Keynote Speakers

James Langabeer, PhD, FAHA is internationally recognized for quality and outcomes research in emergency medicine and public health. He is a Vice Chair and a tenured Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern Medical School. His clinical activities and research have primarily focused on emergency cardiovascular care. He helped to pioneer the use of telemedicine in emergency medical services and helped to develop the Emergency Telehealth and Navigation (ETHAN) program with the Houston Fire Department and has advised dozens of agencies on use of telehealth for prehospital screening and triage. His research findings have been published in Prehospital Emergency Care, Annals of Emergency Medicine, among others. He is a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) and a nationally registered EMT. Dr. Langabeer currently leads a large clinical trial for opioid use disorder in partnership with local EMS agencies and emergency departments, called the Houston Emergency Opioid Engagement System (HEROES). He is also the Associate Editor for the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine and the national Chair of the American Heart Association’s Ambulatory Quality committee.

Diane Flint is an Assistant Professor and Program Director in the Emergency Health Services Department at UMBC. She received her National Registry of Paramedics Certification in 1999, after several years at other EMS certifications. She holds an AA from Carroll Community College in Westminster, MD, a BA from the University of Baltimore and a MS from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in EMS Administration Policy and Planning. She also earned Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA)- Healthcare Systems Organization at the University of Baltimore. Her research interests include Community Paramedicine, Public Health and Palliative Care.

Dr. Owusu-Ansah is a board- certified pediatrician and board eligible pediatric emergency medicine and emergency medical physician. Dr. Owusu-Ansah has completed both a pediatric emergency medicine and emergency medical services fellowship. She develops curriculums and provides education for EMS personnel as well as for government EMS. She serves as chair of the research committee on the board for NREMT. Dr. Owusu-Ansah is now focused on promoting diversity, equity and inclusion on multiple academic planes by serving as the inaugural Chair of the Diversity Task Force of NAEMSP and the Inaugural Associate Vice Chair of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for the department of Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Washko is a 35-year highly accomplished executive focused in the pre-hospital and healthcare operations improvement space with expertise in a variety of industry domains and topics. Mr. Washko is considered a leading industry expert on numerous matters, consulting and advising internationally on pre-hospital, mobile healthcare, transfer centers, call centers and EMS systems design and improvement efforts. He sits on a variety of elected and appointed industry and government boards and councils, is an author, researcher, educator, and speaker and is regarded as a balanced disruptive innovator, ideator and strategic visionary leader capable in business and cultural transformations.