEMS medic for the Ocala Police Department’s SWAT Team. He is also the co-founder of the University of Florida’s Critical Care Transport Paramedic Program. He developed and implemented a Mobile Integrated Healthcare Program at Ocala Fire Rescue focusing on chronic disease management, opiate use disorder and dementia/Alzheimer care.

Aubryn’s GY6 Foundation Fund honors and supports the dedicated heroes of our community: the First Responders and Frontline Workers. If you aren’t a first responder or close to one, “GY6” stands for “Got your six,” a phrase used among first responders to mean “We’ve got your back.” Inspired by Aubryn’s lifelong commitment to gratitude and service, Aubryn’s GY6 provides unwavering support, resources, and recognition to those who selflessly protect and care for us every day. The fund fosters a culture of appreciation and empowerment, ensuring that local responders feel valued, respected, and equipped to continue their vital work. Stand with Aubryn alongside these heroes, recognizing their sacrifices and championing their well-being, because when they thrive, our communities thrive!

With 35+ years of experience, Chief John “Darian” Brown’s career is a testament to his dedication to the advancement of rural EMS and firefighting. Through his strategic implementation of CP programs, Chief Brown delivers high-quality care to those who face barriers to care. His efforts in creating programs like the Dixie County Pre-Hospital Antibiotics Program, the Monoclonal Antibodies Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the CP Treat-in-Place ER Program during Hurricanes Idalia and Helene have earned him and his team recognition as trailblazers in the EMS field. His leadership has also been instrumental in recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. As an instructor in North Central Florida, Chief Brown shapes the next generation of EMS professionals. Chief Brown continues to advocate for the improvement of rural EMS systems and the well-being of the communities they serve with professional organizations like the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Association of Rural EMS (FAREMS).

Karen Blanchette brings 30+ years of leadership in healthcare management and IT, with a career spanning the U.S. Navy, private sector tech, and national cybersecurity initiatives. She was the first woman to serve as a healthcare administrator aboard an aircraft carrier, leading the hospital on the USS John C. Stennis. She later served as CIO for Naval Dental Command Headquarters. In 2005, Karen broke new ground in podcasting, joining Adam Curry’s PodShow Network to host and produce two award-winning shows. Her tech leadership continued with roles directing software development teams at CIBC—Canada’s second-largest bank—and managing multimillion-dollar medical logistics accounts at UPS Supply Chain Solutions, including Amgen and Johnson & Johnson. She is a world record sky diver. She leads Professional Association for Health Care Office Management’s (PAHCOM’s) Executive Director as it equips solo providers and small group practices with the training they need to run their healthcare businesses effectively.

Wanda Bowlin is a Registered Nurse with over 20 years of expertise in Emergency Medicine and Operating Room care. A nationally Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), she has extensive experience at AdventHealth Ocala, where she honed her skills in high-acuity environments and served as ED Manager. Now an EMS and EM Specialist in Marion County, Florida, Wanda coordinates emergency preparedness and response in close collaboration with Fire Rescue, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and the Department of Health. She was instrumental in launching the CP program with Ocala Fire Rescue in 2020, later expanding it to Marion County Fire Rescue in 2021. Her career is defined by dedication to public safety, interagency collaboration, and building resilient communities.

Chief Campbell serves as the Training Division Chief for Stanly County EMS (SCEMS) in North Carolina and oversees the SCEMS Community Paramedic Division. He played a pivotal role in the creation and launch of this division in 2018. Chief Campbell has been involved in EMS since 2006, serving in both volunteer and professional capacities. As an North Carolina Office of EMMS (NCOEMS) Level 1 Paramedic Instructor, he is deeply committed to education and embraces the belief that entering healthcare means becoming a lifelong learner. In addition to his leadership at SCEMS, Chief Campbell is the co-chair of the NC Community Paramedic Coalition and an active member of NAMIHP, the NC Association of EMS Administrators, and the NC Association of EMS Educators. Across these roles, he is driven by a passion for expanding and elevating the quality of care that community paramedics provide.

Julie Corona brings 30+ years of diverse experience across emergency room care, home health, patient advocacy, and hospice leadership. Her deep background in acute and post-acute care has made her a respected resource for both healthcare professionals and first responders. As a hospice educator and Manager of Special Programs, Julie has been instrumental in bridging the gap between hospice providers and fire rescue agencies, ensuring seamless transitions of care for patients in crisis. Her collaboration with CP and MIH programs has strengthened partnerships that prioritize compassionate, patient-centered care. Julie develops training that helps first responders identify hospice‑eligible patients, communicate with families, and manage end‑of‑life situations with empathy. Honored in 2016 as Broward County’s Most Influential Woman in Business, she focuses on improving care coordination, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, and supporting families during critical moments.

Kim Davis-Allen has 40+ years experience in working with healthcare providers including state Medicaid programs, managed care systems, Health IT projects and federal incentive programs supporting the use of electronic medical records. Kim has worked alongside the Agency for Health Care Administration for over 14 years joining the E-PLUS Program in 2021 primarily focusing on end user engagement and training.

Chief Justin Duncan is a visionary in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and mobile healthcare, serving as CEO of the Washington County Ambulance District (WCAD). WCAD delivers essential care across 1,500+ square miles of rural Missouri. Under his leadership, WCAD ensures high-quality, compassionate service to underserved communities. A champion of MIH and CP models, Chief Duncan advances innovative solutions for chronic disease management and post-discharge care. His servant-leadership philosophy centers on empowering EMS professionals with the education, resources, and support they need to thrive—professionally and personally. With expertise in stakeholder engagement, policy, team development, and EMS-based healthcare programs, Chief Duncan is reshaping rural healthcare delivery. He is redefining EMS clinicians as frontline providers capable of driving better health outcomes through preventive care and community-based services. His vision is to transform EMS into a sustainable, collaborative system that meets the evolving needs of rural America.

Anne Everly has served for 3+ years as the Florida Department of Education Apprenticeship Training Representative for Region 6 (Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, Port St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties). Everly has 17+ years of experience working in Secondary Education as the Program Manager for the Take Stock in Children Scholarship and Mentoring Program for Middle and High School Students and the Pre-apprenticeship and Student Internship Coordinator for the Brevard Public Schools Career and Technical Education Program.

Matthew Ferguson serves as the Administrative Chief for Dixie County Fire Rescue, and as part of his duties, he manages the Dixie County CP Program. Throughout his career, he has been involved in training, recruitment, policy development, rural health initiatives, mental health initiatives, leadership development, and organizational change. Chief Ferguson is particularly passionate about expanding healthcare capabilities in resource-limited rural communities through the utilization of CP programs and aggressive pre-hospital protocols. Chief Ferguson and his team are proud to be considered trendsetters in the pre-hospital emergency healthcare world. Examples of such initiatives include The Dixie County Pre-Hospital Anti-biotics program, The Dixie County Pre-Hospital Monoclonal Anti-Bodies Program during the COVID response, and the Dixie County CP Treat-in-place ER Program during Hurricane Idalia. Chief Ferguson has numerous certifications in both fire and EMS and has instructed at several locations in the North Central Florida area. Chief Ferguson is also an active member of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, is the current secretary for the Florida Association of County EMS, a member of the Rural Advisory Council to the Committee on Trauma, and is the current chairman of the North Central Florida Healthcare Coalition.

Dr. Anthony Frank is a board-certified emergency physician with decades of experience in emergency medicine and emergency medical services. He also holds subspecialty board certification in undersea and hyperbaric medicine and wound care and has maintained active North Carolina EMT-Paramedic certification since 1997. In addition to serving as Chief Medical Officer and Senior VP for Medical Affairs at UNC Health Blue Ridge, Dr. Frank is the Medical Director for Burke County EMS in Morganton, NC. He provides medical oversight for both the county’s EMS and CP program and a hospital-based MIH program at UNC Health Blue Ridge. A graduate of Washington and Lee University and Eastern Virginia Medical School, Dr. Frank completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of South Carolina. He later earned his MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2018 and is a Certified Physician Executive through the American Association for Physician Leadership. Dr. Frank began his medical career as a volunteer EMT in Virginia in 1984, advancing to EMT–Cardiac during college. Over the past 30 years, he has held multiple EMS Medical Director roles and has overseen facilities and emergency departments ranging from 10,000 to 120,000 annual visits, bringing a breadth of perspective to his work in advancing emergency and prehospital care.

Jamie Harley has served as the Outreach Coordinator for the Florida Health Information Exchange (HIE) since 2024. In this role, she is responsible for identifying and conducting educational opportunities and sessions, development of educational material explaining Health IT programs and various innovative approaches, working with community partners on Health IT and its impact, and working directly with healthcare providers. Jamie has 18+ years of experience working with individuals through her previous sales career.

Talia Hunter is Broward County’s first board-certified Community Paramedic (CP-C) and a Certified Community Health Worker, trained through CommHIT. She has served at the Coral Springs–Parkland Fire Department since 2002, spending two decades as a frontline firefighter paramedic before transitioning in 2022 to the Community Paramedic role. Since the program’s launch in 2015, she has been instrumental in its growth, helping it become a model for Mobile Integrated Healthcare in Florida. In her role, Talia leads initiatives that extend beyond emergency response, including overdose recovery, hospice integration, harm reduction, safe medication disposal, and youth prevention education. She spearheaded the SafeRX initiative, equipping families with disposal options and lockboxes, and has forged partnerships that reduce ER visits, improve continuity of care, and strengthen community health. Talia chairs the Florida Fire Chiefs Association’s MIH Subcommittee, advancing statewide collaboration and best practices.

Pam has 30+ years of experience in the areas of health care administration and health information exchange (HIE). Her current focus is predominantly on strategic planning and adoption of technology within healthcare. She is responsible for administering AHCA’s Florida HIE and other programs within the Florida Center for Health Information and Transparency. Prior to joining AHCA, Pamela worked for the Florida Department of Health in several executive positions, including Chief of the Bureau of Management Services; Executive Director for the Boards of Osteopathic Medicine, Massage Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, Acupuncture, and Council of Licensed Midwifery; and Program Administrator for the Board of Medicine. She has received numerous accolades for her work with health care professionals, including the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association’s – Distinguished Service Award and the Florida Massage Therapy Association’s President Award.

For 47+ years, Mike Lawrence has been transforming communities through seamless implementation of workforce, economic, education, and community development. He has extensive experience assisting and supporting local and state workforce board development, particularly to grow the most important emerging sectors. Mike has extensive experience in all areas of work-based learning. His emphasis over the last six years has been on Registered Apprenticeship (RA)—from directing state level evaluation to RA approval and management. Although Mike works nationwide, some of his greatest successes have been in Pennsylvania, infusing communities with workforce, economic, education, and infrastructure development. He now dedicates his expertise to CommHIT’s mission.

Aaron is the Founder & CEO of Paralign Health. He has built his career at the intersection of health policy, strategy, and frontline care delivery. He has worked as an EMT with Cataldo Ambulance, advised the two most recent Secretaries of Health at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and served as the day-to-day head of operations for a coalition of hospital systems in North Texas focused on maternal health initiatives. He is now dedicated to connecting health plans and EMS agencies to advance Mobile Integrated Health–Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP).

Joseph Nelson is a seasoned emergency services professional with 30+ years of experience spanning fire-rescue, military service, public health, and emergency management (EM). Before entering the fire service, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, with deployments during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. Joseph spent 31 years as a firefighter/paramedic, also serving as a SWAT medic and helping to pioneer MIH. Following his retirement from field operations, Joseph joined the Florida Department of Health, where he provided statewide support and data analysis for MIH programs—shaping data-driven strategies to inform policy development. Today, Joseph leads planning efforts and fosters cross-agency coordination to strengthen public safety and preparedness. His multifaceted background across military service, frontline response, public health, and EM offers a uniquely informed perspective on the evolving landscape of MIH and community resilience.

Stephen Shaw is father, a husband, and a 30-year veteran of the Fire Rescue service. He is the Deputy Fire Chief of Operations for the Town of Jupiter Fire Rescue Department. Chief Shaw is an accredited Chief Fire Officer (CFO) and graduate of the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program. He is a IAFC Hazmat Committee member and a Hazmat Specialist for FEMA USAR Task Force 2. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry and a Master’s in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. He is a Registered Nurse through the State of Florida. Chief Shaw is an author for Fire Engineering magazine, a speaker for numerous conferences, and the host of the “Perspectives on Leadership” podcast. He has a beautiful wife and two wonderful boys.

Dr. Willis is a Board-Certified Family Physician practicing family physician and CommHIT’s co-founder. In addition to remaining on the pulse of healthcare, he has 20+ years of experience as a private entrepreneur, hospital CMIO, and a community health center CMO at an NCQA Level-3 Certified Medical Home with eight clinical locations offering the following services: pediatric and adult medicine and dental, maternity, and behavioral health. He merges his clinical and technology expertise to assist medical providers and social service organizations with cybersecurity, community engagement research, and better uses of technology to improve community health. He established Healthy Ocala in 2007, a secure and private digital mechanism to share patient data in Ocala, FL. CommHIT expanded that into the first rurally-based Health Information Exchange in the nation. Dr. Willis was awarded the 2013 Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award from the Office of the National Coordinator (now the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy). Dr. Willis completed his undergraduate training in mathematics at Stetson University and obtained his Medical Doctorate at University of South Florida (USF). He completed his training at the Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency in Orlando in 2000.

Lauren Young Work, LCSW coordinates Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Lauren has a Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University with a specialization in illness/disability, medical trauma, and bereavement. For 31 years, Lauren has provided counseling, crisis intervention, and medical care coordination in healthcare settings. Lauren is recognized within Florida and nationally for her work in MIH program development and for the integration of social work into EMS and MIH patient care. Lauren wrote the first ever chapter on psychiatric emergencies for the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) national and international exam textbook. She is a frequent subject matter expert and educator on topics related to MIH-CP, mental health, peer support, addiction, adjustment to illness and disability, grief, and medical trauma in the field of healthcare, EMS, and in higher education. Lauren is passionate about helping individuals and families and is honored to serve within EMS and MIH.