About Us
REMSTTAC was originally funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Rural Health Policy. REMSTTAC is currently a program of the Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation (CIT). You may learn about CIT's other efforts to assist rural and frontier EMS and trauma systems at www.citmt.org.
The staff and consultants of REMSTTAC bring hundreds of years of collective experience in the development and improvement of rural EMS and trauma systems. REMSTTAC and CIT Staff serve on national policy level boards and committees and have led national organizations pertaining to EMS and trauma. A brief biographical sketch is provided for each of our key staff members.
Nels D. Sanddal, Director, PhDc, MS, REMT-B
Current Positions
- President and CEO, Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation
- Technical Consultant, ACS Committee on Trauma, Trauma Systems Evaluation and Planning Committee
- Council of Delegates, American Association of Suicidology
- Chief and Chief Medical Officer, Gallatin River Ranch Fire and Rescue
Select Previous Accomplishments
- Chair, Dissemination Committee, Institute of Medicine Future of Emergency Care Within the U.S. Health System
- Member, main committee, prehospital subcommittee, Institute of Medicine Future of Emergency Care Within the U.S. Health System
- Chairperson, National Council of State EMS Training Coordinators
- Training Coordinator, Montana Department of Health – EMS Bureau
- Recipient, EMS for Children Provider of the Year Award
Heather A. Soucy, Program Support Specialist, AAS
Current Positions
- Program Support Specialist, Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation
- Executive Assistant, Trauma & Emergency Response Infrastructure, Inc.
- Student (with honors), Montana State University – Billings
Select Previous Accomplishments
- Medical Records Clerk, St. Peter’s Hospital
- Recipient - Health Career Pathways 2+2 Online Degree Completion Program Scholarship
- Awards Committee Member, Girl Scouts of America - Big Sky Council
- Girl Scout Mentor and Recipient of Gold/Silver Awards
Joseph D. Hansen, Assistant Director, REMT-B
Current Positions
- Executive Director, Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation
- Director, Western EMS Network
- Director, Sweet Grass County Volunteer Ambulance
- Founding Member, International Roundtable on Community Paramedicine
- Member, Montana Trauma Systems Advisory Council
- Executive Committee Intermountain Regional EMS for Children Coordinating Council
Select Previous Accomplishments
- President, National Association of EMT
- Hospital Board, Pioneer Medical Center
- Administrator, Pioneer Medical Center
- County Coroner, Sweet Grass County Montana
- Jeffery S. Harris Award, National Association of EMT
- Library Board, Sweet Grass County
Teri L. Sanddal, Associate Director, BS, REMT-B
Current Positions
- Director of Research and Prevention, Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation
- Project Manager, National Native American EMS Association, CDC TIIDE Project
- Board Member, Montana Mental Health Association
- Officer, Gallatin River Ranch Homeowner’s Association
Select Previous Accomplishments
- President, Intermountain Regional EMS for Children Coordinating Council
- Montana Public Health Association, Award for Innovation in Public Health
- Leadership Award, Intermountain Regional EMS for Children Coordinating Council
Amy Mellinger, Administrative Assistant, BS
Current Positions
- Program Support Specialist, Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation
- Executive Assistant, Western EMS Network
Select Previous Accomplishments
- Certified High School Teacher
- Vice President of Alpha Phi Omega