Nicole Cecchini, BS, NRP
Paramedic Education Program Director
412-647-4245
williamsnm3@upmc.edu
As the Program Director for the Paramedic program, she oversees all aspects of paramedic education. Prior to becoming Program Director Mrs. Cecchini spent eight years as the Clinical Coordinator for the Paramedic program. Mrs. Cecchini is also Instructor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science Technology and Paramedic Education Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Paramedic Program, in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her responsibilities at the Center, she is also a state evaluator for both BLS and ALS certification practical exams. Mrs. Cecchini has a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh.
Outside of EMS, she is a member of the Latrobe Business and Professional Women’s Club where she is a former executive board member and serves on several committees. She also participates in the Westmoreland County Fair as a Superintendent through the local 4-H. She is a member of The Visionaries, a group for young professionals working to make Westmoreland Community a better place, by encouraging other young professionals to participate in philanthropy.
N. Alex Cutsumbis, BS, NRP
Medical Education Coordinator
(412) 647-3643
cutsumbisna@upmc.edu
As a Medical Education Coordinator, Mr. Cutsumbis teaches several classes in the Center for Emergency and University of Pittsburgh Paramedic programs. He is currently working on new and exciting educational ventures for the Center for Emergency Medicine. He previously has been the Education Coordinator for the Center for Emergency Medicine, where he was responsible for EMT classes, NAEMT Educational offerings and equipment maintenance.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the Center for Emergency Medicine’s paramedic program. Prior to entering EMS as a career Mr. Cutsumbis held various jobs in the IT field, this technology experience combined with EMS and education has provided a strong background in healthcare simulation.
Sarah (Potts) Johnson, BS, NRP, CAC
Clinical Education Coordinator
412-647-4242
johnsonse8@upmc.edu
As the Clinical Coordinator, Sarah is primarily responsible for the clinical aspects of the Center for Emergency Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Paramedic programs. She maintains the relationships between hospital, field and other clinical sites and the Center for Emergency Medicine in addition to scheduling students and ensuring that they are getting the most out of their clinical education. Sarah is also the lab coordinator of the Center for Emergency Medicine Paramedic lab sessions.
As EMT Program Coordinator, Sarah teaches, coordinates, and manages all of the EMT programming for both the University of Pittsburgh and the Center for Emergency Medicine. She is a lead lecturer and lab coordinator for all EMT classes. She also coordinates, teaches, and manages other courses, including EVOC.
Sarah earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. She has been a Nationally Registered Paramedic for 8 years. In that time she has gained experience as a street medic, EMS supervisor, Patient Care Technician in an Emergency Department, and even a consultant for a start-up patient care documentation company. This unique combination of experience has only added to her passion for EMS and particularly, EMS education.
Andrew Mann, BS
Medical Education Coordinator
Christopher Matek, BS, NRP
Medical Education Coordinator
412-647-4671
Christopher Matek, BS, NRP, CP is new to the University of Pittsburgh, has been in emergency services for over 35 years as a Paramedic, Fire fighter, leader, and educator. His career began in Harlem and worked in New York City for over 16 years before moving West to the Chicago Fire Department and later to Minnesota. Throughout his career, from EMT, to paramedic, to instructor, to EMS Chief, Christopher has been involved in service, education, program development, and training delivery at all levels of public safety. He has worked and taught in several areas from Municipal, Hospital, and Fire based EMS services to State and Federal service with Department of Natural Resources as a Fireline Paramedic and Smokechaser. Along with teaching both EMS and Fire programs. Christopher was in Minnesota’s inaugural class of Community Paramedics (CP) and has been involved as a CP at the local and state level for over a decade. In 2015, he became the director of the Northfield Hospital EMS Community Paramedic program. Christopher is heading up the Community Paramedic program development and is looking forward to fostering the next stage of evolution in EMS via Mobile Integrated Health Care and Community Paramedicine.
John Pierce, MBA, NRP
Associate Director, Office of Education
412-647-4648
piercejf@upmc.edu
John Pierce, MBA, NREMT-P serves as Instructor, Emergency Medicine Program, School of Health and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Pittsburgh and as Instructor at the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania.
John received his MBA in 2011 from the University of Phoenix having five years professional experience as an EMS manager and administrator in industry. John has been providing pre-hospital patient care for 30 years, 26 of which at the Advanced Life Support level. He has served in various capacities as instructor and educator delivering AHA, ASHI, VFIS, ASLS and DOT EMS curriculums. John is active as an advocate of EMS with a focus on leadership and management education and development.
Thomas E. Platt, Ed.D, NRP
Assistant Professor and Program Director
412-647-4665
plattt@pitt.edu
Thomas E. Platt, EdD, NREMT-P, is a faculty member in the Office of Education at the Center for Emergency Medicine. Dr. Platt is also Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Science Technology and Director of the Emergency Medicine Program in the School of Health and Rehabilitant Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Platt became a paramedic in 1983 and was recognized by the National Registry of EMTs for his continuous years as a Nationally registered Paramedic. Dr. Platt has a proven track record as an EMS provider, educator and administrator.
In his role at the Center for Emergency Medicine, Dr. Platt served as the Program Director for the Paramedic Training Program for 20 years. In his new role he provides mentoring to the new Program Director and serves as a guest lecturer.
Dr. Platt has worked on numerous local, regional, state, national and international health care efforts. Most recently he served as the Associate Executive Director of the HMC/UPMC Partnership. This initiative was designed to improve emergency services in the State of Qatar at Hamad Medical Corporation. He has conducted EMS Education programs in Iceland, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Dr. Platt served on the revision of the EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum Project, served as Co-Principal Investigator for the First Responder National Standard Curriculum Project and as an author for the revision of the EMT-Intermediate and Paramedic National Standard Curricula.
He is currently an active volunteer with the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Profession serving as a member of Review Team Delta, a reader of self-studies and a site visitor and team captain. In addition to is work with CoAEMSP, Dr. Platt is on the Board of Directors of the National Registry of EMTs, serving on the Standards and Exam, International and Appels Committees.
Outside of EMS, Dr. Platt is a volunteer for USA Hockey, serving as a Coaching Education Program Instructor for the MidAm District. He has assisted in the initial education of over 3,000 USA Hockey Level 1 Coaches. Platt has served as a volunteer coach and is also a USA Hockey referee.
Dr. Platt earned his doctoral degree in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, Department of Instruction and Learning. Prior to completing his doctoral work, Dr. Platt completed a Master of Education Degree in Adult Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration from The University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Platt resides in Glenshaw with his wife Anna and 2 children. For more details, please review his curriculum vitae.
Robert W. Scarborough
Department Administrator, Office of Education, Center for Emergency Medicine
412-647-4246
scarboroughrw@upmc.edu
As the Department Administrator for the Office of Education, Rob oversees all aspects of administration to students, faculty and staff. Rob has an associate degree in business management and culinary arts. Rob also has 30 years in Administration experience and Customer Service.
Walt Alan Stoy, Ph.D., EMT-P
Professor and Director Emeritus
412-647-4667
stoywa@upmc.edu
Walt Alan Stoy, PhD, EMT-P is Professor and the founding Director of Emergency Medicine Program at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Stoy was the founding Director of Educational and International Emergency Medicine at the Center for Emergency Medicine (CEM). He remains Director Emeritus at the CEM Office of Education. He has a proven track record for national and international on projects in the EMS domain based upon his expertise as an instructional designer. Dr. Stoy served as the Principal Investigator for the revision of the 1994 Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B); National Standard Curriculum (NSC). He was the Project Director for the revision of the 1995 First Responder: NSC. In 1998 Dr. Stoy was the Project Director for the EMT Intermediate and EMT Paramedic: NSC. These contracts were awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US-DOT NHTSA). In 2005, Dr. Stoy served as the team leader overseeing all the patient assessment sections of the four levels of EMS. Those being revised as; Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advance Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic.
Dr. Stoy is internationally renowned for his efforts in EMS and is recognized by his peers and colleagues as a groundbreaker and national leader in the field of EMS education. He has shared his views of EMS education in all areas of EMS to the National Association of State EMS Directors, the National Association of EMTs, the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National Association of EMS Educators, and the National Council of State EMS Training Coordinators. He has over forty-five years of experience in EMS. He was awarded his Doctor of Philosophy in Education from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Education in Instruction and Learning with a concentration in Instructional Design Technology. Dr. Stoy also served as the founding President of the National Association of EMS Educators.
Dr. Stoy has written more than sixty instructional guides and published his educational work using both print and visual media, including Instructional Guides for the Street Medicine Series, the Hands-On Series, and the ACLS Series. He has authored Mosby’s EMT-Basic Textbook and Mosby’s First Responder Textbook, which is the textbook that most closely follows the National Standard Curricula. Dr. Stoy has held positions of Affiliate Faculty Member or Instructor in numerous pre-hospital and medical education programs, including Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. For more details, please review his curriculum vitae.
Owen T. Traynor, MD
Medical Director
412-647-5300
owent@aol.com
Dr. Owen T. Traynor has over 40 years of experience in EMS. His field experience includes an eight-year stint as a paramedic in Harlem, NYC, and as a firefighter/paramedic for a volunteer fire service on Long Island. Dr. Traynor is a well-known EMS educator and has written several emergency medicine and EMS publications. He graduated from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1993. He completed his residency in emergency medicine and an EMS Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Traynor works as an attending emergency physician at St. Clair Memorial Hospital. He was recently completed a 6 year term on the panel of commissioners for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. Dr. Traynor is the EMS medical director for several EMS agencies in the Pittsburgh area.
Sheldon Williams, MA, MBA
Medical Education Coordinator
412-647-4667
In addition to being involved with community engagement and an instructor, Williams will be assisting with resilience and DEI in the EM program. He has an extensive background in both the military and as a public safety responder. He began his military career immediately upon graduation from high school serving as a combat medic in the Army. He then transferred to the Air Force National Guard as an Emergency Management Specialist until his retirement from the military in 2016. Additionally, he has served as an emergency responder for the City of Pittsburgh for 21 years. His entry into public safety occurred upon his graduation from the Center for Emergency Medicine in 1991 as an EMT-P. He later transferred into the police department where he continued to distinguish himself by obtaining certifications in all areas of public safety (EMS, law enforcement, fire, HAZMAT and Emergency Management). As a police officer, he became a subject matter expert (SME) in tactics and explosives and served as a key team leader for Pittsburgh’s SWAT team, the Bomb Squad, and Rapid Emergency Deployment Team. His retirement from the City of Pittsburgh in 2011 allowed him to focus his attention upon providing his expertise nationally as a SME trainer and lecturer. Prior to joining the team at Pitt, he also served 11 years on the pastoral staff at Allegheny Center Alliance Church.
Benedict Campbell, BS, NRP
EMS Educator
412-647-6856
campbellbe2@upmc.edu
Ben Campbell is the newest member of full-time faculty to CEM, joining in September 2023, having been a member of part-time faculty for a little over 4 years prior to that. Ben initially started out in public safety in 2016 interested in the Fire Department. However, after some time spent running with the Kent Fire Department, Ben quickly realized his passion was specifically in EMS. Shortly after this Ben enrolled in and completed EMT class through the CEM, worked full-time as an EMT for a period, before moving onto Paramedic school at the CEM, graduating in the 2018-2019 cohort. Since completion of Paramedic schooling, Ben has served in various positions; field Paramedic, Paramedic FTO and in recent times as a Paramedic supervisor of a local ambulance service, responsible for all things training and education. Throughout this, as aforementioned, Ben worked part-time at CEM assisting with EMT lab and lecture, Paramedic lab as well as instructing CPR and ACLS classes.
Ben has a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Medical Services from Point Park University. Ben is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration degree with a specialization in Health Systems Management from Point Park University with a completion date of April 2025. Ben has a deep passion for prehospital medicine and continues to work clinically in the field part-time as a Paramedic alongside his full-time role at CEM.