Wellstar Trauma Symposium 2026

DNP, RN-BC, RNC-MNN, C-EFM, C-ONQS, FAWHONN
Perinatal Clinical Outcomes Manager
Wellstar Medical College of Georgia

Sue Ellen Abney-Roberts has been an OB Nurse since graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1982 working as a staff nurse in L&D. In 2002 she become a Nurse Educator and transitioned into a Quality/Policy/Safety Manager Role in 2016. She has been at the Medical College of Georgia since 1984 getting her Masters in 1986 and Doctorate in 2014. Highlights in her career include caring for critically ill OB patients as well as educating healthcare people working outside of OB about caring for OB patients. As the population in the US has become more medically complex, OB patients have also.

Recently, she was honored to be designated as a Fellow of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing.

FACEP
Emergency Medicine Physician
Assistant Program Director and Ultrasound Faculty
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center

Dr. Ashong is an Emergency Medicine Physician, Assistant Program Director, and ultrasound faculty at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Marietta, GA. Originally from Oklahoma City, OK, Derrick found his way to the East Coast for an undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Yale University (where he met his better half), then trained at Emory School of Medicine before serving as Chief Resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore MD. He is a two time winner of teacher of the year at the Wellstar Kennestone EM Residency.

Despite building deep roots in Georgia, Dr. Ashong remains an avid Sooners fan. With his free time, Dr. Ashong enjoys spending time with his family, travel and reading. He and his wife Shira spend most of their time raising their hilarious 5-year-old daughter Isabel as well as his young son Elijah.

Augusta Hospital Liaison Committee Member

Randall Banks is a member of the Augusta Hospital Liaison Committee. He has dedicated his life to helping others. For the last 4 years, his focus has been on getting people the best medical treatment possible.

“My passion is your health!”

LVAD Program Medical Director
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center

Dr. Bikak, who specializes in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, completed his medical school education at AGA Khan University Medical Center. He completed a residency at Indiana University Medical Center, followed by a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Sidney Kimmel at Thomas Jefferson/Christiana Care.

BS, RRT, CES-A Respiratory Therapist / ECMO Specialist
Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center

Ryan Buffett is a respiratory therapist and ECMO specialist at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta, GA. Ryan has 8 years of experience working throughout various areas of the hospital including intensive care units, emergency room, and medical-surgical wards. After graduating with a bachelor’s in biology and working in the Vascular Biology Center for research at Augusta University, he returned to earn a second bachelor’s in respiratory therapy from Augusta University in 2018. He is an active member of the adult ECMO and ECMO flight team at Wellstar MCG. Ryan is also an adjunct instructor in the respiratory therapy program at Augusta University and enjoys teaching, guiding, and preparing the next generation of respiratory therapists. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, playing music and traveling.

MBBS
Asst Prof. Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery
Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia

Completed medical school in India. Came here to the US for my residency and fellowship. Trained at Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for residency. Fellowship training was at Monroe Carell Jr Hospital for Children at Vanderbilt. I have been fortunate to care for trauma patients at two different level 1 centers that saw a wide variety of blunt and penetrating trauma for all ages.

Executive Director
Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness
City of Atlanta

Having a crisis and/or emergency preparedness plan is essential for every business or organization large and small.

Throughout my 34 years of experience in crisis management and private sector security, I’ve been a part of the planning, preparation, response, and recovery plans for high stake domestic and foreign security operations. Having served in law enforcement, managed national security operations at the FBI, and developed crisis response protocols in the private security sector gave me a diverse and unique skill set in security and legal procedures.

As an accomplished, dedicated, and enthusiastic crisis management executive, my goal has and is to ensure the highest level of expertise in incident response, risk assessment, and operations training management. My 21 years with the FBI allowed me to train public safety agencies and educational institutions in active shooter and aggressive imminent threat survival techniques. While at the FBI, I worked on the Terrorism Task Force and Crisis Management teams.

Special event management continues to be a part of my career by providing security deployments for the Winter Olympic Games, College Football National Championship, the Presidential Inauguration and others.

Recently, I’ve expanded my skills in crisis management by leading the Global Emergency Preparedness and Response program across the United States and 23 overseas markets at Equifax. I brought my expertise and business acumen to ensure incident response strategies are implemented through crisis management exercises, internal and external audits, regulatory exams, and contract and compliance reviews.

DO, DiMM, MPH, MS
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Fellowship Director, Wilderness Medicine
Wellstar Medical College of Georgia

Dr. Taylor Haston is from Charlotte, NC, completed medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, then completed her emergency medicine residency training at MCG. She went on to complete a Wilderness Medicine Fellowship at MCG and is now an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, as well as Director for the Wilderness Medicine Fellowship. She earned her Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) and certifications in Level 1 Swiftwater Rescue, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diving. She is in the process of completing her FAWM (Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine) through the Wilderness Medical Society. Dr. Haston has extensive experience in International Medicine in multiple countries and has traveled internationally as faculty, not only with the Wilderness Medicine Section, but also with the International Medicine Section and the Ultrasound Section at MCG. She is an Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) instructor and serves as a Chair on the Education Module Subcommittee within the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) Education Committee. She also is active with the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine (ACWM) and serves as the Chair of the Advisory Council.

Assistant Professor, Departments of Neurology and Orthopaedics
Sports Neurology & Spine
Emory

After her own experience with sport-related neurologic injury as a collegiate athlete, Dr. Heinzelmann-Weisbaum was inspired to become a neurologist with a focus on athlete brain and spine health. After obtaining her MD from George Washington University and completing neurology residency at UT Southwestern, she completed a fellowship in Sports Neurology and Interventional Pain Medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Orthopaedics at Emory University School of Medicine, where she practices interventional spine care and serves as founder and director of the Emory Sports Neurology Program. She is also actively involved in concussion research, national lecturing, and ringside coverage for combat sports.

Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Rhinology-Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
Wellstar Medical Group

Dr. Oswaldo "Oz" A. Henriquez is a board-certified otolaryngologist who joined the Wellstar community in 2023. He specializes in the treatment of complex sinus and anterior skull base diseases, as well as thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. His clinical interests also extend to adult craniomaxillofacial trauma. Dr. Henriquez earned his medical degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship followed by a five-year residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Emory University. He furthered his expertise with a prestigious one-year fellowship in Rhinology and Sinus/Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Before joining Wellstar, Dr. Henriquez served for ten years on the faculty at Emory School of Medicine, achieving the rank of Associate Professor. He held leadership positions, including Co-Director of the Skull Base Surgery Center and Associate Chief of the Ear, Nose & Throat Division at Grady Hospital. His excellence in teaching earned him the William J. Grist, MD Teaching Award and Emory’s Hidden Gem Award. A respected speaker on sinus disease, nasal polyps, CSF leaks, and craniomaxillofacial trauma, Dr. Henriquez has published numerous research articles in peer-reviewed journals and maintains an appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Emory University.

CPP, CSSP, ACEM-Ga
Director of Public Safety, Mercedes Benz Stadium

In current role as Director of Security and Public Safety for Mercedes Benz Stadium, responsibilities include managing Public Safety stakeholders and EMS. Acts as a liaison and works closely with our local, state and federal partners.

Over 30 years of experience in the major event field including 11 years at the Georgia Dome including 3 Super Bowls as well as 10 seasons with the Atlanta Braves as Sr. Manager Stadium Operations and Security. Has Masters of Arts in Emergency and Disaster Management as well as attained the CPP (Certified Protection Professional) designation through ASIS and Advanced Emergency Management Certification through GEMA.

This skillset, blended together with a guest services, security, emergency management and law enforcement background, has increased functional knowledge in the preparedness field especially as it relates to sports entertainment and mass gatherings.

Utilizing this skillset to blend safety, preparedness and customer service to ready the staff to provide a safe, fun and exciting sports entertainment experience.

Emergency Medicine/Medical Toxicology
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center

Dr. Richard “Rich” Kleiman grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where he became a lifelong Duke basketball fan. He earned his undergraduate degree from Davidson College and his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency training in Columbia, South Carolina, followed by a Medical Toxicology fellowship through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University School of Medicine, and the Georgia Poison Center.

He currently serves as Co-Director of the Medical Toxicology Service and leads the Medical Toxicology rotation at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, where he is actively involved in resident education and bedside teaching. Outside of work, he spends most of his time chasing three active boys between soccer fields and basketball gyms, with the steady support (and patience) of a very understanding wife.

FACEP
Emergency and Palliative Care
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center

Dr. Gail Knight, MD, FACEP, is a board-certified emergency medicine and fellowship-trained in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

A graduate of the University of Florida College of Medicine went on to complete EM residency at Emory University and returned to UF where she served as clinical faculty for 5 years in the Department of Emergency Medicine teaching and mentoring residents and APPs, serving as lead for peer review in the adult ER and deeply involved with simulation development and implementation for the individual learner and the team. Dr. Knight has been recognized repeatedly for outstanding leadership and teaching. She was awarded Attending of the Year at UF, 2017. In 2024, she became the first female physician to receive the prestigious Physician of the Year award at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center and currently serves as Vice Chief of Staff and Chair of Credentials Committee at her home shop. 

Her greatest loves are her family and faith—husband Paul, daughters Blythe (Bly-the) and Eloise and doing anything she can to build up autonomy, service and love in them.  

Dr. Knight is passionate about education, mentorship, and elevating the standard of care for patients and families navigating complex and serious illness. She is known for her calm presence, clinical expertise, and advocacy for dignity and compassionate care at every stage of life.

Flight Paramedic at Wellstar Health AirCare One

I am a healthcare professional with a unique blend of frontline clinical experience and data analytics expertise. With a background as a flight-trained paramedic and critical care provider I understand the complexities of patient care and how meaningful data can drive better decisions, outcomes, and operations at the bedside.

FACS
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Division of Trauma/Surgical Critical Care/Acute Care Surgery
Director of Surgical Simulation, Department of Surgery
Program Director, Surgical Education and Simulation Research Fellowship
Associate Program Director, Department of General Surgery
Medical College of Georgia

Dr. Erika Simmerman Mabes, DO, FACS is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Wellstar Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and a nationally recognized leader in trauma surgery, surgical education, and simulation-based systems improvement. She serves as Clinical Director of Surgical Simulation and Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency in the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery. Board certified in both General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Dr. Mabes completed her surgical training and critical care fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia after earning her DO from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Mabes’ work is deeply focused on advancing trauma care delivery beyond tertiary centers, with a particular emphasis on rural and underserved communities. She leads institution-wide trauma and resuscitation simulation initiatives and is collaborating with Emergency Medicine leaders to develop a statewide rural trauma outreach simulation program designed to strengthen team readiness, decision-making, and outcomes across resource-variable settings. A nationally recognized educator and multiple-time teaching award recipient, Dr. Mabes serves in leadership roles with the Association for Surgical Education and contributes to national research efforts aimed at aligning trauma education with quality improvement and real-world clinical impact. Her vision integrates multidisciplinary collaboration, precision education, and simulation as transformative tools to improve trauma systems of care—where geography should never determine survival.

Minister in Atlanta, GA, Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jeryll McWhorter is a member of the Atlanta, GA Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) for Jehovah’s Witnesses. He has served in this arrangement for 14 years.

He was one of the featured speakers on a webinar with the Dependency Committee of the Council of Juvenile Court Judges.

Jeryll McWhorter states, “It is not so much about what I do as an HLC member, it is part of who I am; I love to tell our Story!”

Professor & Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Division Chief & Program Director of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Dale Peeples is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, where he serves in multiple leadership roles within the Department of Psychiatry & Health Behavior. He is actively involved in clinical care, education, and program development. His clinical work spans outpatient psychiatry, residential treatment and juvenile justice settings, and he has extensive experience in telehealth services. He graduated from the University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine and went on to complete his residency and fellowship training at the Medical College of Georgia prior to joining faculty.

Burn Medical Director
Wellstar Cobb Medical Center

Dr. Perry is a graduate of the East Carolina University School of Medicine in Greenville, NC. He completed his residency at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans, LA and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. He completed fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. Dr. Perry completed his surgery training at Wake Forest University.

Dr. Perry is board certified in general surgery. He specializes in the treatment of acute and reconstructive burn surgery, as well as complex necrotizing soft tissue infections, ulcers, and other traumatic wounds.

Dr. Perry is currently the Burn Medical Director at Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

NRP, FP-C, CCP-C, C-NPT
Wellstar AirCare Program Educator

Shortly after beginning his career in emergency services in 2011, Ryan discovered a strong passion for clinical education. In addition to his work in the field, he has served as a clinical educator for several years and currently holds instructorships across multiple disciplines.

Ryan is committed to giving back to the medical transport community through high-quality, accessible medical education. He currently serves as the Program Educator for Wellstar MCG AirCare and is the co-host of The Crew Table, a YouTube documentary series that tells the stories of first responder programs across the country.

MPH, NRP
Trauma System Development Manager, Georgia Trauma Commission

Crystal Shelnutt, MPH, NRP, is the Trauma System Development Manager for the Georgia Trauma Commission, where she leads trauma system strategy and EMS integration across all ten regions of the state. With more than 20 years of experience as a paramedic, educator, and public health professional, she focuses on strengthening prehospital care through workforce development, education reform, and data-driven system improvement. She directed Georgia’s first statewide EMS educational needs assessment and leads initiatives in trauma education, prehospital blood integration, and Stop the Bleed expansion. Her work centers on aligning EMS, hospitals, and public health to improve trauma outcomes statewide.

Associate Professor Emergency Medicine
Wellstar Medical College of Georgia

Dr. Solís is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and faculty member of the Center for Telehealth at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at the Medical College of Georgia and is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. Prior to medical school, he spent nearly 15 years in Emergency Medical Services as a paramedic, supervisor, and instructor. He later completed an Advanced Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship at Augusta University and holds advanced ultrasound certification, with a strong focus on point-of-care ultrasound integration in emergency and prehospital care.

Dr. Solís remains deeply involved in Emergency Medical Services education and system development. He serves as Assistant Medical Director for Augusta University’s Center for Operational Medicine EMS Academy, supporting Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, and Critical Care Paramedic training programs, and contributes to statewide EMS leadership through the Georgia Office of EMS and Trauma EMS Medical Directors Advisory Council. His academic and clinical work centers on resuscitation, airway management, ultrasound, and telemedicine, particularly in advancing care delivery across rural and resource-limited environments.

CSTR, CAISSS
Director of Trauma Quality
Velarity HCS

Michael Trelow is the Director of Trauma Quality at Velarity HCS. As a Certified Specialist in Trauma Registries (CSTR) and a Certified Abbreviated Injury Scale Specialist (CAISS), he has extensive experience in trauma registry issues, data management, coding, performance improvement, reporting and research.

Michael was responsible for creating the basic and advanced trauma registrar courses for a trauma registry education company. He also worked for a trauma registry vendor as head of customer service. Michael has developed and presented educational webinars for Trauma Center Association of America (TCAA) and provided training nationwide for trauma registrars.

Michael served as chair of the Trauma Registrar Group for the American Trauma Society, chair of the State of Wisconsin Trauma Data Management Subcommittee, member of the State of Wisconsin Performance Improvement Committee, and on various regional trauma registry and performance improvement committees. He has consulted with numerous trauma centers to help streamline processes for their trauma registries.

Michael served in firefighter/rescue/hazmat roles for the Air Force Reserves and participated in Operation Desert Storm.