Governor Abbott Appoints Five To Advisory Council On Emergency Medical Services
Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Karen Pickard and Alan H. Tyroch, M.D. and appointed Sharon Malone, M.D., Taylor Ratcliff, M.D., and Shawn Salter to the Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services for terms to expire on January 1, 2024. The council recommends changes to the EMS/Trauma System in order to ensure that the community receives comprehensive and efficient emergency care.
Karen Pickard of Ovilla is a registered nurse and paramedic and serves as a faculty member for the EMS Program at Navarro College in Waxahachie. She is the EMS Infection Control officer for the Wilmer Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the State Firemen and Fire Marshals Association of Texas, North Texas Firemen and Fire Marshals Association, and a mission lifeline participant for the American Heart Association. Pickard received a nursing degree from The University of Texas at Arlington and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Alan H. Tyroch, M.D. of El Paso is the Founding Chair of Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso and the Chief of Surgery and Trauma Medical Director at University Medical Center of El Paso. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Texas Surgical Society, Southwestern Surgical Congress, and the American Trauma Society. Additionally, he is a member of the Pan-American Trauma Society, Pediatric Trauma Society, Western Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Society of Surgical Chairs, Texas Medical Association, and the El Paso County Medical Society. He is an active member in the BorderRAC in TSA I. Tyroch received a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from Texas A&M University and a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Sharon Malone, M.D. of Van Alstyne is the Medical Director for EMS services in Grayson, Lamar, Dallas, and Tarrant counties. In addition, she the EMS Education Medical Director for Collin College EMS Education and Paris Junior College EMS Education Programs. She is a Diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians, and the National Association of EMS Educators. Malone received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University and Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
Taylor Ratcliff, M.D. of Temple is the Central Texas Division Director of Pre-Hospital Medicine and Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Scott & White Medical Center, Temple. He is an EMS physician providing medical direction to several central Texas EMS providers and first responders as well as the Temple College EMS Health Professions program. He is the chair-elect of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of EMS Physicians and co-chair of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians EMS Committee. Additionally, he is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association of EMS Physicians, Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Association, as well as a site visitor for the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions. Ratcliff received a Doctor of Medicine from Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine and is board certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS Medicine.
Shawn Salter of San Antonio is the South Central Regional Director for Air Methods Corporation and a registered nurse. He previously served as the Region IV Director for the Association of Air Medical Services and chaired the Standards Committee. He is a member of the Air & Surface Transport Nursing Association, Association of Critical Care Flight Paramedics, and the Texas Association Air Medical Services. Salter received a nursing degree from San Jacinto Junior College.