Board of Directors
The ACWM Board is remarkably diverse from both a geographic and provider type standpoint.
It includes representatives from four states in our region and includes physicians, nurses, active field responders (medic/ski patrol/mountain rescue), medical students, and nurse practitioners.
Seth Collings Hawkins, MD, NR/WEMT, MFAWM (Morganton, NC)
Dr. Seth Collings Hawkins is the founder of ACWM. He is an anthropologist and physician with dual board certification in emergency medicine and EMS. He serves as medical advisor for REI, the NC Outward Bound School, and the Student Conservation Association; medical director of the National Association of Search & Rescue, Landmark Learning, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (assistant medical director); and is LEMA (federal medical director designation) for all national forests in NC and Florida and the National Park Service Outer Banks (Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras). He is also the founder, former Chief, and current Board Chair of the Appalachian Mountain Rescue Team. He is co-author of Vertical Aid: Essential Wilderness Medicine for Climbers, Trekkers, and Mountaineers, editor of the textbook Wilderness EMS, and is Editor-at-Large of Wilderness Medicine Magazine. He earned his Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) with the inaugural class in 2007, and in 2014 became the first physician designated a Master Fellow by the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, with specialization in wilderness EMS. He serves as Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Wake Forest University as well as Associate Director of the Wake Forest University Wilderness Medicine Fellowship. He has published widely in the wilderness medicine literature, including as co-author on several Wilderness Medical Society clinical practice guidelines.
Ben Chopski, DO, FHM (Richmond, VA)
Ben Chopski is an Internal Medicine physician from Roanoke, VA. He began his career with VCU Health in 2014 where he advised the Wilderness Medicine Interest Group at the VCU School of Medicine. Now in private practice, he continues to volunteer as a wilderness medicine educator in the community.
He started his medical career as an EMT in college. He earned his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. When not working or spending time with family, he can be found in his kayak on the James River or backpacking in central Virginia. He is a certified Level 3 River Safety and Rescue Instructor through the ACA.
David Fifer, M.S., NRP, WP-C, FAWM (Kentucky)
An Associate Professor in Emergency Medical Care at Eastern Kentucky University, David has been an EMS provider since 2001. Prior to joining the EKU faculty, David served as professional field provider and firefighter in Virginia, Kentucky, and Washington, DC. With experience as a ground search and high-angle rope technician for SAR teams in Virginia and Kentucky, David also currently works as the Special Operations Coordinator for Powell County, Kentucky EMS, where he leads the RedSTAR (Red River Gorge Special Treatment, Access and Rescue) unit is a hoist rescue specialist for the Kentucky State Police Air Rescue program. He also serves in the National Disaster Medical System, teaches disaster medical and incident command concepts worldwide, and is the Chair of the Kentucky Board of EMS Wilderness Paramedic Workgroup. David is a Fellow in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, and was a project leader for development of the IBSC WP-C exam.
Linda Laskowski-Jones, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAAN (Elton, MD)
Linda Laskowski-Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of Nursing, the Journal of Clinical Excellence for Wolters Kluwer. She received her Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Nursing from the University of Delaware, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Administration. She completed the Executive Track in Managing Healthcare Delivery at Harvard Business School. Her professional nursing experience spans clinical nursing, advanced practice, education, and leadership in trauma and emergency nursing. Linda is an active trauma center site reviewer for state trauma center accreditation, a member of the Delaware Trauma System Committee and is the State Chair of the Trauma Quality Committee. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Linda is on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Emergency Nursing and International Emergency Nursing (UK), and has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Trauma Nursing. She is a highly published author and national speaker on emergency, trauma, and wilderness topics.
With more than 30 years of volunteer service, Linda is an active member of the National Ski Patrol and patrols at Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain Ski area where she received the "Purple Merit Star" for saving a human life, and recognition by the National Ski Patrol for excellence in emergency care. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, a Wilderness Life Support-Medical Professional Instructor, and an Outdoor Emergency Care instructor. Linda received the 2015 Warren Bowman Award from the Wilderness Medicine Society in recognition of accomplishment and professional commitment to service to the Society. She also received the Founder’s Award from the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine in 2015 for outstanding service.