2026

Oral and Craniomaxillofacial Surgeon, Residency Program Director
University of North Carolina

Dr. Manlove is a Clinical Associate Professor and Residency Program Director of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry where she is also an active member of the Cleft and Craniofacial Team. Prior to her role at UNC, Dr. Manlove spent eight years at Carle Foundation Hospital as the Residency Program Director and Medical Director of the Cleft Team. With a specialized focus in pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgery, Dr. Manlove has dedicated her career to resident education and the multidisciplinary care of children with congenital and acquired complex craniofacial conditions. Dr. Manlove obtained her dental degree from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, followed by residency training at University Hospitals – Case Medical Center. Her commitment to pediatric care led her to pursue fellowship training in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida. As Residency Director and active member of the Cleft and Craniofacial Team, Dr. Manlove is passionate about cultivating a positive atmosphere for resident education while maintaining the highest standards and improving the lives of patients and families with craniofacial anomalies.

Flight Paramedic
UNC Carolina Air Care

Will Berry has been in EMS for 16 years. He currently works as a flight paramedic with Carolina Air Care. He has worked in various other contexts including urban EMS in Denver, Colorado, rural EMS and Ski Patrol. He teaches paramedic students in the North Carolina Community College System and contributes to the EMS podcast Loud & Clear as a co-host.

Flight Paramedic
UNC Carolina Air Care

James Phipps, FP-C, CCEMTP, NRP Jim Phipps is a veteran Flight Paramedic with UNC Carolina Air Care with over 30 years of experience in the air medical community. He has flown with the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins Hospital and the US Army as a transport clinician and trainer over the course of his long career. As an industry educator, Jim is a sought-after speaker at regional, national and international conferences for a wide range of topics including mechanical ventilation, air medical resource management, and flight crew development. Through his work with the ECHO organization, Jim helped to establish the Future Flight Crew Program, a training pipeline for clinicians who want to join the air medical community. During his 2005 deployment to Iraq as an Army flight medic, Jim co-authored and implemented the Flight Nurse Initial Training Standards Course, which would later be used to establish the current Army Flight Nurse Program. It was during this deployment where Jim developed the extensive experience with hemorrhage control he would need to draw on for the patient he is speaking about today.

Founder

Brad Lawson is a Nationally Registered Paramedic, educator, and the founder of PIERCE Provisions and The PIERCE Foundation: Two missions born from one powerful purpose: to equip the heroes who serve others, and to support those who are struggling in silence.

After years on the ambulance and in the classroom, Brad hit a breaking point. Like so many first responders, he had spent his career saving others while losing himself in the process. But through that pain came purpose. His fight to rebuild his life led to the creation of The PIERCE Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to helping first responders find hope, resources, and community when they need it most.

He’s also the author of Dancing with Darkness: A First Responder’s Fight for Light — a raw and deeply personal look at what it means to hit rock bottom and rise again with purpose.

Today, through his presentation “Saving Ourselves: Rising from the Darkness,” Brad delivers an honest, heartfelt, and sometimes uncomfortable conversation about the reality of mental wellness in our world. His message challenges the old idea of “just suck it up” and replaces it with truth, accountability, and hope, reminding every responder that the hardest rescue you’ll ever make is your own.

Program Manager, Infection Prevention
UNC Health

Brooke Brewer is the Program Manager for UNC Hospitals’ Special Pathogen Response Center (SPARC) at UNC Health. Over her 18-year career as a registered nurse, Brooke has built a diverse background spanning critical care, nursing leadership, and infection prevention. She is passionate about advancing infection prevention practices and strengthening preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases.