Speakers

Brian Beck, MBA - Manager, Hospital Services, Donor Connect

Brian has been with DonorConnect for eight years and is the Director of Hospital Services and Professional Education. He studied Healthcare Management and Medical Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his MBA at the University of Utah. He and his wife Sarah are the parents to 3 rowdy children and a Muppet dog named Meg. Brian leads a team of 14 dedicated Hospital Services Specialist who support our hospital partners in the process of organ and tissue donation, all with the mission of saving more lives.

Melanie Bradshaw, MSN, BA, RN - Trauma Survivorship Coordinator at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center

Melanie Bradshaw, MSN, BA, RN has spent 3 ½ years as the Injury Prevention and Trauma Survivorship Coordinator at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, a Level II Trauma Center just north of Houston, Texas. She has 8 years’ experience as a nurse, having been honored with a Daisy Award for her compassionate care shown toward patients, families, and coworkers in 2020. In addition, she has 12 years’ experience as a public-school educator. Specific areas of interest include building resiliency in the traumatically injured patient, educating family members on the value of self-care, and advancing trauma survivorship in her community and across the nation.

Jared Buchta - Community Health Captain, Salt Lake City Fire Department

Jason Carr, MD - Pulmonologist and Intensivist, Intermountain Medical Center

Dr. Carr is a Pulmonologist and Intensivist at Intermountain Medical Center. He completed medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and post graduate training in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, and research at the University of Utah. His clinical practice spans the general medical, surgical and cardiac ICUs at Intermountain Medical Center and the subspeciality Sarcoidosis Clinic in the Schmidt Chest Clinic. His research interests include the treatment of pneumonia, sepsis and clinical trials related to both as well as patient safety and quality improvement.

Charity Christensen, PA-C - Assistant Professor, University of Utah Health

Charity graduated from the University of Nebraska’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program in 2004. As a new PA she fulfilled a few overseas assignments with the Utah National Guard in Nicaragua and Iraq, and later in Morocco, Afghanistan, Gabon, and Japan before retiring from the National Guard in 2022. Charity came to the University of Utah in 2008 as a member of the Trauma Surgery team, and also worked in General Surgery for several years. Charity transitioned to a faculty role in the U of U Physician Assistant program in 2021. She earned her Doctorate of Physician Assistant Studies from MCPHS University in 2022. In her spare time, Charity enjoys spending time with her family and dabbling in a variety of creative hobbies.

Deidre Flanagan, MD, FACS - Trauma Medical Director, Moab Regional Hospital

Dr. Flanagan is currently the General Surgeon and Trauma Medical Director at Moab Regional Hospital, having joined the organization in August 2022.  In July 2024, she also assumed the position of Medical Director of Grand County EMS.  Previously, she was a general surgeon with Ascension Medical Group in Wisconsin since 1999.  Dr. Flanagan graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and completed her general surgery residency at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids Michigan.

Ramesh Grandhi, MD, MS - University of Utah Health 

Dr. Grandhi is a ABNS certified, dual-trained cerebrovascular neurosurgeon who treats vascular pathologies through both endovascular techniques and traditional, open microsurgical approaches. He has extensive experience with patients with cerebrovascular conditions such as arteriovenous malformations, brain aneurysms, and intracranial hemorrhages. In addition, he has a significant interest in treating patients with stroke and uses minimally-invasive approaches ranging from carotid and intracranial stenting to mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusions. 

He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and a master’s degree in physiology at Georgetown University. Dr. Grandhi attended medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University and did his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he completed an enfolded fellowship in Interventional Neuroradiology. He then completed a fellowship in Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery at the Baptist Neurological Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Tammy Hinterman, RN - Trauma Program Manager, McKay-Dee Hospital

Tammy is currently the Trauma Program Manager at Intermountain McKay Dee Hospital in Weber County, Utah. She started at Castleview hospital when dinosaurs were still a real threat to patient safety. She has worked at the University of Utah, Cottonwood Hospital, LDS Hospital, Altaview Hospital, Intermountain Medica Center, Jordan Valley, Snowbird Clinic, Layton Hospital. Tammy earned her BSN and is currently finishing her Masters Degree. Tammy is an avid proponent for interprofessional outreach and has had a profound impact on local, regional and national groups she belongs to. Tammy has a passion for improving life. She works tirelessly to improve the outstanding services at her Trauma Center to benefit the community that she and her family call home. Tammy is also active in volunteer groups as well including being the vice chair of the Utah State Critical Incident Management Team.

Brandon Howard, NRP, FP-C - Battalion Chief, West Valley City Fire Department

Jessie Levy, LCSW - Trauma Support Services Program Manager, Carolinas Medical Center- F.H. Sammy Ross Jr. Trauma Center

Jessie Levy, LCSW is the Manager of Trauma Patient Support Services at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a licensed clinical social worker. Jessie has more than 15 years as a practicing social worker and more than 10 years’ experience in leadership roles. Jessie has served Atrium Health’s adult and pediatric trauma services for the last 8 years in several roles to expand peer support, mental health services, and substance use interventions to trauma patients. Jessie has worked in a number of human services fields prior to healthcare including child welfare, domestic violence, conflict resolution, and housing and homelessness. Jessie is passionate about enhancing mental health care for patients and teaching a new generation of social workers as an internship instructor for local universities.

Kristofer Mitchell, MD - Trauma Medical Director, St. Mark's Hospital

Dr. Mitchell graduated in 2002 from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine where he also did his general surgery residency. In 2008, he completed a critical care/trauma fellowship at the University of California (San Diego) Medical Center.

He has served as the Trauma Medical Director at St. Mark’s Hospital since 2016. He led the facility through St. Mark’s initial Level II ACS trauma verification in 2018 and re-verification in 2022. Dr. Mitchell serves in numerous leadership roles in the hospital and greater trauma system. He is a co-chair of the Utah Committee on Trauma (COT) and president of the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee.

Physicians, nurses, and leadership across the hospital trust Dr. Mitchell immensely. He is a candid and respectful communicator, prioritizing teamwork above all else. In 2023, he received the Frist Humanitarian Award, an HCA award recognizing exceptional commitment to his patients and colleagues.

When Dr. Mitchell is not working, he enjoys spending time with his kids, attending dance competitions and sports games. He is a passionate whiskey and wine connoisseur and frequently hosts whiskey tasting parties for friends, hospital staff, and EMS colleagues.

David S. Morris, MD FACS - Medical Director, Trauma, Intermountain Health

Dr. Morr is a Trauma Surgeon in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in Chinese and attended the University of Utah Medical School. He completed his residency in General Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, followed by two years fellowship training in Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency General Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. He joined the Level I Trauma Center at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City in 2016 and currently serves as the Trauma Medical Director for the Intermountain Healthcare Canyons and Desert Regions.

Jené Mortensen - Community Engagement Section Manager, Aging & Adult Services

Jené has 22 years of experience working in various community services including recreation, gang prevention, senior centers, and services for older adults. Jene has a bachelor’s degree in Parks & Recreation and a master’s degree in Management and Leadership. She has been working for Salt Lake County for 17 years, with the past 11 years with Aging & Adult Services. She is currently the Community Engagement Section Manager, which includes Outreach, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Medicare Options Counseling, and Volunteer Services.

Nels Nichols, RN, BSN - Clinical Nurse Coordinator, University of Utah Hospital

Nels Nichols, RN, is a dedicated Emergency Nurse with over four years of Emergency and Critical Care experience in a Trauma 1 hospital. Currently serving in a leadership and educational role within his department, Nels has spent the past year developing and teaching engaging learner-centered education for his fellow healthcare professionals, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and clinical excellence. He is nearing the completion of his Master's in Nursing Education, further enhancing his expertise and commitment to advancing nursing practice.