June 2022-23 Special Election Executive Committee

Biographies

Member At Large: Abigail Spiegelman

Abby Spiegelman is the Manager of Emergency Preparedness for Rutland Regional Medical Center, which she joined from the Vermont Department of Health (VDH). Prior to working at VDH, Abby worked with American Indian Tribes in Texas and South Dakota on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic for 2 years and before that, she worked as a Congressional staffer for several years where she worked with numerous stakeholders and foreign nationalities, analyzing potential policy, including laws and regulations focused on healthcare and public health.

She received a master’s in emergency and Disaster Management with a concentration in Public Health Preparedness from Georgetown University and both a BS in USVM: Biomedical Science and a Certificate in Public Health Entomology from Texas A&M University.

Member At Large: Anthony Simanskas

Tony is currently employed with the Williston Fire Department and holds the rank of Lieutenant Paramedic. Additionally, he is the department’s EMS and Paramedic Coordinator.

He started with the Williston Fire Department in 2008 as an intern through the Vermont Technical College Fire Science program. Once he received his degree, he stayed on as a volunteer until he was hired full time in 2011.

During his time as the EMS and Paramedic Coordinator, he successfully coordinated the roll out of Handtevy for the Department and was the first Department in the state to start utilizing the system. Furthermore, he secured funding to purchase a CyanoKit for the Department which we are now the only EMS agency in the north part of the state to carry a kit.

Finally, Tony is a committee member for the Falls Free Vermont Coalition and a clinical associate for the Vermont Technical College paramedic program.

Member At Large: Desirae Sanville

Desirae Sanville is a mother to 3 daughters and 1 son. She has been married for 14 years to her husband who is a retired reserved veteran.

She has worked at the Union House Nursing Home since December 2005. She started working at UHNH as an LNA. In 2016, she decided to work in the Activity Department as an Activity Assistant/LNA. In 2020 she became the Activity Director.

Last year she took on the position as the Emergency Preparedness coordinator for the facility. This year her titles have grown in the facility she works in. Desirae is the Activity Director/LNA/Certified Dementia Practioner/Emergency Preparedness Coordinator/Scheduling Coordinator/Administrator Assistant. She plays a big role in the facility she works at along with the love and care for the residents in the facility. Desirae says, “I have to say my job does get stressful at times, but I love what I do. I am excited to be nominated for the VHEPC Coalition Member At-Large.”

Member At Large: Lee Morissette

Lee Morissette is the Associate Medical Director of the Emergency Department, Mt Ascutney Hospital, Windsor, VT, and is employed by Emergency Services of New England, staffing ED’s in Critical Access Hospital’s within Vermont.

He is a Past President and Executive Board Member of the Society of Emergency Medicine PA’s (SEMPA) 2014-2019, has 25 years of active duty service in the US Navy and retired as a Master Chief Hospital Corpsman/Command Master Chief. While in the military he was extensively involved in disaster planning and responded to numerous disasters worldwide. He was a member of the Northeast Tri-State DMAT Team, Maine MMRS and Wisconsin MRC. He attended the University of New England PA Program obtaining his Master’s Degree and the University of West Virginia Emergency Medicine Program and is certified in Emergency Medicine.

He obtained his Doctorate of Medical Sciences at the University of Lynchburg, with emphasis on Clinical Leadership. He has completed the Vermont Medical Society Physician Executive Leadership Institute in 2022. Prior to becoming an Emergency Medicine PA, Lee had 30+ years of experience as a Firefighter/Paramedic. He is faculty for the ACEP Emergency Medicine Academy, Comprehensive Life Support (CALS) Instructor, Dartmouth Hitchcock SIMLAB Training Center Instructor and a longtime AHA BLS/ ACLS/PALS Instructor. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA and Senior Fellow of SEMPA.

Member At Large: Mark Norris

Mark Norris is a double board-certified paramedic (flight paramedic and community paramedic) with 18 years of experience in multiple different aspects EMS across various regions of the United States. He currently serves as the Director of Operations at Bennington Rescue Squad.

He holds a master’s degree in Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel, and a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security from American Military University.

Mark’s professional focal points and interests are leadership development, counterterrorism/WMD for public safety professionals, EMS education, and emergency management.