Jeff Hayes, BS, LP

Chief of Staff

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Health and Physical Education from East Texas State University.  He was both an EMT and Paramedic at Austin EMS from 1986-1992 and left to become the Department Chair of the Austin Community college EMS Program.  From there, he was selected as the Director of Operations and Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator for Williamson County where he was employed for ten years prior to returning to our System in the position he currently holds.  Jeff serves on the State of Texas Governor's Emergency Trauma Advisory Council's (GETAC) Education Committee and is a national site reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation of EMS Programs.  He is a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians, National Association of EMS Educators and the National EMS Management Association professional organizations, as well as an active member of the Capitol Area Regional Trauma Advisory Council's Cardiac Care Committee.  Jeff has made numerous EMS conference presentations on various subjects relating to emergency care and EMS Education.  He has also authored articles in EMS trade publications and serves as a content reviewer for various EMS Textbooks.

Debbie Wilkinson, BS

Executive Assistant

Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Houston-University Park.  She joined the OMD team at the beginning of July 2011.  She comes to the Office of the Medical Director with a diverse background that includes education, office administration, real estate and non-profit fundraising and event planning.

Larry Arms, L.P.

Clinical Operations, Practices and Standards Coordinator

After attending college, holding several corporate positions and owning his own company, Larry began his career with Pedernales Volunteer Fire Department.  He became certified as an ECA in 1988 then, became a Paramedic in 1991.  He began his career with Austin EMS in 1992, initially as an EMT and later as a Paramedic.  Larry has held training positions on BLS and ALS transport units.  In 2001, he was promoted to Clinical Commander and was designated as the County Medical Liaison for all first responder organizations and; later also was additionally designated as a System Medical Officer.  In May of 2005, the Office of the Medical Director was formed and he was designated as the Clinical Operations, Practices and Standards Coordinator.  Larry also currently serves as Vice Chair on the Pedernales Emergency Services Fire Department Board of Directors.

Bill Coll, B.A., M Pub. Affs. LP, REHS

Infection Preventionist

Bill holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Health Education from Montclair State University.  Additionally, Bill possesses a Master in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin. Bill has almost 40 years of EMT and Paramedic experience as a volunteer and with the Austin EMS System.  Bill Served with the City of Austin EMS Department from 1980 through 1993 in a variety of field and administrative positions.  Bill was reassigned to the Austin Fire Department Medical Operations section for ten years.  Bill has been in the Office of the Medical Director since its inception with a primary focus on Infection Prevention issues.  Bill has made numerous presentations and published several articles and chapters related to infection prevention.  Bill is an Adjunct Faculty member with The Texas Engineering and Extension Service in the EMS Leadership Academy.  He serves on the Emergency Preparedness Committee of Association for Professionals in Infection control and Epidemiology, Inc.

Louis Gonzales, BS, LP

Performance Management & Research Coordinator

Louis Gonzales began his EMS career as a volunteer with the Texas A&M Emergency Care Team.  During this time, he completed paramedic training  and worked with two EMS Systems in south Texas. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Safety Engineering, Louis spent several years as an Occupational Safety and Health professional.  He returned to EMS and worked as a paramedic with the King County Medic One program (Seattle, Washington) and was active with the King County EMS System serving as the County's Early Defibrillation Program Coordinator.

Louis returned to Texas in 1997.  Prior to joining the Office of the Medical Director, Louis served as Faculty in the Temple College Department of EMS Professions, Flight Paramedic for Scott & White Medevac 1, and as Clinical Practices Commander for Williamson County EMS.

Louis is co-author of EMT Manual, 3rd edition and has published articles on resuscitation, workplace emergency response and first aid.  He has also served in several positions with the National American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) programs.  He currently serves as the Senior Science Editor for Community Products.  Louis is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Citizen CPR Foundation (CCPRF).

Hilary Higdon, Firefighter, EMT-B

AED & Resuscitation Coordinator (AFD Resource)

Hilary has been a firefighter and EMT with the Austin Fire Department since 1995.  she has been working with community defibrillation and CPR programs in Austin and Travis County for the past seven years.  Prior to becoming a firefighter, she worked providing hospice care to AIDS patients here in Austin.  She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and attended Nursing School at the University of Virginia.  Her studies in Anthropology have helped her negotiate the very unique cultures of the fire service and of medical care providers.

Chris Parker, MSN/Ed, RN, LP

System Education and Professional Development Coordinator

Chris holds a Master's of Nursing and Healthcare Education from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor's of Communication from the University  of Texas, and dual Associate Degrees in Nursing and Emergency Medical Services Technologies from Austin Community College.  She was a full-time faculty member for ACC's EMS Department for almost 13 years and continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member for ACC.  She worked as a paramedic for Williamson County EMS for nine years and as an Emergency Department nurse and educator for the St. David's Healthcare System since 1997.  She currently serves on the Education Committees for the National Association of EMS and the Texas EMS Trauma and Acute Care Foundation.  She also chairs the Education Committee for the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council.