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2027 Conference Planning Committee
Nikkola Bales
Multimedia Communications Specialist
Nebraska Hospital Association
A passionate and results-driven professional, Nikkola specializes in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, and Emergency Preparedness. A proud graduate of the University of Mississippi, she completed a bachelor’s degree in just three years while earning dual minors in Business and Entrepreneurship. As a Multimedia Communications Specialist at the Nebraska Hospital Association, Nikkola leads initiatives in digital marketing, graphic design, social media management, and content creation. With expertise in internal communications, strategic campaigns, video production, and event coordination, she supports hospitals by providing resources and training. Building on this work, Nikkola is currently pursuing a Certificate in Public Health, Emergency Preparedness at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Public Health (COPH). This program provides a strong foundation in disaster response, risk management, and public health systems, deepening her ability to connect communication strategies with emergency planning.
Paul Bowling, PA-C, CHEP, NHDP-BC, CHEC-III
Emergency Manager at UM Capital Region Health
University of Maryland Medical System
Paul Bowling is the full-time emergency manager for University of Maryland Capital Region Health, part of the University of Maryland Medical System. In this role, which he has held since November 2021, he oversees day-to-day emergency management operations across three facilities, including a Level II trauma center. He brings more than 40 years of clinical experience as a Physician Assistant in Critical Care Medicine and Trauma. He began his career as an EMT and paramedic before graduating from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences as a physician assistant. He also served as an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the university for more than 25 years. His work in healthcare emergency management began in 2013, when he assumed emergency management responsibilities while serving as Manager of Advanced Practice Clinicians in the Critical Care Medicine Service.
Paul serves as a board member and vice chair of the Maryland Healthcare Emergency Readiness Network(MHERN). He also serves on MHERN’s annual DisasterPiece conference committee, managing vendors and supporting speaker selection and agenda development.
Paul serves as vice chair of the Maryland Region V Healthcare Coalition. He chairs the Communications Committee, which addresses terrestrial and satellite radio and digital communications, and serves on itsTraining, Education and Exercise Committee.
Paul volunteers with the Anne Arundel-Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team, where heleads the First Aid Support Team (FAST). His passion for dogs, especially German Shepherds, extends to his volunteer work with Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue (MAGSR).
He has been a member of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals (AHEPP) since 2015. He has served on the association's Education Committee, Advisory Committee, and Conference Committee.
Mindi Bremer, RN, HcEM-M
Emergency Preparedness Manager and Safety Officer
Wichita County Health Center
Mindi Bremer is a registered nurse and healthcare emergency management professional with more than 25 years of clinical experience and over 20 years of expertise in healthcare preparedness, healthcare safety and emergency management. She specializes in emergency operations planning, continuity of operations, healthcare coalition coordination, exercise design, regulatory compliance, and incident command. Mindi serves as an Emergency Preparedness Manager, and Safety Officer, where she helps healthcare organizations strengthen preparedness through planning, training, exercises, and collaborative leadership. She is recognized for her expertise in rural healthcare preparedness, specifically Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics and Long-Term Cares. She has received national and state awards for her contributions to healthcare readiness and emergency response.
Michelle Hill
Michelle L. Hill is a healthcare emergency preparedness professional with nearly two decades of experience in emergency management, public health preparedness, EMS, and crisis response. She serves as the Healthcare Preparedness Program Coordinator with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, where she manages the $1.5 million Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) grant, supports healthcare coalitions, and contributes to statewide emergency preparedness and response.
A longtime volunteer firefighter and EMT, Michelle brings extensive frontline experience to her work, including leadership as a Rescue Captain, Incident Commander, and Operations Section Chief. She has played a key role in Nebraska’s healthcare crisis preparedness efforts, including the development of statewide Crisis Standards of Care protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michelle is a certified Healthcare Emergency Management Professional (HcEM-P™), licensed Nebraska EMT, CPR Instructor, and FEMA Professional Development Series graduate. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services Administration from Columbia Southern University.
Richard Karsseboom
Patrick Kiley, MPA, CEM, PCP, NREMT
Director of Emergency Management
Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals
Patrick Kiley, MPA, CEM, PCP, NREMT, is the Director of Emergency Management at the Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals. Additionally, Patrick serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Boston Healthcare Preparedness Coalition and is the Chair of the Healthcare Caucus for the International Association of Emergency Managers. Patrick also serves as the Deputy Chief for the Plaistow, NH Fire Department, overseeing emergency response, planning, training, business continuity and compliance. Prior to these roles, Patrick was a Manager of Regulatory Compliance at Beth Israel Lahey Health, and has experience working as a Firefighter, EMT, Dispatcher, and Emergency Manager for multiple Local, State, and Private Sector Emergency Service providers. Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree in public health from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and his master’s degree in public administration from Anna Maria College. He holds numerous certifications in public safety and emergency management, including credentials from FEMA and IAEM.
Tobias Leisenring
David Marsee, MHA, HcEM-P
Director of Emergency Management
Duke University Health System
David Marsee is an emergency management leader with over 30 years of experience in public safety, healthcare preparedness, and disaster response. As Director of Emergency Management for Duke University Health System, he leads systemwide preparedness, emergency operations planning, crisis coordination, and disaster response capabilities, including oversight of Duke’s State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT).
David previously served 31 years with Durham County Emergency Services, retiring as Senior Emergency Management Coordinator. His extensive operational experience includes leadership roles in major incidents, statewide disaster deployments, and North Carolina Incident Management Team operations, including medical response efforts following Hurricane Helene.
David holds a Master of Health Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and Emergency Management. He is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP), and Healthcare Emergency Manager–Professional (HcEM-P), and teaches emergency management courses nationally.
Robin Oothoudt, HcEM, RS
Executive Director, Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER)
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association
Robin Oothoudt brings many years of experience to emergency preparedness and response to her position as executive director of the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER). In this role, she is responsible for overseeing activities and deliverables for Arizona’s federally funded Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). Robin oversees a highly qualified team to complete statewide grant deliverables.
In 2019, she became the northern region manager and statewide training and exercise manager for AzCHER. She was promoted in 2021 to her current role. Prior to joining AzHHA, she worked at Yavapai County Community Health Services as the public health emergency preparedness coordinator. In this role, Robin also served as the volunteer chair for the Northern Region Coalition. She currently serves on the board of several statewide preparedness and response organizations, task forces and advisory committees.
Kristine Sanger, BS, MLS(ASCP), CHPCP, CEPA
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals
Kristi Sanger is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals (AHEPP), an international organization dedicated to the professional development and support of healthcare emergency managers. She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Association, including partner engagement with organizations such as ASPR, CMS, The Joint Commission, and others. She oversees member and vendor relations, marketing and web design, and the coordination of all AHEPP programming.
Scott Wollek, MPA, PMP, PMI-PMOCP, MDPEM
Director, Hospital Preparedness Program
Maryland Hospital Association
Scott is an emergency manager, health security leader and educator with diverse experience in both operations and policy. He currently serves as director of the Hospital Preparedness Program at the Maryland Hospital Association and helps train the next generation as a faculty member in the Biodefense Program at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. Scott previously served as a senior program officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and senior disaster program manager for the National Capital Region at the American Red Cross. A native of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in emergency health services from The George Washington University, and a master’s degree in public administration, with a concentration in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from George Mason University.
Lauren Yeagle, MA, HcEM-P
Lauren Yeagle is the Director of Emergency Management at OhioHealth, a 16-hospital healthcare system in Columbus, Ohio. She brings more than 18 years of experience across healthcare, public health, and local and state government, and holds a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Public University. Outside of work, she enjoys tackling home improvement projects and riding roller coasters with her family.