Our People

Meet Our Leadership

Our team brings decades of combined experience in emergency medicine, event operations, and healthcare management.

With over 2,500 credentialed medical professionals nationwide, our clinical team is the backbone of every deployment. All providers are required to have active emergency department experience, hold current certifications, and complete ParaDocs-specific onboarding.

Physicians

Emergency medicine-trained MDs and DOs providing medical oversight and ALS interventions.

Paramedics

ALS providers with ER experience who handle cardiac, trauma, and critical emergencies.

Registered Nurses

ER and critical care nurses managing triage, IV therapy, medication administration, and patient care.

EMTs

BLS-certified technicians providing first aid, patient assessment, and vital-sign monitoring.

■ The Red Shirt Standard

On the ground, our team is instantly recognizable in their signature red polo shirts. Whether operating backstage or at the front gates, they represent professionalism, discretion, and clinical excellence.

Our medical staff integrates seamlessly with event production teams. VIP talent, executives, and performers trust the red shirt as a symbol of care and confidentiality.

Medical credentialing materials including certifications, badges, and training documents

verified Credentialing & Training

check_circleActive emergency department experience required
check_circleCurrent state and national certifications verified
check_circleParaDocs-specific orientation and onboarding
check_circleCovered under ParaDocs malpractice insurance
check_circleBackground checked

Clinical Oversight

Dr. Celine Thum joined our team as Northeast Medical Director in early 2012. She is a board-certified Emergency Physician, Director of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, and a Ringside Physician for USA Boxing and the New York State Athletic Commission. Dr. Thum brings extensive experience in emergency care, combining her clinical expertise with a deep understanding of event-specific medical challenges.

Dr. Nadia Maria Shaukat joined our team as a staff physician in 2016. She is a board-certified Emergency Physician with fellowship training in Emergency Ultrasound. Currently, she serves as the Associate Director of Emergency Ultrasound and the Associate Fellowship Director of Emergency Ultrasound at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.

Dr. Danica Barron joined our team in 2017 as Pacific Region Medical Director and specializes in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals. After graduating from Yale University Medical School, she completed her Emergency Medicine residency at UCSF-Highland Hospital. Dr. Barron is board-certified, a Drug Medical Review Officer, and an Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor.

Dr. James Salway joined our team as a staff physician in 2019. He is a board-certified Emergency Physician with fellowship training in Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness. Dr. Salway serves as the Senior Director of Emergency Management at NYC Health + Hospitals and practices clinically at Kings County Hospital Center while holding an academic position at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Anthony Zarzuela has been part of the ParaDocs team since 2014, growing from an ALS Supervisor to Director of Health and Safety over more than a decade with the organization. In his current role, he oversees clinical quality standards and supports the delivery of high-level medical care across all ParaDocs deployments nationwide.

Bayla is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a master's degree in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. She graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College with a degree in Health and Nutrition Sciences and completed her dietetic internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Operational Leadership

Alex Pollak is a veteran New York City paramedic whose career has been defined by frontline service in some of the most demanding emergency environments in the country. He responded as a first responder during the September 11 World Trade Center attack and has spent decades operating within the NYC 9-1-1 system, developing deep expertise in large-scale incident response and operational command.

Leo Vanegas joined ParaDocs in 2013 as an EMT and quickly advanced through progressive leadership roles as the organization expanded. He built his foundation working within the New York City 9-1-1 system at a voluntary hospital in central Brooklyn, later serving as a field supervisor for a private ambulance service. His professional experience also includes work in the mental health field, where he supported autistic children and families through intensive in-home therapeutic programs — strengthening his leadership, crisis management, and communication skills.

David Barbosa brings more than 15 years of experience in the New York City 9-1-1 EMS system, with a career spanning frontline response, special event medical operations, and federally coordinated disaster deployments. He has participated in FEMA emergency response efforts and served within Emergency Operations Centers during major incidents, including coordinating logistics during Hurricane Katrina. Across agencies, he has supported large-scale special events, complex operational planning, and interagency coordination, operating at the intersection of field response and command-level execution in high-demand environments.

Jon Saltzman brings more than 22 years of public service experience to ParaDocs. He began his EMS career in New York's Capital District before joining American Medical Response in New York City, where he served as an operations supervisor. In 2008, he transitioned to municipal service, joining FDNY as a paramedic in Brooklyn.

Jeffery Day joined our team after retiring from the Orlando Fire Department with over 28 years of experience, including the last 10 years as a field operations District Chief. As an Operations Chief, Jeff also served as the Special Events Coordinator for the Orlando Fire Department, responsible for medical and emergency response planning, staffing, and managing events throughout the city.

Zachary Chan serves as Festival Operations Manager for ParaDocs Worldwide, leading the operational buildout that allows ParaDocs teams to deploy quickly and consistently at events nationwide. With nearly fifteen years alongside the organization, Zach has helped shape how ParaDocs plans, staffs, and executes medical operations in fast-moving, high-density festival environments.

Kevin Villatoro serves as Festival Logistics Manager for ParaDocs Worldwide, where he supports large-scale event deployments through coordinated planning, staffing, and on-the-ground execution. An experienced New York City 9-1-1 EMT, Kevin brings real-world field perspective into every operational decision, understanding firsthand what teams need in dynamic, high-demand environments.

Joseph Alvarado brings nearly two decades of 9-1-1 EMS experience to his role as Festival Operations Manager for ParaDocs Worldwide. His career spans both New York City and Long Island EMS systems, where he has worked in high-volume, high-acuity environments that demand leadership, discipline, and operational precision.

Melissa Morales has been with ParaDocs Worldwide since the organization's earliest days, contributing across a range of roles as the company grew from a startup to a nationally recognized operation. With a background in EMS management spanning several agencies across New York City, she brings deep institutional knowledge and logistical expertise to the team.

Elysian Ward is an experienced New York City 9-1-1 EMT who brings frontline perspective to her role as Operational Coordinator at ParaDocs Worldwide. She currently manages medical operations at the organization's Jacob Javits Convention Center contract, overseeing day-to-day coordination, team management, and service delivery at one of the busiest venues in the city.