Dr Stephen Hearns MB ChB FRCEM FRCS FRCP FRGS DIMC DRTM
Stephen is a Consultant with Scotland’s Emergency Medical Retrieval Service. This aeromedical retrieval service delivers pre-hospital critical care for major trauma patients, rural hospital secondary retrievals and major incident responses. Inspired by experience gained working on London’s air ambulance and in Queensland Australia, Stephen led the establishment of this team from a small voluntary service in 2004 to what is now a fully government funded aeromedical retrieval organisation with an international reputation.
Stephen has published a number of papers and book chapters relating to emergency medicine and pre-hospital care. He also led the team establishing the Diploma in retrieval and transfer medicine for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He developed and contributes to the organisation of the annual UK retrieval conference. Stephen is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the University of Glasgow.
He has been an active voluntary member of Arrochar mountain rescue team for 20 years and holds the Mountain Leader Award. Stephen acted as medical officer on seven international expeditions in mountain, desert, jungle and arctic environments before establishing the first expedition medicine course in the UK.
Professor Patrick Pollock BVMS, PhD, CertES(Soft Tissue), DipECVS, FHEA, FRCVS
Patrick is Professor of Veterinary Surgery and Remote and Rural Medicine at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh and the Director of the Glasgow Equine Hospital and Practice. Patrick has worked in general and specialist veterinary practice for 25 years and is a specialist in large animal surgery with an interest in trauma, wound healing and supporting vets and animal owners in resource limited settings across the globe. A Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contribution to clinical practice, Patrick is involved in projects with some of the world's 150 million working horses, donkeys and mules, including setting up training programs for vets and animal owners, and has developed networks for veterinary practitioners in remote rural and resource limited settings including telemedicine and in field support from the Scottish Highlands and Islands to The Gambia. Patrick is undertaking a master’s program in Disaster Medicine and Emergency Management and is collaborating with the Worldwide Veterinary Service to develop guidelines to support the animals of displaced people.
Working with the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Association (BARTA), The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the veterinary profession, Patrick introduced training for incidents involving animals, animal rescue, and for supporting animals in disasters. In addition, he has worked to introduce training for first responders and vets in the high stake’s environments of equine competitive events.
Patrick is an international speaker and researcher and along with his partner Kristina introduced transformative training for veterinary undergraduates in resilience, performance, team dynamics and leadership.
Patrick is inspired by developing partnerships and collaboration between those working in all types of high stakes environments and improving the health and wellbeing of people and animals.
A keen runner, kayaker and piper, Patrick lives with his partner Kristina, and three children in west central Scotland
Dr med. Nadja Spitznagel
Dr. Nadja Spitznagel is a highly accomplished medical professional whose career spans clinical practice, education, and research. With deep expertise in nursing, emergency medicine, internal medicine, intensive care, and anaesthesia, she is widely recognised for her dedication to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes.
Building on her foundation as a registered nurse and emergency Physician, Dr. Spitznagel pursued specialisations in internal medicine -intensive care and emergency medicine. She further enhanced her expertise by completing her training as a specialist in anaesthesiology.
Dr. Spitznagel’s commitment to innovation is reflected in her work with mental training techniques in emergency situations. By integrating cognitive and psychological strategies into high-pressure environments, she has enhanced decision-making, team collaboration, and resilience under stress. Her contributions in this area are transformative, setting new benchmarks for training and performance in critical medical contexts.
In addition to her clinical achievements, Dr. Spitznagel is deeply committed to fostering equality, mentoring, and promoting women in medicine. She actively participates in initiatives aimed at empowering women, supporting their professional development, and addressing systemic barriers in healthcare. Through mentoring programmes and her advocacy for gender equality, she has established herself as a leader and role model for positive change in the medical profession.
Her work reflects a dedication to equipping the next generation of medical professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to excel.
Dr. Spitznagel’s engagement extends to numerous professional organisations.
Through her involvement in these organisations, she remains at the forefront of advancements in her field, contributing to professional discourse and driving innovation.
Beyond her clinical and academic work, Dr. Spitznagel has demonstrated leadership in project management and public health. She has spearheaded training initiatives and collaborative projects aimed at improving healthcare delivery, fostering interdisciplinary teamwork, and enhancing the quality of care.
Jonny Gallier
Jonny has a Paramedic career background and he currently works as an Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care (APCC) for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The APCCs frequently lead multi-professional, prehospital flash teams in the assessment, treatment and transportation of the critically unwell or injured. Incidents attended are often high-pressured and optimising the team's performance under pressure is vital for positive outcomes.
Jonny has 5 years of aeromedical retrieval experience previously working as an Advanced Retrieval Practitioner for the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service. The service delivers Consultant led critical care in the prehospital environment, on secondary retrievals from rural hospitals and at Major Incidents. Jonny was lead author of the services pocketbook which contains numerous cognitive aids including action cards, checklists and quick reference guides.
Dr Alex Arthur
Alex is a consultant anaesthetist at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and locum consultant in prehopsital and retrieval medicine with the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service.
He graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2010 before completing his Anaesthetic training in the West of Scotland including fellowships in prehospital and retrieval medicine with the EMRS in Scotland, MedSTAR in South Australia and advanced airway management at the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Glasgow.
Alex has an interest in major truama, difficult airway mangement and human factors. He is regularly involved in teaching on a variety of undergradute and postgradutate courses. He is an examiner for the Diploma in Retrieval and Transfer Medicine (RCSEd).
Oustide of work Alex is generally kept busy with his young family but enjoys rock climbing and skiing whenever he gets the chance.
Benjamin Gordon
Benjamin is an anaesthesiologist with a specialisation in emergency medicine. After graduatin from the University of Würzburg in 2012 he completed his anaesthesiology specialisation at hs almer mater. His work includes regular rotations in the prehospital emergency and interhospital transfer service as well as the regional rescue helicopter. He enjoys teaching new residents and students about the communication and stress management aspects of handling emergency situations as well as everyday anaesthesia.
In his spare time he rides his numerous bikes and helps building and maintaining the local mountainbike trail network.
Martin Fandler, MD, MBHA
Martin is a Physician Educator and Course Director at the ADAC HEMS Academy, part of Germany’s largest HEMS provider, operating over 40 emergency helicopter bases. He is a Consultant in the Emergency Department of a tertiary care center, with board certifications in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Prehospital Emergency Medicine. With 20 years of prehospital experience, including as a paramedic, Martin regularly serves as a prehospital emergency physician.
Martin is also the founder of the successful German #FOAM platform “Nerdfallmedizin” and the author of the highly regarded German emergency medicine book Notfallguru. Additionally, he has contributed to the field through multiple papers and book chapters on emergency medicine.
Priv. Doz. Dr. med. Dominik Hinzmann
Dominik Hinzmann is a specialist in anaesthesiology, internal and external emergency medicine and intensive care medicine at the TUM University Hospital Rechts der Isar in Munich. With his extensive experience and expertise, he is active both in clinical practice and in academic teaching and research.
During his specialist training, he developed a strong interest in the education of medical students and younger colleagues. This passion led him to train as a simulation teacher. In this role, he uses state-of-the-art simulation techniques to create practical scenarios in which students can practice and hone their skills under realistic conditions. His aim is to optimally prepare the next generation of acute care physicians for the challenges of everyday clinical practice. Dominik Hinzmann is not only a clinician, but also a dedicated educator. His expertise, his commitment to training young doctors and his constant efforts to improve medical care through innovative research make him a valuable asset to the medical community.
