December 12, 2026 | 12 noon EST
How do long-standing EMS practices evolve—especially when new evidence challenges what we’ve “always done”? Using recent discussions around cervical collar use as a case study, this webinar examines how research, protocol development, education, and field experience shape clinical decision-making and ultimately redefine the standard of care. Drs. Ben Abo, Carol Cunningham, Jeff Jarvis, Doug Kupas, Matt Sholl and EMS attorney Doug Wolfberg will explore the evaluation of emerging evidence, how to understand risk–benefit consideration and navigating changes that impact patient outcomes and operational consistency. Join us to rethink tradition, question assumptions, and strengthen evidence-based practice.
Benjamin N. Abo, DO, Paramedic, WP-C, FAWM, FEEM
Dr. Benjamin Abo is an EMS physician, medical director, and internationally recognized educator in prehospital, wilderness, and disaster medicine. He serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Escambia County Public Safety and provides medical direction for multiple EMS and special operations agencies across Florida including Gainesville Fire Rescue and Miami Dade Fire Rescue Urban Search & Rescue. Dr. Abo’s work spans austere care, venom and toxin management, USAR, dive medicine, and EMS system development. A passionate advocate for data-driven practice and crew-focused safety, he is widely known for his engaging teaching style, research contributions, and media appearances—including Shark Week, Kings of Pain, frequent CNN interviews, and his TEDx talk.
Jeff Jarvis, MD, EMT-P
Dr. Jeff Jarvis is the Chief Medical Officer and System Medical Director for the Office of the Medical Director in Fort Worth, Texas. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. Dr. Jarvis began his career in EMS in 1984 as a volunteer fire fighter in rural East Texas. He has worked in three states as a paramedic and maintains his active Texas paramedic license today. In addition to clinical practice, he served as both the Texas State EMS Training Coordinator and the founding Department Chair of the EMS Professions program at Temple College. He teaches extensively and has authored multiple articles on EMS issues in both peer-reviewed and industry journals. His research interests include airway management and clinical performance measures. Dr. Jarvis serves on the board of directors of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) and the National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) where he co-chairs the measure development committee.
Douglas F. Kupas, MD, NRP, FAEMS, moderator
Dr. Kupas is the President of the National Association of EMS Physicians. He is and EMS physician and emergency physician with Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA. In that role he serves as an EMS medical director for Geisinger EMS and as medical director of Geisinger Mobile Integrated Healthcare. Dr. Kupas formerly served as the Commonwealth EMS Medical Director for over 22 years for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and for over 15 years for the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. His scholarly interests include EMS clinician and patient safety, resuscitation, and trauma triage.
Carol Cunningham, MD, FAAEM, FAEMS; State Medical Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS
Dr. Carol Cunningham is the State Medical Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS, a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, and a board- certified emergency physician. She earned the Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education and was selected as the 2021 National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Meta-Leader of the Year. She completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security and is the co-principal investigator for the NASEMSO National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines.
Douglas M. Wolfberg, J.D., Attorney-at-Law and Founding Partner – Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, LLC
Adjunct Professor – Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Adjunct Assistant Professor – Emergency Medicine Program, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Doug Wolfberg is a nationally-known EMS attorney who prior to law school was an EMS clinician as well as a county EMS director, regional EMS manager and EMS administrator at both the statewide and federal levels. Doug is also a co-founder of PWW Advisory Group and has worked as a consultant on EMS system assessment and design projects throughout the United States. Doug works extensively on the legal aspects of EMS medical direction and serves as legal counsel for NAEMSP.
Matthew Sholl, MD, MPH
Matt was born in New England and grew up in Maine. He attended Bucknell University as an undergraduate, then Dartmouth Medical School. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Boston Medical Center followed by Fellowship at Boston EMS. Following training, he returned home to Maine practicing clinically at MaineHealth, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine where he currently serves as the EMS Division Director, EMS Fellowship and Emergency Medicine Residency faculty, Medical Director of Portland Fire Department and Medical Director of MaineHealth EMS, as well as the Maine EMS State Medical Director.