Logo of University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Emergency Medicine Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Made possible with support from the UVM Green & Gold Professorship in Emergency Medicine and the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Planning Committee

Course Directors

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  • Michael King, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN is an experienced Emergency Nurse and educator with more than 20 years of experience in EMS and Emergency Nursing. Michael has spent that last 18 years of his career in the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he serves as a Staff Nurse at the State’s only level one trauma center.  He is also a Lecturer in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the Larner College of Medicine. He has led key clinical and operational initiatives - including chairing the ED Triage Subcommittee and serving on the Virtual Provider in Triage and Patient Experience Committees, with prior leadership as Supervisor of the Regional Transfer Center. Michael is the Immediate Past President and current Treasurer of the Vermont Emergency Nurses Association, and he serves as Course Director for both the Vermont EMS Conference and the Stowe Updates in Emergency Medicine Conference. A recipient of the ENA’s 20 Under 40 Award and UVMMC’s Excellence in Trauma Care Award, he remains committed to advancing evidence-based emergency care, pediatric resuscitation education, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

  • David Weiss BS, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CFRN, AEMT is an experienced Emergency and Critical Care Flight Nurse and educator with 16 years of EMS and 8 years of nursing experience. After spending 6 years as a full time nurse in the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center he transitioned to a per diem role and is now currently employed full time as a Critical Care Flight Nurse with UVM HealthNet Transport. He maintains his Advanced EMT certification and is an active member of two local rescue squads as well as one of the Course Directors for the Vermont EMS Conference. David also works as a Medical and Rescue Specialist for the Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1, providing care to patients who are victims of natural and man-made disasters. David is passionate about pediatric emergency and critical care education. He chairs the Education Committee for UVM HealthNet Transport and was the inaugural chair of the Emergency Department's Pediatrics Committee. He is always teaching, whether it be at the bedside or traveling to Emergency Departments throughout Vermont and upstate New York. His passion for education led to his recognition as the “2023 Vermont EMS for Children Champion." He has presented training courses at numerous local EMS agencies, state, regional, and national conferences. He has developed and teaches a course titled “Pediatric Emergency Medicine: Assessment and Evidence Based Resuscitation” through the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Larner College of Medicine. 

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  • Daniel Wolfson, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine and the State of Vermont EMS Medical Director. Dr. Wolfson has led numerous EMS-based research projects and is Vermont's site lead for the PAIN trial (Prehospital Analgesia Intervention trial), a national study comparing fentanyl and ketamine for prehospital pain management. His work focuses on advancing evidence-based EMS protocols, expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder, and improving systems of care in rural environments.

Steering Committee

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  • Will Moran, NRP, serves as the State Emergency Medical Services Chief at the Vermont Department of Health.  Prior to joining the State of Vermont, Will served as a senior firefighter / paramedic and EMS coordinator for a suburban fire department; executive director of a paramedic ambulance service and was active in the administration of a Vermont EMS district.  Since joining the Office of Emergency Medical Services, Will has led a team of state employees committed to ensuring all Vermonters receive high quality prehospital emergency medical care.  Over the last five years Will and team expanded the role of EMS personnel to enhance the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, launched an EMS led buprenorphine initiation treatment program, and have worked diligently to collaborate with EMS personnel across the state.

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  • Mike Leyden has worked for over twenty-five years in a range of emergency services and healthcare-related roles, including direct patient care, teaching, public health and healthcare administration.  He is currently the EMS Training Center Manager for UVM Health based in Vermont.  Mike has worked with the UVM Health Network for nine years, much of it at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury, VT where he served as the Emergency Management Director and then Associate Vice President for Operations.   Previously, Mike worked in Vermont’s Department of Health overseeing State EMS Office operations and healthcare system preparedness.   He has had various other roles in emergency preparedness, EMS operations, EMS education, wildland fire and mountain search and rescue.  Mike holds a Master’s in Public Health degree from the Boston University School of Public Health and has been a Nationally Registered Paramedic since 2004 and currently serves on the NREMT's board of directors. 

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    • Dr. Charles is a tenured Professor of Surgery at the Larner College of Medicine, UVM, and Vice Chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Surgery. In addition, he is the Trauma Medical Director of the UVMMC Level I Trauma Center and the Surgical ICU Director. Dr. Charles is recognized as an academic surgeon scientist passionate about global surgery, health services research, and the advancement of the education mission of our institution through high-quality learning experiences. Dr. Charles has been a principal investigator on numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health with a focus on trauma and burn injuries and health care disparities. He has an extensive array of publications related to his work, both nationally and internationally. He has over 350 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals, six book chapters, and more than 150 published abstracts to his credit. He is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

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  • Jennifer Gratton, BSN, RN, TCRN serves as the Trauma Program Manager at The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in Burlington, Vermont. UVMMC is the state’s only trauma center and is distinguished as an American College of Surgeons–verified Adult Level I and Pediatric Level II Trauma Center.

    With more than 38 years of experience in trauma and critical care, Jennifer brings expertise and leadership to her role. She holds the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) credential and has dedicated over two decades to managing UVMMC’s trauma program. Her career at the medical center has included positions as a Surgical Intensive Care nurse and Trauma Case Manager, before assuming her current leadership role.

    Jennifer is deeply engaged in the trauma community. She is an active member of the Society of Trauma Nurses and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Trauma Center Association of America. In addition, she has shared her knowledge and insights through presentations at both local and national trauma conferences.

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  • Courtney serves as the EMS Training Administrator for the state of Vermont. She is also a paramedic and has been serving Vermont communities as a clinician at various EMS licensure levels since 2018.  In addition to these roles, Courtney is licensed as an instructor Coordinator (IC) and has been teaching in Vermont Initial EMS education courses for the last few years.

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  • Description text goes here
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  • Ray Walker began his EMS career as a volunteer EMS clinician and ambulance driving instructor in 1997. He served as the Assistant Chief and then Chief of his EMS agency before joining the Vermont EMS Office team in November 2000.  He has held many roles during his tenure at the Vermont Department of Health, and his current responsibilities include oversight of the Office’s licensing and regulatory activities.  From 1992 until 2000, Ray served on the staff of Governor Howard Dean as his communications office assistant, manager of constituent services, and scheduler.   

    When he’s not at the office, Ray can be found on his way up or down a mountain or with his nose in a book.

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  • Devin Major is an accomplished public safety professional with over 16 years in the fire service, 14 years in law enforcement, and 13 years in emergency medical services. He currently serves in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff, works actively in fire and EMS, and contributes his expertise as the Assistant EMS Data Manager for the State EMS Office.

    Devin’s career reflects a deep commitment to public service and operational excellence across multiple disciplines. His background includes years of leadership experience as a former Lieutenant in the fire service and Assistant Chief in EMS, where he oversaw emergency response operations, training, and personnel management.

    In addition to his field experience, Devin’s work with the State EMS Office focuses on data analysis, performance improvement, and supporting statewide emergency response initiatives. His earlier service as a dispatcher and jail officer provides him with a comprehensive understanding of the public safety system from multiple operational perspectives.

    Devin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, combining strong organizational and analytical skills with a lifelong dedication to community safety, teamwork, and the advancement of emergency management systems.

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  • Dr. Laurel Plante, MD, FACEP, FAEMS graduated from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 2003, and from Tufts-Baystate Emergency Medicine Residency in 2006. Prior to this, she served several years as an EMS provider on Shelburne Rescue and later on UVM Rescue. Upon graduation, she took a job as an Emergency Medicine attending at Rutland Regional Medical Center where she served as the District 10 EMS Medical Director from 2007-2010. Upon leaving there, she came to UVM Medical Center, where she initially served as the Medical Director of the grant-funded UVM Paramedic course, which graduated 18 new paramedics. This course allowed for paramedicine to start in District 3, the largest EMS District in Vermont (and the only one transporting primarily to UVM Medical Center, the only Level 1 Trauma Center in Vermont). After the completion of this class, Dr. Plante oversaw the implementation of paramedicine in the District and has helped to grow this program from an initial 15 paramedics to now almost 100. As the EMS Medical Director, she provides oversight, guidance and training for roughly 1000 EMS providers at any one time. Most recently, with a transition in focus towards education, she has accepted the role of the Medical Director of the UVM Health Network EMS Academy as well as the Associate Medical Director of the Elizabethtown Paramedic Program, overseeing the Vermont/NH portion. Dr. Plante is also an Associate Professor at the Larner College of Medicine and created and is Course Director for the 4th year Medical Student EMS rotation among many other responsibilities.

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  • Patrick Malone is a Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the University of Vermont Initiative for Rural Emergency Medical Services (IREMS).  He serves on the Vermont EMS Advisory Committee and is the chair of the Education Council.  A Vermont EMT and Senior Instructor, he has been involved with EMS for over forty years.

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  • Norah Pride is an Advanced EMT with UVM Rescue, an Emergency Department Technician at UVMMC, a research assistant in the Lavoie Lab at the Larner College of Medicine, and a volunteer at Sugarbush 3 Peaks Medical Clinic. Across every role, she is driven by a deep commitment to patient care, continuous learning, and the belief that strong mentorship is at the heart of great medicine!