EMS & Pre-Hospital Medicine

EMS faculty actively contribute to the research, service, and teaching activities of UT Health San Antonio.  Our faculty support the regional EMS system through online and tele-medicine direction and first responder (paramedic) training and continuing education.

EMS faculty and Emergency Medicine residents participate in community outreach and education through multiple partner agencies- including support and involvement with STRAC and other initiatives- Stop the Bleed, First Aid classes, and BLS/PALS training. Our faculty and students are engaged in several EMS research projects and collaborations.  Lastly, they are invited to speak at state and national level conferences and symposium. The EMS section is led by Dr. Craig Cooley.

medical students learning together and being instructed

Disaster Medicine

The mission of Disaster Medicine program is to develop coherent and planned medical responses to disasters of all sizes using an all-hazards planning approach.  As part of a teaching university, the program fosters the development, planning, and training of current and future medical providers and administrators as well as health care centers to respond cohesively and effectively to disasters. The Disaster Medicine aspect of the EMS program is largely responsible for UT Health San Antonio Emergency Medicine’s integration with the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force and also plays a role in the Department’s integration with STRAC.  Drs. Craig Cooley and Emily Kidd are Co-Medical Directors of Emergency Medical Task Force 8.  The Disaster Medicine program is led by  Dr. Romeo Fairley.

Tactical Medicine

Tactical Medicine is a medical training resource available to regional and local law enforcement organizations.  The program offers education and simulation to law enforcement organizations in the areas of self-aid, buddy aid, and more complex scenarios involving medical tactical aid.  The program’s training options are geared toward the small to medium size rural and urban police department and is available for engagements throughout Texas.  The program is led by Dr. Katherine Raczek.

Wilderness Medicine

The Wilderness and Survival Medicine Section was created to bring “good medicine to tough places.” Resource limited and backcountry environments present unique challenges to the practice of medicine, and the Wilderness and Survival Medicine Section strives to address those challenges through education, service, and innovation.

As part of its education mission, the section offers a medical school elective (EMED 4007), resident track, and Wilderness Medicine Fellowship.  It also offers training in Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) within the Long School of Medicine, as well courses open for registration to the public.

Through its service mission, Wilderness and Survival Medicine offers medical direction to statewide search and rescue (SAR) and rural EMS agencies, direct service for FEMA sponsored urban search and rescue (USAR), and can provide consultation for those services that provide medical care in austere environments.

Finally, the section is committed to innovation with current research focused on altitude related illness, environment illness, snakebites, and survival.

The program is led by Dr. Steve Moore (Section Lead, EMED 4007 Course Director), Dr. Luke Husby (Fellowship Director, TXSAR Medical Director) and Ryan Bierle, PA-C (AWLS Lead/Lead Instructor).  Please feel free to contact them directly with any questions or if you are in need of more information about any aspect of the program.

The Emergency Medicine Wilderness Medicine operational area supports the UT Health San Antonio Medical Student Interest Group by hosting field exercises and simulations.  Residents, Emergency Medicine and other specialties, are also encouraged to participate in Wilderness Medicine activities.  

Meet Our EMS and Pre-Hospital Faculty

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