Our Team
Michael Duncan, BS, NRP, EFO
Senior Outreach Coordinator, Center for EMS
Michael is a retired firefighter paramedic of over 30 years with extensive experience in urban, rural, and wilderness EMS. He also brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous service as a flight paramedic for OSU’s Skymed and Medflight of Ohio. As a Nationally Registered Paramedic and state EMS instructor, Michael supports the development of innovative education for the Center and local agencies. He is a graduate of Ohio State’s College of Business and the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program.
Michael.Duncan@osumc.edu
614-685-3513
Kimberly Thomson, Paramedic
Senior Outreach Coordinator, Center for EMS
With nearly 15 years of healthcare experience, Kim has worked in both rural and urban health systems with a primary focus of pediatrics, emergency medicine, and pre-hospital care. Since becoming a paramedic in 2019, she has spent her time developing education, serving as a primary instructor, and advocating for the expansion of paramedic scope of practice within the hospital setting. With her remarkable background and passion for both the pre-hospital and emergency department space, Kim supports the seamless collaboration between hospital staff and EMS.
Kimberly.Thomson@osumc.edu
614-257-3572
Reid Zarnoch, MS, RN, CPHQ
Senior Outreach Coordinator, Center for EMS
Reid brings 10 years of varied healthcare experience to the Center for EMS, including working as an EMT-B, intensive care nurse, and adjunct nursing faculty in graduate nursing clinical education. Before coming to the center, he worked as a cardiac clinic nurse and interventional cardiology service line coordinator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. His professional interests include healthcare quality/ process improvement and cardiac and trauma evidence-based research.
Reid.Zarnoch@osumc.edu
614-293-6036
Monica Keirns, DNP, MS, RN, CPHQ
MANAGER, CENTER FOR EMS
With a diverse background in nursing, clinical operations, and quality improvement, Monica brings a unique perspective to the Center for EMS. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Clinical Operations and Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a focus on Executive Healthcare Leadership from Mount Carmel College of Nursing. Her priorities are to improve educational opportunities using innovation and technology, align organizational policy and guidelines with best practices, and bridge research opportunities and the future of pre-hospital medicine with local EMS agencies.
Monica.Keirns@osumc.edu
614-366-6433
Travis Sharkey, MD, PhD
Medical Director – Ohio State Center for EMS
Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department
Assistant Fellowship Director – EMS Fellowship at Ohio State
Dr. Sharkey started his educational pathway in computer science and engineering and electrical and computer engineering studying signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques. This led to a PhD in biomedical engineering while obtaining an MD through the Medical Scientist Training Program at The Ohio State University. He completed both an emergency medicine residency and EMS fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center before returning as faculty.
As an EMS physician, Dr. Sharkey focuses on strengthening educational opportunities directed at real-world experiences of our local EMS providers. As a researcher, he is investigating the use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to support accurate and efficient dispatch of EMS providers to get the right resources to the right people at the right time.
Tyler Tumberg, MBA, MHA
Associate Director, Patient Flow Operations
As the Associate Director of Patient Flow Operations, Tyler oversees the Transfer Center & Capacity Management team as well as all business and operations for University Hospital’s Emergency Services which includes the: 98 bed Emergency Department, Observation Unit, Hyperbarics, and Center for Emergency Medical Services.
Tyler has held roles as a leader in an outpatient clinic setting and spent time supporting the executive director over strategy and operations for the 13-hospital health system BJC Healthcare in Saint Louis. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Dayton and Master of Health and Business Administration degrees from Saint Louis University. Tyler has also received a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the Ohio State University Fischer College of Business and sits on the board of Ohio CARES.
Troy Acker
Ohio CARES Coordinator
Troy is the state coordinator for Ohio CARES, a position housed within Ohio State’s Center for EMS. He has also served communities as a firefighter/paramedic since 2004. His professional interests include EMS education and research.