Presenters & Topics
Jonas Bjorklund
Jonas is the coordinator of the Avalanche Special Interest Group and FIPS representative in ICAR avalanche commission.
He has been a professional ski patroller for 18 years, a ski patrol supervisor in Åre, head of the Swedish ski patrol training program and a Canadian Avalanche Association ITP Level 2 avalanche technician.
Manuel Genswein
Topic: Ventilation of avalanche victims until fully excavated
About Presenter: Manuel Genswein, the founder of Mountain Safety info.(MSi), has led workshops at the FIPS European Congress in Romania in 2025 and two FIPS webinars related to Avalanche rescue and provided access to MSi resources.
Terry Abrams
Mr. Abrams is the Coordinator for the Medical Special Interest Group. He has been a volunteer and paid patroller since 1979. He is a Life Member with the Canadian Ski Patrol and is an Instructor Trainer. He has patrolled World Cup and Olympic skiing and snowboarding events. He is an Advanced Care Paramedic with 45 years of experience with Alberta Health Services EMS and City of Calgary Emergency Medical Services. He has published research on the efficacy of CPR during toboggan transport.
Dr. Chuck Allen
Topic: What Baby Boomers Bring to the Incident Site
About Presenter: Dr. Allen, DO, is an Emergency Physician in Jamestown, North Dakota, USA. He is the former National Medical Advisor for the National Ski Patrol. He is a member of the Clinical Faculty for the University of North Dakota Medical School and an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) instructor. He was the Medical Director of the Metro Ambulance, Bismark Air and Standing Rock Emergency Medical Services for the past 25 years. He patrols with the Huff Hills Ski Patrol as well as being an Instructor Trainer for the NSP Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) and Outdoor Emergency Transportation (OET) programs.
Dr. Kyle McLaughlin
Topic: Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Incidents
About Presenter: Dr. McLaughlin is an Emergency Medicine Physician based in Canmore, Alberta, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, and a clinical lecturer at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. He has served as a volunteer ski patrol physician at Sunshine Village Ski Resort for over 20 years, providing patient care and education to ski patrollers.
As medical consultant for Parks Canada Mountain Rescue and Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) Heli ski for nearly 15 years, Dr. McLaughlin brings extensive field experience. He has also collaborated with Avalanche Canada and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, is faculty for the Canadian Society for Mountain Medicine’s Diploma in Mountain Medicine and is a member of both the International Society for Mountain Medicine and International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) Medical Commission.
Dr. Michael Wickham
Topic: When Boomers Crash – Handle with Care and Look Everywhere
About Presenter: Dr. Michael Wickham, MD CCFP EM, will provide a case-based lecture on why older people are more challenging to assess and treat. The lecture will cover traumatic injuries and the issues of co-morbidities; other health challenges beyond the immediate injuries.
Dr. Wickham started his career as a volunteer patroller at Fortress Mountain, Alberta. He is an Emergency Medicine physician at the Canmore Hospital and has been there for the past 28 years.
He began his medical involvement at the Lake Louise Women’s World Cup Downhill in 1993. He was Chief of Medical for 20 years until all the World Cup races left the Lake Louise resort in 2023. He was an On-Hill Physician for the Women’s Alpine events at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, held at Whistler British Columbia. Michael is the current Medical Director Lake Louise Ski Patrol and has been for the past 10 years. He is also the Medical Advisor to the Canmore Fire Department.
Dr. Aaron Brillhart
Topic: Moving CPR Update On Snow Session
About Presenter: Dr. Aaron Brillhart is an emergency physician and the medical advisor for the Northern Vermont Region of the National Ski Patrol. He volunteers with Smugglers Notch Ski Patrol. Dr. Brillhart has published research on successful patient outcomes from CPR performed by ski patrollers, including during toboggan transport. Dr. Brillhart is also the medical advisor for Stowe Mountain Rescue, has prior search and rescue experience from Mount Rainier, Denali, and Antarctica, and leads high altitude medical training expeditions on Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.
Dr. Mats Agnvall
Topic: Splinting On Snow Session
About Presenter: Dr. Agnvall is an orthopedic surgeon working in Sweden. He has worked with World Cup and Swedish national ski teams. He has been working for the past 14 years at Are, the largest of the ski areas in the Nordic countries.
Dr. Jacques Bouchard
Topic: Spine Injuries in the Elderly Snow Slider
About Presenter: Dr. Bouchard is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine injuries, working in Calgary Alberta, Canada. He is a Clinical Professor University of Calgary Cummings School of Medicine, Department of Surgery and Department of Clinical Neurosciences. He is formerly the chair of the University of Calgary Spine Program, the Head of the Office of Surgical Education, the Medical Director of the Advanced Technical Skills and Simulation Laboratory, the Chief Examiner Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Bouchard is a member of the Canadian Spine Society, the North American Spine Society, The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
Dr. Tony Pansell
Topic: The effect of concussion on eye movement control and vision function (virtual presentation)
About Presenter: Dr. Tony Pansell, PhD, is a full professor of neuro-optometry at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. He works clinically at St. Erik Eye Hospital in the neuro-ophthalmology department, meeting patients with oculomotor and visual-perceptual disorders. Dr. Pansell leads a research group focused on eye movement and vision changes following brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases, with a special emphasis on vision rehabilitation and recovery.
Laura McGladrey
Topic: Stress & Ski Patrol; What’s Working?
About Presenter: Laura is a Nurse Practitioner with dual certification as a Family and Psych Mental Health Nurse, practicing both emergency medicine and psychiatry across the lifespan.
She is a Senior Instructor at the College of Nursing, The University of Colorado. She serves as a clinician with the Stress Trauma Adversity Research and Treatment (START) Center, with a focus on occupational stress injury in front line responders, and provides trauma support for Law Enforcement, FIRE/Rescue, and austere and wilderness responders.
Laura is a former raft guide, an outdoor educator and works with ski patrols, guiding operations, ski areas, outfitters and rescue teams throughout the world. Laura is the founder and director of Responder Alliance, a grassroots organization with a mission to change the national conversation on stress impact and resilience in the outdoor professions.
Dan Elliot
Dan is a member of the Medical Special Interest Group and the interim coordinator for the People with Disabilities Special Interest Group. He is both a volunteer and paid patroller and is currently supports the Canadian Ski Patrol as the current National Manager – On Snow Training, and is a member of the Pre-Hospital Advisory Committee.
Dan has been involved with adaptive sports for 20 years and is currently the president of London Track 3 Adaptive Snow School. His other credentials include: Advanced Care Paramedic, Respiratory Therapist, Respiratory Care Practitioner, Certified Respiratory Educator, Track 3 (Instructor Trainer, Level 4 Course Conductor), Canadian Adaptive Snow Sports (CADS Course Conductor), Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (C.A.S.I. Instructor), and National Certified Coaching Program (NCCP -Snowboard).
Gail Williamson
Topic: Adaptive skiing – Sit ski demonstration, extraction, on snow experience
About presenter: Having skied at Big White since childhood, I began instructing with the Powderhounds Adaptive Snowsports program 13 years ago. It quickly became a big part of my winter and soon added the role of Program Director as well as higher CADS instructor certifications. I have been excited to see the growth of Adaptive Snowsports and increased accessibility and inclusion at Big White and across the country.
Dr. Rita Mellema MD FACEP
Topics: Awareness and management of cognitive and physical disability & Autism Spectrum Disorder / Cognitive Impairment (ASD/CI) practical scenarios
About Presenter: Dr. Mellema is a retired emergency physician with more than 30 years of experience in emergency medicine and a passion for wilderness care. A certified Wilderness Medicine Advanced Provider, she previously served on the Washington State Trauma Advisory Committee and brought her skills to the trails as a bike patrol member on the Hiawatha Rail Trail under the ski patrol of Lookout Pass, assisting riders with both medical and mechanical needs.
Now based at Big White Ski Resort, Dr. Mellema is an instructor with the Powderhounds Adaptive Ski Program, holding CADS Level 2 and CSIA Level 1 certifications. Outside of teaching and volunteering, she enjoys life on two wheels as an avid tandem, gravel, and road cyclist—and finds creative expression through quilting.
Dr. James Mellema MD FCCM
Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder / Cognitive Impairment (ASD/CI) practical scenarios & Awareness and management of cognitive and physical disability
About presenter: Dr. Mellema is a retired pediatric critical care physician whose 29-year career was dedicated to improving outcomes for critically ill children. A certified Wilderness Medicine Advanced Provider, he continues to share his expertise outdoors as an instructor with the Powderhounds Adaptive Ski Program at Big White Ski Resort, holding CADS Level 2 and CSIA Level 1 certifications.
When he’s not on the slopes, Dr. Mellema enjoys life on two wheels as an avid tandem and road cyclist, and channels his creativity through woodworking projects that blend precision, design, and craftsmanship.
Florence “Flor” Giménez
Flor Giménez is from Bariloche, Argentina and has been a ski patroller since 2011.
She earned her 2nd degree certification in 2018 and became a ski patrol instructor in 2023.
Her career has taken her to slopes around the world – Andorra, Italy, Spain, and across Argentina – with Cerro Catedral always feeling like home.
A proud FIPS member since 2019, Flor has also served at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026.
Ed Gassman
Ed Gassman is a lifelong leader in ski patrol, aviation, and law whose career spans sport, service, and safety. A former racer with the U.S. Ski Team, he now serves as a coach and certified race official, having officiated at five Winter Olympic Games. Ed sits on the Board of Directors of the Federation of International Ski Patrols (FIPS) and previously served on the boards of the Association of Professional Patrollers (APP) and the National Ski Patrol (NSP), as well as acting as Rocky Mountain Division Director. Trained as a paramedic by the U.S. military, Ed maintains his National Registry EMT certification and instructs as both an EMT and National Ski Patrol Trainer. Beyond the mountains, he is an Airline Transport Pilot with over 19,000 flight hours, a U.S. Air Force Flight Test veteran, NASA Shuttle Program contributor, and Airline Check Pilot. A licensed attorney and counsellor to the U.S. Supreme Court, Ed leads the Gassman Law Firm, specializing in constitutional, contract, and corporate law, and provides legal counsel for nonprofit organizations, including FIPS.
Kate Hunter
I started in the ski industry at Glenshee in 1980 and I became a full-time patroller in 1990. I went on to become patrol chief in 2003 and director of Glenshee Ski Area. I retired in December 2021 but still patrol when needed.
My rescue dog interest began in 2011 with an amazing dog called Bodie (Border Collie/Springer Spaniel mix) who just came to work with me and with help of a Canadian Avalanche forecaster and his dog, I taught her how to detect buried people including me. I was then invited to join the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Scotland) and they trained Bodie from that point onward.
I now have a ginger labrador who is trying to live up to Bodie’s reputation! I served as chairman of BASP for 10 years and taught first aid for BASP.
Angus Stevens
Topic: TBD
About Presenter: Born in Edinburgh, Angus was introduced to skiing at an early age at Glenshee ski area in Scotland.
Angus enrolled on the inaugural British Association of Ski Patrollers (BASP) ski patrol training course in 1990 and went on to commute between hemispheres, patrolling at Nevis Range ski area in Scotland and Cardrona ski area in New Zealand.
In 1995 Angus started training his first Border Collie, Firn, and qualified as a handler with the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Scotland) (SARDA). At this time, Firn was the only full time search dog in a Scottish ski area, and understood to be only the second dog to obtain this position.
Discussions will take place at Technical SIG meetings during the Congress. Technical SIG coordinator position is currently vacant.
