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Educator Recognition

Labor Day

Celebrating Our Workforce

Laerdal is a true team. Each and every employee has a role in our ability to provide you with solutions and services that help you achieve your goals.

This Labor Day and each going forward, we would like to recognize not only our entire Laerdal Team for the work they do, but also highlight a particular role that is important to your success.

This year we would like to recognize our Laerdal educators, all of whom are committed to your goals. Each one works tirelessly, visiting simulation labs across the country and ensuring that our customers are confident in their ability to run simulations. We want to thank them for their contribution to meeting our mission of helping save lives by enabling you to deliver the best training possible.

Below, we have featured just a few of our educational services specialists. If you’ve worked with any of them or any of our educators who we were unable to feature, we would consider it a privilege if you shared with them that you saw this page.

Thank you, Laerdal Educators! You are instrumental in turning the investments made by our clients into lifesaving training for their learners. Bravo!

Sr. Educational Services Specialist - 11 Years

Kelly McKeever

Other Experience: B.S in Biology, Chemistry, Physiology, M.S. in Physiology, EMT-Paramedic, ACLS/PALS/NRP/BLS Instructor, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certification, Public School and Community College Instructor, Flight Paramedic, Healthcare Management/Administration

“Be a lifelong learner…keep an open mind and a watchful eye. Never stop learning and look for the opportunity to evolve in every simulation-related experience.”

Educational Services Specialist - 7 Years

Lori Kurtz

Other Experience: RN, BSN, M.A. in Education, Lab Coordinator at Arizona State University

“I share Laerdal’s mission and vision at each course and stress that it is our hope that they will use simulation as a tool to make a difference in healthcare. I encourage them to use simulation to train new providers, reduce errors and improve processes and efficiency in healthcare.”

Educational Services Specialist - 16 Years

Karen Howard

Other Experience: BSN, RN, CHSE, ACLS Instructor

“Simulation is a process. Mastering this art will take time depending on the hours you are scheduled to work with simulation. Start small and keep it simple. Consider adding one simulation per semester in year one, another in year two, etc...all while adding staff as simulation usage increases. Find a support system in other users, your vendors and your administration.”

Educational Services Specialist - 8 Years

Karen Crowe

Other Experience: EMT-B, Paramedic, Captain/District Chief of EMS, Federal Disaster Medical assistance Team, A.S. in EMS, BSN, RN, MSN

“The message I leave with all of my customers is for them to know that learning to operate the simulator is the beginning of a career long process. This process will require time, practice and patience and we the team at Laerdal are here to support them through the process. The ultimate goal is to help save lives by improving patient safety through the use of simulation.”

Educational Services Specialist - 1.5 Years

Bob Duy

Other Experience: BSN and B.S. in Biology, Clinical & Lab Manager at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, MO

“To get the most out of your simulation journey, I always remind my clients that it is like climbing a mountain. Most people are excited initially, but there is always that temptation to return to a familiar path and patterns. But, when they forge ahead and reach the top, they never want to go back.”

Educational Services Specialist - 2 Years

Christopher Gatpandan

Other Experience: Simulation Operator, NMCSD; Simulation Specialist, West Coast University

“You don't need to build an entire simulation program all at once. Start small, with achievable goals. Piece by piece you will build the program you want to become.”

Sr. Educational Services Specialist - 7.5 Years

Scott Mckee

Other Experience: ASN, BSN, MSN, Sr. Flight Nurse in the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, activated to Air Force during Desert Storm, 15 years of simulation experience in the military, Peri-Operative Educator

“Use the “Arrange Windows” component of the Instructor SW to project to a large screen or 2nd monitor for cardiac rhythm recognition and external fetal heart strip monitoring recognition. This is an excellent way to incorporate simulation into the curriculum. Yes, I like to keep it practical. LOL”

Educational Services Specialist - 14 Years

John Mullins

Other Experience: RRT, EMT-I, EMS Training Captain, EMT/Firefighter, Cardiac Cath Lab Tech, working toward CHSE

“I always ask my customers who they are teaching to, the goals of the simulation, experience they have with simulation, and what they expect to take away from our time together.”

Educational Services Specialist - 20 Years

Vince Poytner

Other Experience: Physician’s Assistant, Thoracic Surgery

"Simulation is a process of growth for both you and your participants.  I have seen tremendous growth in the field of simulation as far as research, knowledge, and gathering data on best practice. This is just a part of that journey!"

Educational Services Specialist - 3.5 Years

Rami Leventhal

Other Experience: B.S., Nationally Registered Paramedic, Educational Specialist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Center for Simulation and Research, Combat Medic in the Israeli Defense Forces, EMT and Paramedic with Rural Metro, Paramedic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital ED

"Facilitation of quality simulation is all about the people, not the equipment! Well trained and supported simulation staff and/or faculty are the key for a successful simulation program."

Educational Services Specialist - 16 Years

Tom Ritchie

Other Experience: Volunteer Fire Fighter from 1973-1979, 20 years in the Air Force as a Medic/EMT-I/Level of a LPN (1979-2000), SimLab Operator at the DoD Medical School in Bethesda Maryland (2000-2002), Associates Degree in Administration

“In simulation you can’t be afraid to fail, it is part of the process. One must start the simulation journey with crawling, walking and then running...Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is learning how do simulation.”

Educational Services Specialist - 3 Years

Bill Summerfield

Other Experience: : Certified Medical Transport Executive, Certified Flight Paramedic, Tactical Medic for a Federal SWAT Team

“I try to alleviate fears of technology. I urge the customers to explore the user interface and how to reset everything back to default, should things go awry.  I show off my Laerdal toy car and pictures of the homemade cookies served at each meeting and attempt to relay how approachable and hospitable Laerdal is, specifically our Technical Support staff...should they ever need to contact them."

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