2026 Presenters
Andersen Foley
Andersen is a 17-year-old high school junior who proudly embraces autism as his superpower. He believes that seeing the world differently gives him a unique perspective, creativity, and determination. Andersen has a passion for theater and production. He dreams of pursuing a career on a Broadway stage, where he can connect with others through storytelling and performance. He is excited and honored to present at this conference and hopes his experiences will inspire others to recognize the strengths that come with thinking differently.
David Berube, MS, FP-C/CCP-C
David Berube, MS, FP-C/CCP-C, NRP, is a Montana-based Flight Paramedic with extensive experience in critical care transport, emergency medicine, and rural prehospital care. Throughout his 26 year career, he has served on the front lines of emergency response, U.S. Air Force Special Tactics, and providing care in some of the most challenging and remote aeromedical environments on Earth. Beyond the aircraft, David is passionate about education and developing professional mentorship roles in EMS. He frequently speaks about the realities of flight medicine, the emerging advanced practice of paramedics in critical care, and the importance of resilience & mental health in retaining medical professionals. His presentations blend real-world experience with best-practice necessities, offering audiences an authentic look at the challenges and rewards of being an EMS Practitioner.
Bret Birrer, MD
Dr. Bret Birrer is a board-certified emergency physician practicing at Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center. His prehospital experience includes being an EMT with Teton County EMS in Jackson, Wyoming and Power County EMS in American Falls, Idaho along with a paramedic for American Medical Response in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dr. Birrer completed his medical school through the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington and his residency training in emergency medicine through the Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, Arizona. He is currently the EMS Medical Director for Gallatin County.
Debra Cole
Deb Cole is a Field Administrator based in Billings, Montana, with more than 32 years of dedicated child welfare experience. Known for professionalism, steady leadership, and a strong commitment to the well‑being of children and families, Deb contributes deep operational knowledge and a consistent, trusted presence in supporting teams and community partners.
Mandi Crable, NRP, CPST
Mandi has been with Laurel EMS and Billings Clinic since 2018 starting as an EMT, then as an Endorsed EMT, and now as a Paramedic. Mandi also serves the community as a Certified Car Passenger Safety Technician with Safe Kids Yellowstone County.
Kelly Dinnan, MD
Kelly Dinnan was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. She went to Michigan State University for pre-med and then attended the Osteopathic Medical School there, graduating in 2006. Kelly did her internship and residency in General Surgery at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, MI. She then went on to obtain an Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care fellowship at UCSF-Fresno from 2011-2013. She joined a private practice back in Michigan and in addition served as the Director of the Surgical ICU, Assistant Program Director, and staff trauma surgeon for 8 years. She moved out west to practice rural surgery at Glendive Medical Center 5 years ago for a change of lifestyle and pace. Kelly is a part of EAST, an ATLS instructor, and an active member of the American College of Surgeons Women in Surgery Committee. She notes that in all her training and practicing in a busy Level 2 center nothing could have prepared her for what it was like to take care of patients at a critical access hospital. It is both humbling and rewarding and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Michael Englehart, MD
Dr. Michael Englehart joined Billings Clinic in 2010. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California San Diego. He went on to complete his medical school training at the Medical College of Wisconsin and an internship, residency, and surgical critical care fellowship at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Dr. Englehart specialize in general surgery, trauma, and surgical critical care. His surgical interests are in anti-reflux surgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, pancreaticobiliary, esophageal and gastric surgery. Dr Englehart is the medical director of trauma, ATLS Course Director, and medical director for nutritional services. He has been instrumental in Billings Clinic becoming the first Level 1 Trauma Facility in the state of Montana.
Jesse Falk, DMD
Dr. Falk is board-certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) and is licensed to practice dentistry in Nevada as a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery. He is licensed to perform in-office general anesthesia and is a member of local, regional, and national societies. Dr. Falk regularly attends continuing education meetings for his specialties. He is an assistant professor at the UNLV School of Medicine, Department of Plastic Surgery and at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. When Dr. Falk is not perfecting smiles, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys. He is an active member in the community and enjoys outdoor activities, such as motorbiking, camping, fishing, and winter sports.
Laura Forcella, MS, APRN
Laura Forcella is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Intermountain Health, Billings Pediatric Specialty Clinic. She earned her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and her graduate degree from Georgetown University. Laura also completed advanced training in developmental and pediatric complex care through a scholar program at Almost Home Kids, in partnership with the University of Chicago. Her nursing career began in pediatric emergency medicine, where she spent eight years as a bedside ER and PICU nurse. A colleague’s introduction to developmental pediatrics sparked a new passion — helping families better understand how their child’s brain works and supporting each child in reaching their full, individual potential. Outside of work, Laura enjoys hiking the Montana trails with her husband and three boys, and spending time cooking together at their home in Billings.
Richard Lesperance, MD, FACS
Dr. Rich Lesperance first became interested in chest wall injuries as a medic in the US Army, after suffering rib fractures during a parachute jump. His career as a medic, and interest in the management of trauma, eventually led him to medical school, surgery residency and a Trauma and Acute Care fellowship while still in the Army. After multiple deployments during the Global War on Terror, Dr. Lesperance retired from active duty and eventually landed his dream job of Trauma Medical Director at Bozeman Health.
Mac Malone, NRP
Mac Malone is the Division Chief of Training at the Hyalite Fire District and a Paramedic on the Gallatin County SWAT Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) team. His career spans fire officer leadership, EMS, and tactical medicine, including prior roles as a Training Captain at Hyalite Fire and Firefighter Paramedic at South Metro Fire Rescue. He holds a B.S. in Fire & Emergency Services Administration from Colorado State University and is a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP), Fire Officer I, Fire Instructor 1 and Blue Card Incident Command System Instructor.
Barry McKenzie, MD, FACS
Dr. McKenzie is a Montana native who grew up in Billings and earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Rocky Mountain College. He received his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed his residency training in general and trauma surgery at Michigan State University. Before joining St. Vincent Healthcare as a general surgeon in 2008, Dr. McKenzie worked both as a patient care technician in the emergency department and as an EMT, experiences that grounded his career in frontline trauma care and systems-based practice. Dr. McKenzie currently serves as the Trauma Medical Director for St. Vincent Regional Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center. He is an active member of the Montana Committee on Trauma within the State Trauma Care Committee and serves as the American College of Surgeons representative for the state of Montana. In these roles, he is deeply involved in trauma center designation, verification preparation, and performance improvement, regularly reviewing trauma programs across the state. Dr. McKenzie is a committed advocate for strong trauma systems and continuous quality improvement and speaks frequently at trauma-focused conferences both statewide and nationally.
Benjamin Miller, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, ACNPC, ENP-C, FAANP
Dr. Miller has been a nurse for 36 years with a nursing background in a complex level 1trauma center in the pacific northwest. He has been an advanced practice nurse for the past 26 years with board certifications in primary care, acute/critical care, and emergency. His clinical has been in cardiology/heart failure and emergency medicine in rural critical access facilities across Montana. He has been an educator for advance practice nurses for the past 20 years, helping to prepare future APRNs for the complex needs of rural care especially with resource limited environments. His research interest focuses on quality care in rural communities.
Gordon Riha, MD, FACS
Gordon Riha, MD FACS grew up between Wyoming and Texas. He attended Texas A&M University where he majored in Microbiology. Dr. Riha then attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, followed by General Surgery residency at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. He stayed in Portland following residency to complete a Surgical Critical Care fellowship. Dr. Riha has been at the Billings Clinic since 2014 where he works as a General Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care provider. He also serves as the General Surgery Residency Site Director, Assistant Trauma Medical Director, Vice Chair of the Billings Clinic Foundation Board, and voting member of the Billings Clinic Board of Directors. In his spare time, Dr. Riha enjoys fly fishing, snowboarding, boating, and "spirited driving" across the vast open highways of Montana.
Deland Weyrauch, MD
Dr. Deland Weyrauch completed residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at Yale–New Haven Hospital before training in forensic pathology at the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He is currently a deputy medical examiner for the Montana State Medical Examiner's Office in Billings, MT. He has authored educational materials for the College of American Pathologists, co-chairs multiple committees for the National Association of Medical Examiners, and has presented on multiple topics for the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education. His publication “Forensic Pathologists and Clinical Trauma Reviews: Performance Improvement, Public Health, and a Concise Autopsy Documentation Guide” won the 2025 Eckert Award, given for “work that is innovative, useful, important, and otherwise influential in the practice of forensic pathology”.
Naomi Wortman, CCEMTP
Naomi is a Montana native who has worked in EMS for 35 years, 8 of those on flight. She started as a volunteer in Sweet Grass County and then worked in Bighorn County. Naomi spent 14 years in the coroner’s office in Sweet Grass County as well, seven years as the deputy coroner and 7 years as the coroner. Naomi has two grown children and two grandsons.