2025

Respiratory Therapist

Chris is a Respiratory Therapist who began in EMS. A graduate of Durham Tech associate program and UNC Charlottes Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy. He has since worked in neonatal, pediatric, adult, pulmonary diagnostic, bronchoscopy, and research. (In the capacity of clinician, manager, and director) During which he participated in multiple studies and is published in JAMA of Otolaryngology. He had the honor of serving on the North Carolina Society for Respiratory Care board of directors.

Quality Improvement Coordinator
Franklin County EMS

Justin Preddy, MHS, Paramedic, has had a dream of becoming a paramedic since the ripe age of 7 years old. Achieving that dream at 19, he then had to ask himself how else he can contribute to the EMS profession beyond his initial dreams. Since that time, Justin has earned his MHS degree from Western Carolina University. Having served in various roles such as quality improvement coordinator for Franklin County EMS and current role as emergency services director for Granville Health System. Justin brings the knowledge he has gained in his dream profession to encourage innovation beyond the traditional lens within the EMS workforce. He is a strong advocate for the advancement of the EMS profession and strengthening the values for which made EMS his dream.

Thane Blinman is Professor of Surgery in the UNC Division of Pediatric Surgery, and Executive Vice Chair for Business in the Department of Surgery at UNC. He recently joined UNC from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was Fellowship Program Director, Vice Chair for Education, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, founder of the STAT.lab, and Associate Trauma Director.

Duke Department of Neurosurgery

Deb A. Bhowmick, MD, has joined the faculty of Duke Department of Neurosurgery, effective February 1, 2023.Bhowmick, is a neurosurgeon specializing in complex spinal and trauma surgery. He comes to Duke from the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was an associate professor and section chief of Spinal Neurosurgery and medical director of the UNC Spine Center. Bhowmick completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in spinal surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. His practice is focused on the surgical treatment of cervical spinal deformities, craniocervical junction pathology, and adult manifestations of congenital spinal anomalies. His academic interests include investigating optimal surgical treatment of the elderly with traumatic fractures of the spine as well as the use of novel minimally invasive approaches to cervical and lumbar spinal deformities. He is associate editor of the journal, Operative Neurosurgery and a member of the Coverage Committee and the Spine Political Action Committee of the North American Spine Society

Clinical Staff Chaplain of Emergency and Critical Care
Department of Spiritual Care

Genesis Adams Pierce is a dedicated Clinical Staff Chaplain specializing in emergency and trauma care with UNC hospital in Chapel Hill, NC, where she combines her compassion for people and her commitment to healthcare advocacy. As a board-certified chaplain, she brings over a decade of meaningful experience and a background in spiritual care to her role. Graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2012, she later joined Teach for America, working to bridge educational gaps. She pursued further studies at Wake Forest University, earning her Master of Divinity degree in 2020, and has since dedicated herself to supporting patients, families, and healthcare staff through her chaplaincy work. As the co-author of Flourish: Growing and Glowing in Co-parenting, she is passionate about fostering understanding in family dynamics. She and her husband, Bryan Pierce Jr., share a blended family and are proud parents to four boys. In addition to her professional endeavors, she remains a strong advocate for co-parenting, family resilience, and trauma-informed spiritual care.

Program Manager
UNC Health

Brooke Brewer is a Program Manager in the Infection Prevention Department at UNC Health, specializing in high-consequence pathogen preparedness and response. She also serves as the Program Manager for UNC Hospitals’ Special Pathogen Response Center (SPARC). With over 17 years of experience as a registered nurse at UNC Health, Brooke brings extensive expertise in infection prevention and emergency preparedness.