MEET THE ATACC FACULTY

We are pleased to introduce our multidisciplinary faculty dedicated to advancing trauma & prehospital care.

Our ATACC faculty consists of clinicians from various medical backgrounds and senior members of the emergency services, military and specialised industries.

COURSE DIRECTORS

Dr Mark Forrest

Consultant in Anaesthetics, Critical Care and Prehospital Care – UK

Course Director

Mark is the Founder, Medical Director of the ATACC Group, and ATACC Course Director, as well as an NHS Associate Medical Director and active HEMS doctor. With over 25 years of experience in pre-hospital and critical care education, he is widely recognised for pioneering immersive, high-fidelity training and driving innovation in medical education.

Alongside his national roles on medical advisory groups and professional forums, Mark continues to shape the future of operational and critical care training through ATACC, delivering world-leading education focused on clinical excellence, decision-making, and human performance under pressure.

Dr Halden Hutchinson-Bazely

Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Fellow in Pre-Hospital Care, working with London HEMS

Course Director

Halden, known as Hutch, is Course Director for the ATACC Course, leading the ongoing development and evolution of the educational programme. With a strong focus on modern medical education, decision-making, and clinical training in complex environments, he plays a central role in shaping the learning experience and ensuring ATACC remains at the forefront of immersive clinical education. He also supports the development of instructor candidates and the future growth of ATACC faculty.

He is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Fellow in Pre-Hospital Care, working with London HEMS. Hutch has extensive experience in endovascular resuscitation, including REBOA and ECMO, and is faculty for both the SPEAR Course and EVTM Workshop.

Dawn Forrest

Hospital Managing Director – UK

Course Director

Dawn is a senior NHS leader with over 25 years’ experience in operational management across acute trusts, with a strong focus on team development, patient safety, and organisational performance.

As ATACC Course Director, she leads the strategic delivery of the programme, overseeing candidate experience, moulage, and role-player operations to ensure immersive, high-quality training that enhances decision-making and team performance under pressure.

Danny Ambler

Commercial & Partnerships Director

Danny is the Managing Director of the ATACC Group, bringing a strong background in business development alongside a longstanding passion for education, particularly in the areas of decision-making and critical thinking.

As Commercial and Partnership Director for the ATACC Course, he works closely with national and international partners to integrate cutting-edge technology and equipment into the training environment, ensuring learners are exposed to the most realistic, relevant, and innovative educational experiences possible.

Chris

Operations Director

Chris is Operations Director for the ATACC Course, overseeing the strategic planning, coordination, and delivery of the programme.

With more than 17 years’ experience in specialist tactical roles, he has operated within sensitive and high-threat environments, latterly holding senior positions responsible for the management and development of specialist units.

His wider portfolio within the ATACC Group includes roles in tactical training and stakeholder engagement, supporting both operational delivery and organisational development.

Chris also holds a senior position within a national tactical medicine association, contributing to the development of professional standards and the progression of the specialty.

FACULTY

Dr Marc Scot

Senior Consultant Anesthesiology – Netherlands

After medical school Marc joined the army as Captain-Doctor then completed Anaesthesiology at the VUMC in Amsterdam.

Specialised in, (pre)-hospital Emergency Medicine, Marc now has over 10 years at the Amsterdam UMC, location AMC

Dr Kate Prior

Anaesthetics and Major Trauma, King’s College Hospital

Kate has recently retired from the Royal Navy after nearly 32 years and is enjoying life as a veteran.

Dr Marcus Rudolph

Anaesthetist, Intensivist and Critical Care Physician – Germany

Marcus works at the Department for Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim. He is clinical lead for the Mannheim HEMS base.

Marcus also does research in Pre-hospital Care, Anaesthetics and Emergency Medicine.

Prof. Mike Abernethy

HEMS and Emergency Medicine – United States

Mike began his prehospital adventures in the mid 1970s as a volunteer ambulance attendant for a local funeral home. After several other starter careers (Steelworker, US Army Aviation, Naval Engineer) he eventually earned his MD and finished postgraduate training in Emergency Medicine and Air Medical Transport. With well over three decades under the blades, he is one of the worlds most experienced HEMS physicians.

Prof. Simon Carley

Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Major Trauma – UK

Professor Simon Carley MB ChB, PGDip, DipIMC (RCS Ed), FHEA, FAcadMed, FRCEM, FTACC, MPhil, MD, PhD is a consultant in emergency medicine in Manchester and a HEMS consultant with North West Air Ambulance. He is currently the Dean of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and an Associate Dean with Health Education England. He is a visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. Simon also responds as a volunteer with BASICS on the NWPCCC scheme.

He has extensive experience in medical education, with a particular interest in online and social media enabled education through projects such as St Emlyn’s and BestBets.

Dr Andrew Cathers

Consultant in Emergency Medicine and EMS – United States

Drew has worked as a physician in HEMS and Critical Care Transport for over a decade.  He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS, and currently serves as the Medical Director for University of Wisconsin Med Flight.

Dr Eimhear Quinn of The ATACC GroupDr Eimhear Quinn of The ATACC Group

Dr Eimhear Quinn

Consultant in Emergency Medicine and HEMS Doctor – UK

Eimhear is an Emergency Department Consultant at Salford Royal Hospital and flies with the Northwest Air Ambulance.

Stevie O’Neill

Advanced Paramedic Supervisor – Ireland

Stevie is an Advanced Paramedic Supervisor with 20 years experience in Pre-Hospital care. He is a Paramedic tutor with a Msc in Immediate Care. Background and experience in Tactical Medicine, Wilderness Medic, and is involved in Mountain Rescue.

Danielle Gray

HEMS Paramedic – UK

After registering as a paramedic in 2013 Danielle has worked for London and East of England Ambulance service, as well as tutoring student paramedics in further education settings.

Most recently she has achieved her dream job of HEMS paramedic with Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance!

Phil Keating

Specialist Rescue – UK

Phil is an offshore medic, commercial diving medic and technical rescue subject matter expert. He also delivers our RTACC course.

Laura Wheelton

Fire & Rescue – UK

Laura is a Fire Fighter from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service where she specialises in rope rescue, animal rescue and trauma.

Adam Dagnall

Critical Care Paramedic & Rescue Crewman – Australia

Ada has a specialist policing background and now works as a Paramedic in Australia. He has recently been selected to work as a Critical Care Paramedic & Rescue Crewman on the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service in WA.

Dr Simon Topham

Community Emergency Medicine Physician – UK

First Caught PHEM from one of the very first BASICS doctors, whilst a GP trainee on he Yorkshire Moors in the ’80s Has never been cured! Simon currently splits his time between community Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in Lincolnshire and remote island medicine in the Hebrides. Played fiddle since the age of 6 and can bang out mean Tad Tunes!

Dr Anna Forbes

Registrar in Anaesthesia and Critical Care – UK

Anna is a Registrar in Anaesthesia and Critical Care with an interest in the care of Major Trauma patients. She is currently completing a fellowship in Prehospital Emergency Medicine.

Dr Rob Greenhalgh of The ATACC GroupDr Rob Greenhalgh of The ATACC Group

Dr Rob Greenhalgh

Emergency Medicine and HEMS Doctor – UK

Rob works in Emergency Departments and across the South-East of England as a HEMS doctor.

“Archie” Ronan Archbold

Firefighter – Ireland

Archie is the Station Officer with Cork County Fire Service. He has 20 years experience in the Fire Service and is also a member of West Cork Rapid Response. He specialises in RTC and extrication techniques and has been an ATACC Faculty member for 13 years!

Dr Sammy Batt-Rawden

Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine – UK

Sammy is an ICU Consultant at Ashford & St Peter’s Trust. She completed PHEM training in 2019 at AAKS and continued to fly as HEMS emeritus before a recent appointment as a PHEM Consultant at Wiltshire Air Ambulance. She also has experience in Paediatric Critical Care retrieval and is an Immediate Care Doctor for England Rugby / RFU.

Edel Mullen

Paramedic – Ireland

Edel is a Paramedic from Wicklow, Ireland. She has volunteered for the past 12 years with the Wicklow Civil Defense, 2nd Officer, where she instructs first aid and is a swift water responder.

Edel was also the John Hinds Scholarship Award Winner in 2021.

Matthew Woods

Fire & Rescue – UK

Matt is a Crew Manager for Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service based at Warrington. He also competes in UKRO Trauma Challenge.

Dr David Cookson from ATACC course familyDr David Cookson from ATACC course family

Dr David Cookson

Consultant in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine and HEMS Doctor – UK

David has worked as a pre-hospital emergency medicine doctor since 2008 in the UK and New Zealand. His current operational roles include BASICS Doctor, Community Emergency Medicine Doctor, MERIT Consultant and HEMS Doctor. David’s clinical interests are in point of care ultrasound and education for pre-hospital advanced practice. He is a Lecturer at Lincoln University, faculty for the ATACC course and holds the Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care by examination from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. Outside of work his young family including 3 kids and dog Rosie keep him busy and he enjoys sailing, hiking and music.

Debbie Rigg at the ATACC groupDebbie Rigg at the ATACC group

Debbie Rigg

HEMS Critical Care Paramedic – UK

Since joining the North West Air Ambulance in 2015, the time has flown by! Outside of work Deb’s enjoys hiking and the great outdoors.

Eva Byrne

Paramedic – UK

Eva is a Paramedic and trainee ACCP in Manchester and is part of the Special Operational Response Team. She is also working for the ATACC Group as a trainer on RTACC, FTACC and TECC courses

Jay-Jay Joosten

Paramedic – Netherlands

For more than 10 years, Jay-Jay has been a Paramedic serving in Amsterdam, with involvement in special ops teams and experience as an instructor.

Chris Cole

Critical Care Paramedic – UK

Chris Cole DipIMC (RCS Ed), Pg Cert, BSc, MCPara Is a Specialist Practitioner for East Midlands Ambulance Service and also volunteers as a critical care paramedic for both BASICS and St John Ambulance.  He has significant prehospital experience gained through working on HEMS, HART, Tactical Command, Mental Health Triage and international volunteering providing prehospital care in both Japan and the USA.

Dr Jon Townsend

Registrar in Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine – UK

Jon works in South East London as an Emergency Medicine Trainee. He has completed his HEMS training post and continues to fly in the East of England region. Alongside this Jon also holds a number of roles to fill up his free time, from Police Medical Advisor to Rowing Umpire.

Zach Davies at The ATACC Group

Zach Davies

Specialist Paramedic – Critical Care – UK

Zach is a Critical Care Paramedic and Lecturer in Paramedic Science in Yorkshire. He has a background in immediate care in Australia and the UK.

Lou Jordan

Paramedic – UK

Lou is an experienced Paramedic and Operational Commander in the South of England working as a Clinical Education Lead. With an additional degree in Rescue and Emergency Management, she volunteers for Search and Rescue and has a special interest in combined services training, currently this sees her working alongside the Police on a Joint Response Unit.

Dan Curtis

Paramedic – UK

Dan’s military background includes roles such as MERT Paramedic with operational experience in austere environments. As a civilian, he works for EMAS and teaches across multiple TAG courses, such as RTACC and TECC.

Tim Wallace

HART Paramedic – UK

Tim is a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedic based in Bristol, UK. He has been a Paramedic since 2016 and has an MSc in Advanced Practice. Tim has been part of the ATACC faculty for 2 years.

Joel Symonds

Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care – UK

Joel works in Edinburgh as part of the Scottish Trauma Network.

AJ Huisman

Paramedic/Rapid Responder – Netherlands

AJ has been a Paramedic/Rapid Responder(solo) for 8 years and member of Special Operations Response Team at Ambulance Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Background in military service as a medic for 7 years with the marines, with 2 tours in Afghanistan and 1 in Afrika(Tsjad).

Specialization/degree as a nurse on intensive care and emergency room. Blue Monday in service for search and rescue @Bristowgroup Netherlands.

Lindsey Newey

HEMS Paramedic – UK

Lindsey is a Paramedic in Sheffield and also flies as a HEMS Paramedic with Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

She has been a Paramedic since 2009 and has also taught as a Paramedic Science Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University for 2 years in 2020.

Sean Brayford-Harris

Paramedic – UK

Sean is a Tactical Response Paramedic with over 12 years combined NHS experience. Currently seconded to the Police, he aims to improve inter-service collaboration. Sean has a personal interest in Triage and the clinical development of Frontline Policing including Emergency Response, Public Order and Specialist Firearms.

Dr Emma Butterfield

ICM/PHEM Doctor – UK

A UK EM trainee by background, Emma is re-adjusting to the British climate as a HEMS Doctor with EAAA, having previously worked in PHEM, EM and ICM in tropical Australia and in rural EM in Latin America.

Dr Lisa Ramage

EM, PHEM and HEMS Doctor – UK

Lisa is an Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine Doctor working with MAGPAS Air Ambulance and EHAAT and in Addenbrookes Hospital. She is also the applied sciences lead for the Bsc in Pre-Hospital care at QMUL. She has in interest in Pre-Hospital research and education.

Dr Brian Mullan

Consultant in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Retrieval Medicine – Northern Ireland

Brian is a Consultant in the Regional Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. He is also a Consultant and Medical Director for the Northern Ireland Specialist Transport and Retrieval Service.

Dr Christopher Denny

Emergency Physician – New Zealand

Auckland HEMS (Northern Rescue Helicopter) Medical Director. Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Auckland City Hospital. Originally from Canada.

Zeeshan Uddin at The ATACC GroupZeeshan Uddin at The ATACC Group

Zeeshan Uddin

Paramedic – UK

Zeeshan is an experienced paramedic practitioner- working across multiple areas, such as; Ambulance Service/Event Paramedic/Enhanced Care Paramedic/Clinical Lead. 

Dominic Piedaniel

Specialist Paramedic Practitioner – UK

Dom is a Specialist Practitioner and Clinical Improvement Manager for the East Midlands Ambulance Service. With over 10 years of experience in various NHS Ambulance Service roles, he has a broad background in clinical leadership. His dual role enables him to develop organisational clinical improvements, whilst maintaining a focus on delivering enhanced care to patients. Dom has a specialist interest in resuscitation.

Jonathan Bilmen from ATACC course familyJonathan Bilmen from ATACC course family

Jonathan Bilmen

Consultant Anaesthetist and Consultant in Malignant Hyperthermia at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Consultant Anaesthetist and Consultant in Malignant Hyperthermia at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS TrustClinical Director for Head and Neck services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trustAvid Scuba Diver & Rescue Diver.

Rens de Jonge from ATACC course familyRens de Jonge from ATACC course family

Rens de Jonge

Fire & Rescue – Netherlands

Officer in the Midden/West Brabant Fire Service in The Netherlands.

Rens specialises in technical rescue and extrication.

 

Sandra Rodenburg from ATACC course familySandra Rodenburg from ATACC course family

Sandra Rodenburg

Netherlands

Sandra is a nurse with a specialisation in anaesthesia and is also a paramedic on the ambulance in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Sandra is also a member of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT).

Kev Wheeler from ATACC course familyKev Wheeler from ATACC course family

Kevin Wheeler

Search & Rescue Winchman Paramedic – UK

Heather Fox

Fire & Rescue – UK

Rob Fillmer

HEMS Paramedic – UK

Dr Pete Larcombe

Consultant Neuro Anaesthetist – UK

Lucy Grimwade

Advanced Care Practitioner – UK

Anders Santoft

Anesthesiologist and Intensivist – Sweden

Cat Edgar

 HEMS Paramedic – Ireland

Nicholas George

EMS Physician- USA

Nick has been continuously involved in prehospital care from 16 years old when he qualified as a firefighter/EMT. Since then, he has become a board-certified emergency medicine and EMS physician in the United States. More recently, he has traded cold Wisconsin winters for the sunny outback where he works as a critical care retrieval registrar with CareFlight.

Leilani Doyle from ATACC course family

Leilani Doyle –

Consultant Anesthesiologist

Leilani is a consultant anesthesiologist in the Canadian Armed Forces where she is the Senior Practice Leader for Critical Care Air Evacuation in addition to being a current and founding member of CMERT.

Richard Webb

Pediatric ICM Doctor

I am a senior paediatric intensive care trainee in Yorkshire, with interests in major trauma and paediatric emergency medicine. I am also the National Clinical Lead (Children & Young People) for St John Ambulance England and will shortly be starting as a pre-hospital emergency doctor with the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme. I am faculty for APLS and ALS courses, and I frequently teach about paediatric trauma and pre-hospital paediatrics in various settings, to whoever will listen!

Susie Abiks

Anaesthetist

hugh doran from ATACC course familyhugh doran from ATACC course family

Hugh Doran

PHEM, Doctor

David Menzies from ATACC course familyDavid Menzies from ATACC course family

Dave Menzies

PHEM Doctor

Jason van der Velde

Doctor

Amy Brennan

EM Doctor

Felipe Urriola

HEMS Doctor

I am a Chilean Doctor with substantial experience in Emergency Medicine and Acute Critical Care. I grew up in Santiago, where I completed medical school and foundation training in 2013. 

During my early medical career, I joined the Chilean Air Force, participated in the UN peace mission in Haiti, flew my first retrieval missions, and underwent core Emergency Medicine training in Chile. My passion for the resuscitation element of EM became evident during this period.

Looking for adventure, in 2020, I moved to the Chilean Patagonia, where I split my time between a rural ED, the Regional Fixed-Wing Retrieval Service, lake swimming, mountain walking, PoCUS development, and creating https://ultra-sono.com/ 

I’ve been living in the UK since 2022, where I’ve worked as an EM/ICM Senior fellow in London, Plymouth, and Nottingham. More recently, I’ve completed a full-time HEMS fellowship with Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, where I continue to work as a contractor.

Patrick Wenger

Phil Gillen

Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care

I have an interest in the care of Major Trauma patients and have worked in austere, remote and resource-limited environments in many countries. Phil is also the Medical lead for the Northern Ireland Critical Care Transfer and Retrieval service.

Catherine Connelly

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Sinead Campbell- Gray

Consultant in Emergency Medicine & HEMS

Ben Heron

Paramedic

Daragh Mathews

Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Cork University Hospital MTC.

Prehospital critical care physician with National Ambulance Service.

Caitlin Cotterell

Fire & Rescue – UK

Craig Blair

HEMS Paramedic

Mark Ruddy

GP / HEMS

Harriet Davis

EM and ICM Doctor

Dr Toby Edmunds

Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine and Transfer Medicine – UK

Toby has spent his career delivering emergency and resuscitation care in multiple settings following the pathway of critically unwell patients from incident through to critical care discharge. He has a wealth of teaching and training experience in advanced techniques including endovascular resuscitation and point of care ultrasound. Based in the East of England.

Helen Hall

Consultant Anaesthetist

Helen is a consultant anaesthetist now working in mid Cheshire hospital specialising in obstetric and paediatric anaesthesia. Previously trauma and airway surgery at Aintree in Liverpool. 

Dr Christina Hernon

Attending Physician in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology – America

Christina is an Emergency Physician & Medical Toxicologist in a small town hospital and has 25 years of experience in EMS education. She has an interest in spontaneous, improvised care that occurs in the earliest moments after a disaster.

Dr Drew Welch of The ATACC GroupDr Drew Welch of The ATACC Group

Dr Drew Welch

Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine – UK

Drew is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the West Suffolk Hospital and a HEMS Consultant with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Kirsten Reid

Critical Care Paramedic

Tim Furniss

Consultant ICM/Anaesthetic

Neil Mackay

Critical Care Paramedic – UK

Aaron Dunning

Paramedic – Ireland

Aaron is a Paramedic working in Ireland, advocate for FOAMed, joint simulation & Paramedic practice. He can be found randomly travelling the world for education.

Ted Crosbie

Advanced Clinical Practioner (Emergency Medicine) – UK

Ted has over 25 years experience in prehospital emergency care, with a military and immediate care background. Working in both frontline NHS trusts and advanced trauma care education.

Nick M

Police Medic – UK

Stephen Waters

Fire & Rescue – UK

Firefighter with 12 years service working for Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue with a passion for extrication & PHEM. He has been with ATACC now for 6 years and is also an instructor on the RTACC Courses. Stephen is also currently working towards his DipATACC.

Neil Collis

Fire Service Trauma Lead & Technical Rescue Instructor – UK

Neil joined the Fire Service 20 years ago and after being stationed at a rescue station he found himself dealing with more and more casualties. He upskilled and provided private ambulance cover and spent a lot of time doing CPD with HART and SWASFT before picking up a training managers role in service.

Stuart Plaskett

Fire & Rescue – UK

Stu is a Crew Manager in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. In his 32 years service he has specialised in animal and swift water rescue, and is an RTC instructor and a Rope Rescue Instructor. He’s been with ATACC for 11 years now!

Richard Webb

Pediatric ICM Doctor

I am a senior paediatric intensive care trainee in Yorkshire, with interests in major trauma and paediatric emergency medicine. I am also the National Clinical Lead (Children & Young People) for St John Ambulance England and will shortly be starting as a pre-hospital emergency doctor with the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme. I am faculty for APLS and ALS courses, and I frequently teach about paediatric trauma and pre-hospital paediatrics in various settings, to whoever will listen!

Luke Tester