Meet the Managers: Welcome the Newest State Partnership Program Managers!

The EMSC Program is thrilled to introduce six new State Partnership Program managers for Florida, Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

State Partnership Program managers are vital to the EMSC Program because they work to expand and improve emergency care for children in real-time and at the community and state level. They do this in part by working on performance measures as outlined by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Meet the Managers

Florida - Katelyn Perl, MS, CHES®

Katelyn Perl, MS, CHES is joining the Florida EMSC Program, housed at the University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville (UFCOM-J) in the Division of Emergency Medicine Research, as the new program manager. Perl has a bachelor’s degree in applied physiology and kinesiology, a master’s degree in health education and behavior from the University of Florida and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). She is transitioning from her current UFCOM-J position with the Pain Assessment and Management Initiative (PAMI), where she served as program manager and educator for a federally funded model Pain Coach Educator and Toolkit Program. Although she will miss her PAMI colleagues and stakeholders, she is thrilled to join the EMSC team!

Mississippi - Joshua Dawson NRP, CCEMT-Paramedic

Joshua Dawson came onboard with the EMSC Mississippi Program in June of this year, and serves as the section manager for the Mississippi Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-Education Program and EMSC Program. He began as a first responder at the age of 16 with the local volunteer fire department. He has worked as a firefighter, a medical first responder, an EMT, a paramedic and ultimately a critical care paramedic.

“The EMSC Program is a passion project for me after seeing firsthand the needs of the children for my state. I am the father of two children and the bonus father of two more. I have worked extensively throughout the state with various medical outreach programs involving civic and professional organizations and I hope to make a difference in the lives of the citizens of my state.”

New Mexico - Kerry Clear

Serving in various aspects of emergency medicine, Kerry Clear has been a paramedic for more than 23 years. He shares his love for emergency medicine through educational offerings, community outreach and peer support with local nonprofits. A born teacher, he shares his experience in formal and informal educational settings. Clear is married with three adult children and four grandchildren who he says teach him almost as much as he teaches them.

Rhode Island - Megan Umbriano, BS, RD, AEMT-C

Megan Umbriano, BS, RD, AEMT-C is the EMSC Program Director for Rhode Island, based out of the Department of Health’s Center for Emergency Medical Services. She started her career as a first responder at the age of 15 and has worked for 18 years at her community fire department, serving as an EMS provider since 2009, an EMS lieutenant since 2013 and now the president of the organization.

Umbriano’s background and interest in pediatrics began after starting a career working as a pediatric registered dietitian in the RI school system and the local pediatric hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital. After a career change to her current role in February 2023, Megan was excited to continue her career working with children in a different capacity. Her wealth of medical knowledge from both a prehospital and hospital-based background is a valuable skill set for her role in EMSC.

Vermont - Chelsea Dubie, MEd, AEMT

Chelsea Dubie, MEd, AEMT, is the new EMS Coordinator at the Vermont Department of Health. Dubie has spent the last 10 years working as an epidemiologist and in emergency preparedness and response. She has an undergraduate degree in exercise and movement science and a master’s degree in education with a public health concentration. Dubie is a nationally and state-licensed advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT) and has been actively involved in the Vermont EMS community for over 10 years.

Dubie’s professional interests include injury prevention, disaster epidemiology, syndromic surveillance, and advocating for vulnerable populations in the state. She enjoys spending time with her husband and toddler son, Michael, who has nonverbal autism, and is excited to promote training on special health care needs.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - Bobbie Jean Sasamoto

Bobbie Jean Sasmoto has been in the EMSC Program for about a year and is now the new program manager for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

She is a board-certified professional firefighter and emergency medical technician that serves at the pleasure of the public with seven years of profound field experience. Given her expertise in pediatric prehospital care and her comprehensive understanding of the principles upon which the program is based, she considers heading the EMSC Program as an opportunity. She was born and raised on the island of Rota and now resides in the CNMI’s capital, Saipan. According to Sasamoto, a typical day in island life would be to enjoy the local vibes, warm weather, sandy beaches and tropical sunsets.