Board of Directors

Cherie Pepping, RN, BSN, CEN, PHRN, CMTE

Chair

Co-Chair, Education Committee

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance, Illinois

Cherie Leigh Pepping, RN BSN, PHRN, CEN, CMTE, is the Executive Director of Critical Care Services at Superior Air – Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in Elmhurst, Illinois. After graduating from Northwestern University, Cherie has enjoyed a 30-year career spanning various clinical and leadership positions in healthcare. Cherie joined Superior Air – Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in 1999 to establish the Division of Critical Care Services. Superior currently delivers Air and Ground Critical Care Transport in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Board Term Expires 2024

Nathan Morreale, MBA, FP-C, NR-P

Chair Elect

University of Utah AirMed, UT

Nathan Morreale has been involved in EMS since June of 1999 and spent many years in the fire service holding positions as Fire Captain, Paramedic, and Public Information Officer. Through these years he developed a passion for critical care transport and currently serves as the Chief Flight Paramedic for AirMed at University of Utah Health. In this role he facilitates the Best Practice, Safety, and Equipment Committees along with oversight of three helicopter bases.

He has a strong commitment to safety and developing working relationships with all air medical providers to improve standards and patient care. In addition to his role with the Association of Critical Care Transport, Nathan is the Flight Paramedic Representative on the state of Utah, Air Ambulance Committee.

Board Term Expires 2024

Joshua Cools

Treasurer

Memorial Hermann Trauma Service Line

Joshua Cools is the Director of Business Development for Memorial Hermann Trauma Service Line. Additionally, he is an active paramedic and educator with Memorial Hermann Life Flight. Joshua has been with Memorial Hermann since 2010 when he started as a flight paramedic.

Joshua received his Bachelor of Science from University of Houston – Clear Lake and his MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Mr. Cools spends most of his free time with his family: Eliza (wife) and 4 boys ranging from 4 to 14 years old. As you can expect, there’s never a boring moment with 4 boys in a single household. The Cools family enjoys spending time outdoors biking, sailing, and working on their ranch in Northeast Texas

Board Term Expires 2024

Mary Ahlers, MEd, BSN, ACP, NRP, EMSI

Secretary

Chair, Communication Committee

UC Health-Air Care and Mobile Care, OH

Mary Ahlers, MEd, BSN, ACP, NRP, EMSI, founder of Paramedic Health Solutions, and the Paramedic Network, authored the National Curriculum and Career Pathway for Community Paramedicine©, launched the Global Paramedic Higher Education Council offering curriculum standards and accreditation for both Community Paramedicine and Critical Care Transport, and the Global Paramedic Academia Consortium for Higher Education for international curriculum development and peer review, leading the advancement of the paramedic profession globally.

Mary serves as Clinical Coordinator for the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Air Care & Mobile Care in Cincinnati, Ohio, AACN President for the Greater Cincinnati Chapter, Professor and Advisory Board for Hennepin Technical College, The Paramedic Foundation Advisory Board, represents EMS Education for the National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC), and has served as Communications Committee Chair, Secretary and Vice-Chair for the Association for Critical Care Transport (ACCT).

Board Term Expires 2024

Dennis Mack, MPA, CMEL, EMT, CMTE

Immediate Past Chair

Chair, Governance Committee

Atrium Health/MedCenter Air, North Carolina

Dennis is the Director of Operations for MedCenter Air at Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. Prior to joining MedCenter Air, Dennis was the Communications Manager for WakeMed Air Mobile in Raleigh, NC. Dennis began his career in the air medical industry with Keystone Helicopter in 1994. Dennis’ other past experience includes a former police lieutenant, an A&P Technician, and he is a commercial rated pilot. Dennis is the President of the North Carolina Air Medical Association (NCAA) and is a ten year veteran of the USAF where he flew air medical missions during the Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm. Dennis received his undergraduate degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his graduate degree in Public Administration with an Emergency Management concentration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Board Term Expires 2023

Michael Baulch

Stanford Life Flight

Michael Baulch, RN, JD, CMTE, has been an EMS professional for nearly 37 years and is a California licensed attorney specializing in EMS law. Mr. Baulch is the Program Director for Stanford Life Flight, the air medical program for the world-renowned Stanford Medical Center. He formerly served as a Director for the largest nonprofit air ambulance company on the West Coast, responsible for operations, budget, personnel, and business development. He has served as the Executive Director for a California Joint Powers Authority that delivered fire-based EMS and ground interfacility transport in the Lake Tahoe region. In those roles, Mr. Baulch has been responsible for the successful development and management of budgets in excess of $10 million, while growing business through building strategic relationships with private, public, and governmental agencies.

Mr. Baulch has been an ICU, Emergency/Trauma, and Flight Nurse and has a total of 27 years’ experience in the air medical industry. He received his law degree from the University of San Francisco, where he received the Edward J. McFedtridge Award for excellence in Advocacy. He holds the Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) credential, and is an expert in air medical transport and Tactical Medicine for SWAT operations, serving as a SWAT medic and tactical medicine advisor to the FBI. As a U.S. Navy Nurse Corps officer, he achieved the rank of Lt. Commander and is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Mr. Baulch is a subject matter expert consultant and highly sought-after public speaker on Emergency Medical Services, EMS Law, and Air Medical operations, business development, and strategic planning.

Board Term Expires 2025

Eveline Byers

Co-Chair, Development Committee

Metro Aviation

Eveline Byers joined Metro Aviation, Inc. as the Director of Transport Business Services in 2015 after working for over 20 years in program management. Eveline has worked in the air medical and critical care transport industry since 1992 based in different parts of the country for varied program models including hospital based EMS, privately held company, and non-profit hospital consortium. Eveline is a registered nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Phoenix, earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Washington State University, and certified as a Critical Care Transport Executive. Eveline has served as a board member for several industry associations including the Association of Air Medical Services and the Association of Critical Care Transport. In 2009, Eveline was recognized as the Program Director of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services.

Board Term Expires 2023

Jason Cohen, DO, FACEP, FCCM

Co-Chair, Education committee

Boston MedFlight, Massachusetts

Jason Cohen, DO, FACEP, FCCM, is the Chief Medical Officer for Boston MedFlight. Dr. Cohen brings more than 25 years of health care experience to the CMO position, including 13 years as an emergency care physician with FEMA and the United States Army. Dr. Cohen also previously served as Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Surgery at Albany Medical Center and is board certified in emergency and critical care medicine.

In his role, he works closely with CEO Mara Hughes and team of Associate Medical Directors affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Lahey Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center.

He also serves in a clinical role at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.

Board Term Expires 2025

Brian A. Doughty

HealthNet Aeromedical Services, Inc.

Brian serves as the Vice President for Business Operations / Chief Financial Officer for HealthNet Aeromedical Services, Inc. (HealthNet), a not-for-profit aeromedical company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.  Brian has been with HealthNet since March 2012, and previously worked for Arnett & Foster, PLLC (now known as Baker Tilly).  At HealthNet, Brian’s areas of responsibility include finance, business development, payroll and benefits, human resources, and information technology.  Brian is a graduate of West Virginia University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Management Information Systems.

Brian is an Executive Board Member and President of the Board for the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America.  In June 2020, Brian was appointed to the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC) by West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice. He is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Kanawha Valley and 2017 graduate of Leadership West Virginia. Brian also volunteers for various civic and charitable organizations.

Board Term Expires 2025

Chuck Hogan, RN, BSN

Co-Chair, Standards Committee

Lifeflight of Maine

Chuck is the Chief Clinical Officer for Lifeflight of Maine. Chuck has been with Lifeflight of Maine for the last 7+ years in a variety of different roles within the organization from line flight nurse, to base manager and now the Chief Clinical Officer.

Chuck’s passion is education and advancing the clinical practice of flight practitioners and have been involved in other programs such as ECHO heliops and their future flight crew program as a mentor.

Board Term Expires 2025

Maura Hughes

Co-Chair, Development Committee

Boston MedFlight

Ms. Hughes is a non-profit executive with over 25 years’ experience in non-profit and healthcare industries. She is a CPA and graduate of Merrimack College with a BS in Accounting. She also holds an MBA in Finance from Bentley University.

Ms. Hughes is a nationally recognized expert on critical care transport consortium models and critical care transport billing. She has provided expert advice to regulators as it relates to transport reimbursement and is asked to comment on proposed legislation as it relates to regulation of critical care transport and payment for services. She also provides advice to other air medical services considering creation of transport consortiums and advice on transport billing and operations.

Ms. Hughes joined Boston MedFlight in 1998, and served as their Chief Financial Officer for 18 years and Chief Executive Officer for the past four years. She is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Financial Executives International, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, Bentley Executive Club, and serves on various non-profit boards. Prior to her tenure at Boston MedFlight she served as a Certified Public Accountant with AAFCPAs as an auditor specializing in non-profit audits.

Board Term Expires 2023

Ruda Jenkins MBA, BSN, RN, CMTE, CFRN

Co-Chair, Standards Committee

UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care

Ruda Jenkins MBA, BSN, RN, CMTE, CFRN is the Interim-Director of UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care, where she manages the daily clinical and operational aspects of Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA), Critical Care ground, ALS, BLS level medical transports as well as the Mobile Stroke Unit at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Ruda has been in a leadership role since 2004.

Ruda has worked with other reputable air medical services in Kentucky before moving to Ohio and taking a position with UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care first as a flight nurse and then as clinical manager. With her extensive work in the medical transport industry, Ruda has held the position of President of the Ohio Association of Critical Care Transport, Ohio Chapter of AAMS and currently holds a seat on the Ohio Emergency Medical, Fire and Transportation Service (EMFATS) Board. She is actively involved in air medical and ground medial transport regulations and supports clinical and operational excellence in collaboration with other medical transport services in the Tri-State area.

Board Term Expires 2025

Kyle Madigan RN, MSN, CMTE

Kyle has been involved in the air medical industry for over 20 years, serving in various clinical, and leadership positions. Kyle served on the Board of Directors for the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association culminating in being the President of the association from 2009-2010. Kyle is very honored to be serving on the Board of Directors of ACCT.

Non-Voting Member

Board Term Expires 2023

Michael Mulhern

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team (DHART), New Hampshire

Board Term Expires 2024

Adam Parker

Sanford AirMed

Adam Parker is a manager for Sanford AirMed overseeing operations of their Bismarck and Dickinson bases. Additionally, he manages Sanford’s Community Paramedic program that operates throughout Western North Dakota.  He previously served on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota EMS Association and currently chairs the Advocacy Committee, which is responsible for all governmental and legislative affairs, for the organization. Additionally, he is a voting member of the North Dakota EMS Advisory Council.

Board Term Expires 2024

Rhett Draehn, EMT-P, FP-C, MTSP-C

CareFlite

Rhett Draehn is the Director of Safety for CareFlite in north central Texas. He began his air medical career in 2005 as a flight paramedic and has served in many roles in the company since then. CareFlite operates rotor wing, fixed wing and ground ambulance transport.

Mr. Draehn, a medical helicopter crash survivor, continues to share lessons learned from his experiences with others in the air medical industry. Rhett strives to empower medical teams and leaders with knowledge and practices to help ensure that everyone in our industry goes home safely at the end of each shift.

Non-voting member

Board Term Expires 2023

Matt Heffelfinger

West Michigan Air Care, MI

Matt is the Program Director for West Michigan Air Care, Inc. (WMAC) in Kalamazoo, MI. He also serves as the Secretary for the Michigan Association of Air Medical Providers and as the Air Medical Representative on the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services Board of Directors. Matt has been involved in EMS and critical care transport for over 35 years having started as a volunteer first responder while still in high school and has ground EMS experience as a paramedic in a rural setting and over 20 years as a flight nurse.  When not working at WMAC, Matt enjoys helping at his parent’s 1500 acre farm and hunting and fishing.

Non-voting Member

Board Term Expires 2023

Denise Landis

Recently retired from Survival Flight at the University of Michigan (Michigan Medicine) Denise is happy to rejoin ACCT as a non-voting member.  Denise started her career in Emergency Nursing in a large community hospital and then joined Survival Flight as a flight nurse.  She later became the Chief Flight Nurse then the Clinical Director for Survival Flight.  She wore many hats during the years in her professional career and was most excited to be a founding program member of the organization, which is now known as ACCT. Denise is also still involved in varying industry initiatives in her home state of Michigan.

Non-voting Member

Board Term Expires 2023