CoAEMSP Board of Directors Elects New Chair, Vice Chair, and Four New Members; Applauds Three Retiring Members for Their Service

The CoAEMSP Board of Directors voted unanimously on November 8, 2024, to elect Dr. Michael J. Souter to serve as chair of the board and Dr. Megan Corry to serve as vice chair. Dr. Souter replaces Lori Burns, MSN, RN, whose term as board chair expired this year; however, she will continue to serve on the Executive Committee of the Board as past chair. Dr. Corry replaces Dr. Souter in the role of vice chair. Paul A. Berlin, MS, NRP, completed his service on the executive committee in his role as former board chair and will continue to serve his term on the CoAEMSP Board as a representative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

“Dr. Souter has been a tremendous asset to the CoAEMSP Board for the past nine years,” said Burns. “His passion for paramedic education is exceptional, and we are so fortunate to have him step into this leadership role. And Dr. Corry will bring valuable insights into her role as vice chair. The field of paramedic and now AEMT education will benefit tremendously from their service.”

Michael Souter, MB, ChB, DA, FRCA, FNCS, is a board-certified critical care physician and anesthesiologist. He formerly served as chief of anesthesia as well as medical director and co-founder of the Neurocritical Care Service at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and remains in clinical practice there. He is also a University of Washington professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine and an adjunct professor of neurological surgery. The American Society of Anesthesiology sponsors Dr. Souter on the CoAEMSP Board.

Megan Corry, EdD, NRP, is the program director for the City College of San Francisco Paramedic Program. She has served as a CoAEMSP site visitor since 2012. She is also on the Board of Advisors for the Prehospital Care Research Forum (PCRF) and works to improve research literacy among EMS students, providers, and educators. The National Association of EMS Educators sponsors Dr. Corry on the CoAEMSP Board.

“On behalf of everyone at CoAEMSP, we are so grateful to Lori Burns for her incredible dedication and commitment to paramedic education,” said Dr. George Hatch, CoAEMSP Executive Director. “She led us through the development of an exciting strategic plan, and we are thrilled that she will remain a part of the CoAEMSP Board after her term as chair concludes. And we are so grateful to Dr. Souter and Dr. Corry for their willingness to step into greater leadership positions, especially as we prepare to launch voluntary AEMT accreditation in January.”

In addition to the new slate of officers, the Board voted unanimously to elect the following new members to each serve a three-year term:

Julie Kulovits, JD, is general counsel and vice president for legal affairs at the American Osteopathic Association. She serves as a public member of the CoAEMSP Board.

James Li, MD, MEd, FAEMS, is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. He serves as the medical director for multiple EMS agencies and fire departments in the St. Louis region. The National Association of EMS Physicians sponsors Dr. Li on the CoAEMSP Board.

John Sinclair is the chief of Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue in Washington state and the former International Association of Fire Chiefs president and chair of the Board. Chief Sinclair has been in the fire and emergency service for more than 40 years and a member of the IAFC for more than 25 years. The IAFC sponsors Chief Sinclair on the CoAEMSP Board.

Chris Stephens, MD, FAEMS, is a professor and chief of trauma in the Department of Anesthesiology and associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. The American Society of Anesthesiologists sponsors Dr. Stevens on the CoAEMSP Board.

The Board also expressed its gratitude to three outgoing Board members whose terms expired this year:

Hugh Bonner, PhD, FASAHP, public member

Murray Kalish, MD, FACA, MBA, on behalf of the American Society of Anesthesiologists

Bridgette Svancarek, MD, FAEMS, on behalf of the National Association of EMS Physicians

The CoAEMSP Board of Directors provides invaluable expertise to the field of paramedic, and now AEMT, education and we are grateful to all our Board members for their service and dedication. Please visit the website for more information.