Meet the Faculty
Meet the Academic Faculty
Mike Ballester, MD
Assistant Professor
Hometown: Cheney, Washington after moving around in the USAF
Undergraduate: Eastern Washington University
Medical School: University of Kansas
Hobbies/Interests: Hanging out with my wife Lori, collecting comic books, watching movies
Favorite TV shows/movies: Anything Marvel related, watching NFL football
Favorite Music: classic rock
Best thing about Dayton: Great place to raise a family and practice emergency medicine
If I never did EM: I would love to make a living being an author
Random fact about me: I've been collecting comic books off and on for 45 years!
Jay R. Bernstein, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department title: Medical Student Clerkship Director
Hometown: Norwell, MA
Undergraduate: University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Medical school: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Residency: Boston University
Additional training: University of Cincinnati Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Academic area of interest: Education, wellness
Favorite procedure in the ED: Draining a peritonsillar abscess
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Biking & Running
Best thing about Dayton, OH: The Air Force Museum
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Working for the CIA
Random fact about you: I have five amazing kids and a super amazing wife
Daniel A. Brown
James E. Brown, Jr., MD
Professor and Chair
Jordan Michael Brunswick, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department title: Clinical Assistant Professor
Hometown: Maria Stein, Ohio
Undergraduate: Wright State University
Medical school: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Residency: University of Kentucky
Fellowship: University of Kentucky- Point of Care Emergency Ultrasound
Academic area of interest: Point of Care Ultrasound, EMS
Favorite procedure in the ED: Ultrasound-guided vascular access
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Spend time with family and my dog Zeus
Best thing about Dayton, OH: The many underrated local restaurants and breweries
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Teacher
Random fact about you: I once performed an ultrasound using Hidden Valley ranch dressing
Titus Chu, MD
Assistant Professor
Department title: Director of Ultrasound Education
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
Medical school: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: Hahnemann University Hospital (Closed)/Inspira
Additional training: Emergency Ultrasound, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Favorite procedure in the ED: Cunningham maneuver (If I can get it to work)
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Use my pellet smoker or my smokeless fire pit (basically, play with fire)
Best thing about Dayton, OH: The utter lack of traffic
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Systems engineering (although I never did quite figure out what to do with that degree)
Random fact about you: I probably enjoy watching Bluey as much as my two kids
Paul Thomas Deflorio, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department title: Assistant Professor
Hometown: Ridgefield, CT
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical school: Vanderbilt University
Residency: University of Michigan
Additional training: Residency in Aerospace Medicine, Master of Public Health
Academic area of interest: Trauma, resuscitative procedures
Favorite procedure in the ED: Central line placement
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Hunting
Best thing about Dayton, OH: Big city amenities in a small town setting
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: FBI
Random fact about you: I keep bees!
Alan A. Dupre, MD
Assistant Professor
Department title: Associate Program Director
Hometown: Shelbyville, KY
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical school: Uniformed Services University
Residency: Wright State University/Wright-Patterson AFB Integrated Residency in Emergency Medicine
Academic area of interest: Faculty Development, Military Emergency Medicine, Ocular Emergencies
Favorite procedure in the ED: Thoracostomy or Lumbar Puncture
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Flying (anything)
Best thing about Dayton, OH: Friendly people, Low cost of living, A variety of things to do, Great emergency medicine, Safe community, Fantastic schools
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Probably working for an NGO somewhere abroad
Random fact about you: Speaks Russian
Simranjit S. Gill, D.O.
Assistant Professor
Department Title: Assistant Program Director, Simulation Director
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati
Medical school: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Emergency Medicine – University At Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Additional training: Family Medicine – MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
Academic area of interest: Clinical education and Wellness
Favorite procedure in the ED: Flash pulmonary edema management, Intubation
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Playing a round of golf
Best thing about Dayton, OH: The friendly people, new restaurants, outdoor hikes/parks
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: High school math teacher and tennis coach
Random fact about you: I collect retro Jordans, basketball cards and spend too much time learning about watches
Ryan Grow, D.O.
Instructor
Kermit D. Huebner, MD
Assistant Professor
Department title: Assistant Professor
Hometown: Batesville, OH
Undergraduate: Ohio University, Athens, OH
Medical school: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
Residency: Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft. Hood, TX
Additional training: Military Operational Medicine, Public Health Leadership, Strategic Studies
Academic area of interest: Operational, austere/wilderness, and aviation medicine with a dash of ultrasound
Favorite procedure in the ED: Joint reductions
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Look forward to finding out!
Best thing about Dayton, OH: Miles of trails
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Flying
Random fact about you: I know the lyrics to Paul Revere
Andrea L. Kaelin, MD
Assistant Professor
Department Title: Assistant Professor, Military Ultrasound Director
Hometown: Air Force kid
Undergraduate: Christopher Newport University
Medical school: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine
Residency: Wright State University Emergency Medicine Residency
Additional training:
Fellowship of Academy of Emergency Medicine Ultrasonography (FAEMUS)
Ultrasound Fellowship San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC)
Wright State University Masters Degree in Public Health, Global Health, Emergency Public Health
Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS)
Academic area of interest: Ultrasound, Global Health
Favorite procedure in the ED: Ultrasound
Favorite thing to do on a day off:
Family time with the world's best niece and nephew,
Trail Runs with my dalmatian, Echo.
Horseback Riding
Best thing about Dayton, OH: MetroParks System, all the festivals
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Peace Corps
Random fact about you: Previously worked as National Park Service Park Ranger, EMT prior to Air Force
Vincent C. Marsh, MD
Assistant Professor
Department Title: Assistant Professor
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Undergraduate: Furman University
Medical school: MUSC
Residency: Wright State University
Additional training: CCATT
Academic area of interest: Critical Care
Favorite procedure in the ED: Shoulder reduction/ Intubation
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Listen to obscure audio books
Best thing about Dayton, OH: It has all four seasons
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Used car salesman
Random fact about you: Married to a magician
Brian Patrick Murray, DO
Assistant Professor
Department title: Director of Scholarly Activity
Hometown: Norwood, NJ
Undergraduate: Swarthmore College
Medical school: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Brooke Army Medical Center
Additional training: Toxicology/Addiction Medicine - Emory University
Academic area of interest: Toxicology and Addiction Medicine
Favorite procedure in the ED: Subclavian Central Line
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Running
Best thing about Dayton, OH: The restaurants.
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Photography
Random fact about you: I was once a semi-professional photographer (www.pbase.com/bpatmurray), I have done a lot of random things throughout my live: Finance, Peace Corps, High School teacher and Coach at a boarding school)
Derek M. Sorensen, MD
Associate Professor
Department title: Associate Professor
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Undergraduate: La Sierra University
Medical school: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago, Emergency Medicine
Additional training: MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Academic area of interest: Critical Care, Simulation, Education, Interprofessional Teams, Austere Operational Training
Favorite procedure in the ED: POCUS - ECHO because it is cheating
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Kick the kids outside and do things in the real world.
Best thing about Dayton, OH: The local community with parks, museums, zoos, and wildlife areas.
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: I would be an engineer/architect building things and solving problems.
Random fact about you: I am a mountain biking/cycling convert to running because of my wife and my dog.
Brian L. Springer, MD
Professor
Department title: Vice Chair; Tactical Medicine Director
Hometown: Syosset, NY
Undergraduate: SUNY College at Oneonta
Medical school: UT Southwestern
Residency: Wright State University
Additional training: Sports Medicine, Wright State University
Academic area of interest: Tactical and Law Enforcement Medicine
Favorite procedure in the ED: Trauma resuscitation and hemorrhage control
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Walk, grill, movies, spend time with wife and pets
Best thing about Dayton, OH: Independent restaurants; our MetroParks system
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Park Ranger
Random fact about you: I eat a PB&J on every ED shift
Joshua Bert Stierwalt, MD
Assistant Professor
Department title: Attending Physician, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
Undergraduate: United States Air Force Academy
Medical school: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Residency: Wright State University EM Residency Program
Additional training: MPH, George Washington University
Academic area of interest: Data Informatics, ED Flow, Population Health, Antibiotic Stewardship
Favorite procedure in the ED: Airway
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Hike with my family, Go for a nice long trail run
Best thing about Dayton, OH: All the biking and running trails, amazing weather in the spring and summer
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Ski Bum in the winter, Scuba Dive Instructor in the summer
Random fact about you: I find presidential history fascinating and am an amateur presidential historian (emphasis on the amateur)
Meagan B. Verbillion, DO
Assistant Professor
Department title: Assistant Program Director/Curriculum Director
Hometown: Yellow Springs, Ohio
Undergraduate: Eastern Kentucky University
Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Wright State/WPAFB
Academic area of interest: Curriculum development, Board Prep, Critical Care Medicine
Favorite procedure in the ED: Central Line
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Spend time with my family - we love to be outside. Festivals, hiking, concerts, gardening in the summer/fall. Road trips, obscure museums/events, Broadway/musicals in the winter/spring.
Best thing about Dayton, OH: There is an activity or event for every type of personality
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Either farming or traveling and working random odd jobs just enough to make a living while simultaneously seeing the world
Random fact about you: I unintentionally ran a marathon.
Reid Alexander Vernon, MD
Instructor
Department title: Assistant Professor
Hometown: Milton, GA
Undergraduate: United states Air Force Academy
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Residency: Wright State Emergency Medicine
Academic area of interest: Procedures and Teaching
Favorite procedure in the ED: Intubations
Favorite thing to do on a day off: Play frisbee, run with my dog, hang out with family
Best thing about Dayton, OH: Small town feel and friendliness
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: I would be a fighter Pilot!
Random fact about you: I love cooking!
Jessica Zhen, MD
Assistant Professor
Department title: WSU Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, WPAFB EM Medical Student Clerkship Director
Hometown: Pollock Pines, CA
Undergraduate: UC San Diego
Medical school: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
Residency: Western Michigan University (AF civilian sponsored)
Academic area of interest: EMS/prehospital care, MedEd, ACLS/cardiac arrest
Favorite procedure in the ED: fracture reductions and thoracostomy
Favorite thing to do on a day off: spending time relaxing, cooking, catching up on shows, and adventuring with my husband and dog
Best thing about Dayton, OH: all the local, fun, unique festivals
If you never did Emergency Medicine, what would you be doing: Baker! Would love to have a little bakery cafe.
Random fact about you: I have never met a potato I didn't like. It's my favorite food, any style. Plus, one of my favorite animals is the manatee, nicknamed the sea potato, that I've gone swimming with in their natural habitat.
