COTS Board of Trustees Officers

  • Member at Large, Pediatric Representative | Nationwide Children’s Hospital

    2024 Member Spotlight:

    Where were you born and/raised? I was born in Nashville, TN at Vanderbilt but was raised in Columbia, SC.

    What was your first job? My first job was at a drycleaners where I collected laundry and drove a truck.

    You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere. Where would you go? India, never been/always wanted to go, but I’d probably take another two weeks off 😊

    What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? How impressed I am by the organized, cooperative spirit of the organization.  I’ve worked in several states, and I’ve yet to see a region so well organized.  It is an honor to be part of this effort.

    What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? Originally, I wanted to be a trauma surgeon, but I changed that plan after taking neuroanatomy and spending time in the OR with a neurosurgeon.  Trauma remained my focus but shifted to neurotrauma.

    What hobbies do you participate in your free time? I collect vinyl records, spend time with my family, and try and get outdoors as much as possible.

    If you could be any superhero, who would you be?  Professor X.

    What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? Hiking in the Hocking Hills area when it is completely frozen over.

    If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Spend more time with my family and start up a non-profit for funding injury prevention/treatment research in underfunded areas such as non-accidental trauma.

    What was the first concert you attended? REM, and it was AMAZING.  Thank you for taking me Uncle Rich!

  • COTS Southeast/Southeast Central Coalition Operations Advisory Board Representative | Holzer Health System - Gallipolis

    2023 Member Spotlight:

    Where were you born and raised? Born and Raised in Gallipolis, OH. I still reside in Gallipolis, OH.

    What was your first job? My first official job was a farm hand on a 500 acre farm when I was 15 years old. We picked vegetables for 2 local produce stands, farmed cattle, and took care of the property.

    You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere. Where would you go? I would fly to Utah and spend the 2 weeks going to as many national parks as I can fit in. My families goal is to visit every national park in the US.

    What hobbies do you participate in your free time? My family and I are avid campers. We have a RV that provides us the opportunity to experience nature that god has allowed us to have. We have traveled from Bar Harbor, ME to Orlando, FL; and from Myrtle Beach, SC to Hot Springs, AR. We plan to travel to as far west as Utah and make a mad blitz across 11 National Parks.

    If you could be any superhero who would you be? Alfred Pennyworth. I enjoy being behind the scenes and providing world class service to the leaders for which I follow. Recognition is greatly appreciated but definitely not why I am doing my job. I like to be trusted and leaned upon by my leaders to complete a task or project.

    If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? My community has been a large part of our my journey so I would try and give back to them. Donations to the Gallipolis Fire Department, the Gallipolis City Pool, and to Holzer Health System. After that, setup a very nice camp site in South Florida and retire. I would remain a board member if at all possible. I enjoy being part of the COTS board.

  • Columbus Division of Fire Representative | Columbus Division of Fire

  • COTS Emergency Services Advisory Board Representative | MedFlight

    2018 Member Spotlight:

    1. What made you decide on this profession?
      I got into the profession because I wanted to help people during their toughest times like when they are sick or injured.

    2. What hobbies do you have or what do you like to do in your spare time?
      I like to play golf (which I do poorly) and I enjoy running marathons.

    3. If you could be a superhero who would it be?
      Superman because anyone who has run a marathon knows how great it would be if you could complete it in less time than it usually takes you. Also, I can't imagine how long my golf drives would be if I had that power.

    4. What was the first concert you attended?
      Three Dog Night at the old Metropolitan Arena in Minneapolis (home to the Minnesota North Stars hockey team).

    5. Where were you born and raised?
      I was born and raised in northern Iowa.

    6. What was your first job?
      Growing up in farm country, I did a number of jobs around farms but my first paying job was detasseling corn. I think I made $3.00/hour and worked a ten hour day. My first job in healthcare was as a nurse in Idaho Falls, Idaho where I worked in the ICU and the ER.

    7. How long have you been affiliated with COTS and in what capacity?
      I began attending the COTS prehospital meetings in 2008 or 2009. In 2015, I took over Dr. Howie Werman's position on the COTS Board and have served ever since.

COTS Board of Trustees Members at Large

  • Member At Large |
    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

    2024 Member Spotlight:

    • Where were you born and/raised? Rochester, NY

    • What was your first job? Delivering the newspaper

    • You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere. Where would you go? New Zealand

    • What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? I enjoy being on the front lines as much as I enjoy being part of the command and administrative teams.

    • What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? ? My time in the military planted the seeds for many things I do today: emergency medicine, disaster response and preparedness, hyperbaric medicine. 

    • What hobbies do you participate in your free time? I enjoy the outdoors immensely and like traveling to new places. 

    • If you could be any superhero, who would you be?  Batman

    • What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? Sit near the fireplace with a book or beverage!

    • If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Give the money away— It rarely changes life for the better.

    • What was the first concert you attended? A Christmas concert by the community chorus and orchestra at the age of 2 😉

  • COTS Trauma Advisory Board Representative | Genesis Hospital

  • Representative | Columbus Medical Association

    2024 Member Spotlight

    • Where were you born and/raised? Piqua, OH- a city 25 miles North of Dayton

    • What was your first job? Lifeguard and swim lesson instructor at YMCA

    • You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere. Where would you go? Australia

    • What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? I am a retired pediatrician having spent my career initially working at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as an Emergency Medicine doc then as primary care pediatrician and medical doctor in the NCH primary care network. My passion is advocacy for patients as well as advocacy for the physicians who take care these patients.

    • What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? I initially wanted to be an oceanographer, but found out that the lifestyle wasn’t likely to be like Jacque Cousteau. I was good in science and liked people, so I picked medicine. I chose pediatrics because kids usually get better, and the pediatricians were the most fun to work with.

    • What hobbies do you participate in your free time? Golf, reading, studying and reading politics (that’s why I like the public policy committee) and interfacing with my 4 grandchildren.

    • If you could be any superhero, who would you be?  Superman, Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

    • What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? Go to Florida

    • If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Buy a place in Florida and set up a trust fund to support some of my favorite organizations (CMA included!)

    • What was the first concert you attended? Grand Funk Railroad. One of my friend’s moms was nice/ tolerant enough to drive a carload of us to Dayton Hara Area to see them. Several years ago, I got in a conversation with the guy who was the promoter of this concert as well as several other concerts I went to in Dayton.

  • COTS Central Coalition Operations Advisory Board Representative | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

    2022 Member Spotlight:

    Where were you born and/raised?
    I was born in Xenia, Ohio, and raised in Beavercreek, OH.

    What was your first job?
    My first paying job was mowing lawns in our neighborhood. My first job where I was issued a paycheck was bagging groceries at a local supermarket.

    You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere. Where would you go?
    Anywhere with warm weather and a beach to sit on. My favorite place is definitely Gulf Shores, Alabama.

    What hobbies do you participate in your free time?
    I love to run😊 I have done a few marathons and half-marathons and have been thinking about tackling a 50k or 50 miler if my wife will let me!

    What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season?
    My wife and I enjoy Blue Jackets games and recently became season ticket holders.

  • Member at Large, Public Health Representative | Columbus Public Health

    2024 Member Spotlight:

    Where were you born and/raised? I was born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey…  hence I am a huge New York Yankees and New York Giants fan.

    What was your first job? I worked at Little Caesars Pizza when I was 15 years old; they actually made me an assistant manager at age 16!  I don’t often eat Little Caesars, as I ate a lifetime supply in high school.

    You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere, Where would you go? My wife and I would definitely go to Hawaii; she’s never been, and I have several more islands I would love to explore. 

    What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? As the Assistant Health Commissioner and Chief Nursing Officer, I oversee many programs and staff.  I love to collaborate and find new partners to work with in our community, even some non-traditional partners. 

    What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? My mother was a nurse and I often played with her stethoscope and medical bag as a young child; she was the inspiration for me to go to nursing school.  Once in nursing school, I was hooked and have been an RN for 28 years. 

    What hobbies do you participate in your free time? My wife and I have 5 children, ages 15-28, and a 4 year old granddaughter!  When we have free time, I love to cook and eat, love to golf, garden, beekeeping and watch sports. 

    If you could be any superhero, who would you be?   Not really into superheros…  I did like watching Wonder Woman growing up, though, as I thought she was a great role model. 

    What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? Make a fire and watch football!

    If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Take my entire family (I’m the youngest of 8) on a long vacation. 

    What was the first concert you attended?  Michael Jackson’s Thriller concert!

  • Member at Large | Marietta Memorial Hospital

  • Member at Large, ED/EMS Medical Director Representative | Columbus Division of Fire

    2017 Member Spotlight:

    1. How long have you been affiliated with COTS and in what capacity?
      Since 2006 and have served in every role including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, President and now Immediate Past President.

    2. What made you decide to become a physician?
      Medicine is a second career for me, I actually worked about 7 years as an Aerospace Engineer. I began to have interest and thoughts of medicine and became a Volunteer in an EMS organization near Johnson Space Center (League City Texas) and caught the bug ending up in Emergency Medicine and EMS.

    3. What hobbies do you have or what do you like to do in your spare time?
      Most of my hobbies focus around the kids activities, from skiing, to elk hunting in Colorado. Sports are big in our family. I still enjoy aerospace activities.

    4. If you could be a superhero who would it be?
      Batman. He has the coolest toys.

    5. What was the first concert you attended?
      Alabama

    6. Where were you born and raised?
      I was born in Brownwood Texas. I consider Midland Texas my hometown (with a nod to Trauma and EMS, a town most famous for the "little girl falling in the well").

    7. What was your first job?
      I was the yard man for Memorial Christian Church in Midland Texas, started at $3.00 an hour. I was 13, and mostly got the job from the property manager because my Dad was one of the ministers at the church.

  • Representative | Columbus Medical Association

    Medard R. Lutmerding, MD, FACEP, has been elected to serve as the next Board of Trustees President for the Central Ohio Trauma System (COTS). Dr. Lutmerding has been a longtime board member of COTS and an emergency medicine physician with Mount Carmel Health System. Dr. Lutmerding represents the Columbus Medical Association on the COTS Board of Trustees. Through his involvement in COTS, Dr. Lutmerding has been instrumental in addressing emergency department diversion and furthering the development of healthcare disaster preparedness in the Central Ohio region.

    Besides his service on the COTS Board of Trustees for sixteen years, Dr. Lutmerding is active on the COTS Executive Committee and co-chairs two other COTS committees: the Regional Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Committee and the Diversion Committee.

    Dr. Lutmerding was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He attended the University of Dayton where he received his Bachelors of Science in 1970. He worked as a trained attendant at Miami Valley Hospital in the emergency department. Dr. Lutmerding's medical degree was achieved at The Ohio State University in 1975. Following an internal medicine residency, he joined Mount Carmel West in 1978 as an emergency medicine physician. Dr. Lutmerding recently celebrated 38 years of practice at Mount Carmel.

  • Franklin County Health Commissioners Representative | Franklin County Public Health

  • COTS Trauma Advisory Board Representative | OhioHealth

  • Member at Large | Mount Carmel Health System

    2018 Member Spotlight:

    1. Where were you born and raised?
      Columbus until 13 years old then Thornville, Ohio.

    2. What was your first job?
      The obligatory babysitting and cleaning as most teenage girls did back in the day, but real job...McDonald's where I worked through some college as a shift manager.

    3. What hobbies do you have or what do you like to do in your spare time?
      I've always wanted to be a doctor or nurse and take care of people. I volunteered in high school to help me determine that I wanted to do nursing.

    4. What was the first concert you attended?
      McGuffey Lane and Molly Hatchet at the old Legend Valley.

    5. You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to anywhere. Where would you go?
      Fiji because I've never been.

    6. What hobbies do you participate in your free time?
      Sports, mostly related to my boys and read.

    7. If you won the Powerball, what's the first thing you would do?
      Pay all of my immediate famili’s houses off, set aside money for my children, nieces, and nephews, and then travel, travel, travel!

  • Trustee Emeritus

  • Ex Officio | Columbus Medical Association and Affiliates

  • Ex Officio | COTS

COTS Central Coalition Operations Advisory Board

  • Franklin County | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

  • Franklin County | Columbus Public Health

    2019 Member Spotlight:

    1. Where were you born and raised?
      Xenia, Ohio.

    2. What was your first job?
      I was a Bob Evans hostess during high school. After college, I worked at Community Tissue Services in organ, tissue, and eye donation.

    3. What hobbies do you have or what do you like to do in your spare time?
      My oldest son is starting to play sports so most of my free time is spent at the ball fields, but when I get free time I enjoy horseback riding through the hills of Southern Ohio and Kentucky!

    4. You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to anywhere. Where would you go?
      I would grab my family and head to Hawaii! We love the beach, from the smell and sound to the food, and the sun!

    5. If you won the Powerball, what's the first thing you would do?
      First thing I would do is call my dad! We talk about winning the lottery all the time and we have our plan all set for the day it happens.

    6. What is your favorite thing to do in the winter season?
      Grab a hot cup of coffee and curl up on the couch with my kiddos and watch a movie.

  • Franklin County | OhioHealth system

  • Franklin County, Trauma Leader Representative & Clinical Lead | The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

    2024 Member Spotlight

    • Where were you born and/raised? Rochester, NY

    • What was your first job? Delivering the newspaper

    • You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere. Where would you go? New Zealand

    • What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? I enjoy being on the front lines as much as I enjoy being part of the command and administrative teams.

    • What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? ? My time in the military planted the seeds for many things I do today: emergency medicine, disaster response and preparedness, hyperbaric medicine. 

    • What hobbies do you participate in your free time? I enjoy the outdoors immensely and like traveling to new places. 

    • If you could be any superhero, who would you be?  Batman

    • What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? Sit near the fireplace with a book or beverage!

    • If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Give the money away— It rarely changes life for the better.

    • What was the first concert you attended? A Christmas concert by the community chorus and orchestra at the age of 2 😉

  • Morrow County | Morrow County Hospital

  • Logan County | Mary Rutan Hospital

  • Union County | Memorial Hospital

  • Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) | Bella Care Hospice

  • Pickaway County | Pickaway County Health District

  • Fairfield County | Fairfield County Health Department

  • Marion County | Marion County EMS

  • Madison County | Madison County Emergency Medical District

  • Delaware County | Delaware Public Health District

  • Regional Public Health Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | Franklin County Public Health

  • Delaware County | Delaware County Emergency Management

  • Franklin County | Columbus Division of Fire

  • Hardin County | Kenton-Hardin Public Health

  • Wyandot County | Wyandot Memorial Hospital

  • Knox County | Knox Community Hospital

  • Pickaway County | Pickaway County Emergency Management

  • Franklin County | Mount Carmel Health System

  • Franklin County/Law Enforcement Representative/CMS | Columbus Division of Police

  • Franklin County | Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security

  • Fayette County Representative

  • Licking County Representative

  • Ex Officio | Columbus Medical Association and Affiliates

  • Ex Officio | COTS

  • Regional Healthcare Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | COTS

  • Training and Exercise Planner, Non-Voting Member | COTS

  • Regional Healthcare Coalition Coordinator, Non-Voting Member| COTS

  • Southeast/Southeast Central Regional Healthcare Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | COTS

COTS Emergency Services Advisory Board

  • Columbus Division of Fire Representative | Columbus Division of Fire

  • Emergency Medicine Physician Representative | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

  • Non-officer, EMS Field Provider Representative | Columbus Division of Fire

  • COTS Emergency Department Nurse Manager's/Director's Chair | Nationwide Children's Hospital

  • Administrator Interfacility Air Medical Transport Representative | MedFlight

  • Hospital EMS Coordinator | Mount Carmel Health System EMS

  • At-large EMS Medical Director |
    OhioHealth EMS

  • EMS Educator with EMS-Instructor Certification Representative | OhioHealth EMS

  • ED Physician/Nurse Manager/Nurse Director Rural Healthcare Facility Representative | OhioHealth Grady Hospital & OhioHealth Lewis Center

  • ED Physician or Nurse Manager/ Director representing an Urban Healthcare Facility | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

  • ED Physician or Nurse Manager/ Director of a Pediatric Healthcare Facility | Nationwide Childrens Hospital

  • Non-fire Based EMS Agency Representative | Fredericktown Community Joint Emergency Ambulance District

  • At-large EMS Agency Coordinator | Upper Arlington Fire Department

  • Private Ambulance Service Representative | MedCare

  • Central Ohio Fire Chiefs Representative | Genoa Township Fire Department

  • EMS Medical Director Representative | Metropolitan Emergency Consortium Communications (MECC)

  • Ex Officio | Columbus Medical Association and Affiliates

  • Ex Officio | COTS

COTS Southeast/ Southeast Central Coalition Operations Advisory Board

  • Gallia County Representative | Holzer Health System -Gallipolis

  • Muskingum County Representative | Muskingum County EMA

    2024 Member Spotlight

    • Where were you born and/raised? I was born and raised in Zanesville. I spent 5 years in Lancaster Pennsylvania when my dad was transferred there for his job, and we then returned to Zanesville.

    • What was your first job?  My first job was at a local tire shop.

    • You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere, Where would you go? I would travel to Fort Myers Florida to spend time with my sister and her family that live there.

    • What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? I have spent the last 44 years being involved in EMS/Fire/EMA serving my community. I am blessed to be a 13 year post open-heart surgery survivor. Thanks to Dr. Greg Keagey, and the staff at Genesis Good Samaritan Hospital, I survive the widow maker.

    • What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? My desire to help people.

    • What hobbies do you participate in your free time? Golf and woodworking

    • What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? I enjoy shoveling snow for my neighbors, who are most elderly and handicapped

    • If you won the Powerball, what’s the first thing you would do? Take my family on the vacation to the location of their choice.

      To quote my wife, “ He will never retire because he loves working”!

  • Jefferson/Gallia County Representative | Holzer Health System

  • Clinical Advisor | Genesis Health System/Perry County FSED

  • Morgan County Representative | Morgan County Health Department

  • Meigs County Representative | Holzer Health System

  • Southeast Regional Public Health Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | Athens City- County Health Department

  • Athens County Representative | Athens County EMS

  • Pike County Representative | Pike County Health Department

  • Southeast Regional Public Health Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | Zanesville Muskingum County Health Department

  • Vinton County Representative | Vinton County EMA

  • Monroe County Representative | Monroe County Public Health

  • Guernsey County Representative | Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center

  • Scioto County & Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) Representative | Community Choice Homecare Inc.

  • Perry County Representative | Somerset Reading Township Fire Department

  • Jefferson County Representative | Trinity Medical Center West

  • Washington County Representative | Marietta Memorial Hospital

  • Noble County Representative | Noble County EMA

  • Coshocton County Representative | Coshocton County EMS

  • Hocking County Representative | Hocking County Local Coalition

  • Belmont County Representative | Barnesville Hospital

  • Harrison County Representative

  • Lawrence County Representative

  • Morgan County Representative | Morgan County Health Department

  • Ross County Representative

  • Ex Officio | Columbus Medical Association and Affiliates

  • Ex Officio | COTS

  • Southeast/Southeast Central Regional Healthcare Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | COTS

  • Southeast/Southeast Central Regional Coalition Coordinator Non-Voting Member | COTS

  • Central Regional Healthcare Coordinator, Non-Voting Member | COTS

COTS Trauma Advisory Board

  • Member at Large, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital  |  OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital

  • Member at Large, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center | OhioHealth Grant Medical Center

  • Trauma Medical Director or Trauma Program Manager/Director Pediatric Health Care Facility Representative  |  Nationwide Children's Hospital

  • Administrator Interfacility Air Medical Transport Representative | Air Evac Lifeteam

  • Trauma Rehabilitation Healthcare Facility Representative | Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

  • Member at Large, Genesis Hospital  |  Genesis Hospital

  • Rural Non-trauma Center Emergency Department Administrator Representative  |  Licking Memorial Hospital

  • Member at Large, Mount Carmel East |  Mount Carmel East

  • COTS Registry Subcommittee Chair | Mount Carmel East

  • COTS Trauma Program Manager/Director Chair | OhioHealth Pickerington

  • Member at Large, Marietta Memorial Hospital | Marietta Memorial Hospital

  • ED/EMS Medical Director Representative | Columbus Division of Fire

  • EMS Representative, Central Ohio Fire Chiefs | Whitehall Division of Fire

  • Member at Large, Nationwide Children's Hospital | Nationwide Children's Hospital

  • Member at Large, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

  • Member at Large, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center East Hospital | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center East Hospital

  • Ex Officio | Columbus Medical Association and Affiliates

  • Ex Officio | COTS

  • Regional Data Systems Coordinator

  • Trauma Process Improvement Coordinator