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The Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP) Board of Directors voted on February 5, 2026, to elect Denise B. Klinkner, MD, MEd, FACS, to the board as a representative of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Klinkner has been elected to serve the remainder of a vacant 2025 - 2028 term.
“It is my honor to serve as the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma representative for the CoAEMSP,” said Dr. Klinkner. “I grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota, and many of my family and friends have been impacted by limited resources in the trauma setting. Ensuring all paramedics and AEMTs have the education necessary to improve the outcomes of our patients is a priority for me as a pediatric surgeon and as a farmer’s daughter.”
Dr. Klinkner is a pediatric surgeon at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, with advanced training in surgical critical care and education. She also serves as the Pediatric Trauma Medical Director for Mayo Clinic's Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, the pediatric representative for the Minnesota State Trauma Advisory Committee, and the 2026 Region V Chief for the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
“Dr. Klinkner brings essential experience and insights to the CoAEMSP board,” said Dr. Michael J. Souter, CoAEMSP board chair. “We are fortunate to have her as a resource and know that our programs will benefit from her expertise, particularly when it comes to pediatric trauma.”
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