Speakers
A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, is Editor-Emeritus of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), in the Fire Rescue Division of Clarion Events Corporation. For 25 years, A.J. served as the Editor-in-Chief of JEMS, as Vice President of Jems Communications, Director of the Emergency Care Information Center, Director of the Jems Conference Division and Editorial Director for JEMS, Fire-Rescue, Public Safety Communications and Law Officer Magazines, as well as the EMS Insider EMS Management newsletter.
For seventeen years, (1975-1992) A.J. was Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Services Council and Director of the regional MEDCOM Advanced Medical Communications System. The Eastern Pennsylvania regional EMS System became one of the most advanced multi-county EMS systems in the country under A.J.’s leadership.
A.J. is a graduate of Temple University and received his master’s degree in Public Administration from Lehigh University. A certified EMS and rescue instructor, A.J. has served on the faculty of university EMS degree programs, including the George Washington University; community college emergency service training divisions and fire academies.
Nationally recognized for his unique teaching style and audio-visual programs, A.J. was one of the original participants and instructors of the National Disaster Life Support program and has studied and specialized in the instruction of techniques designed for the efficient management of Mass Casualty Incidents for 30 years.
Daniel Sundahl
Daniel Sundahl (DanSun) is a published artist and writer and has two art books produced of his works. Articles of his work are featured in Canadian Paramedicine, Journal of Emergency Medicine (JEMS), Fire Rescue Magazine, EMS One, EMS World Magazine and The Canadian Journal of Emergency Nursing. His art is recognized worldwide, and he travels internationally speaking on his art and personal experiences with occupational stress injuries and post-traumatic growth. He is an advanced care paramedic, firefighter, pre-hospital educator, photographer and photo editor.
Daniel was born in 1967 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Taking up a global residency as an English language teacher in Egypt, Mexico, Indonesia and Japan, he is now a firefighter and advanced care paramedic for the City of Leduc.
His love of photography began on his travels, and as his technique developed, he started to produce a blend of photography and graphic art, which he calls Photo Art.
The majority of Daniel’s work involves emergency services photography. It involves an emotional connection to the artist as most of his pieces are based on actual emergency calls he has attended as a paramedic and firefighter. He is passionate about reducing the stigma of PTSD for first responders, and he uses his art to raise awareness of occupational stress injuries worldwide.
Daniel enjoys combining the technical and artistic elements of his work. Each piece can take several days or weeks of processing until he feels it is ready. He continues to travel often and gains inspiration for his art from his experiences.
