Dispatch MedForce
The MedForce flight crew’s dedication to the Medforce mission is demonstrated every time MedForce is dispatched to a scene for a critical patient, or to a hospital to transport a critically ill patient in need of immediate intervention for life saving measures.
Meet the Specialized Critical Care Trauma Nurses and Critical Care Paramedics who make up the MedForce Flight Crew below.
Mr. Takacs founded MedForce in 2000. And currently is President/CEO.
Contact Information ktakacs@medforceair.com
Office 563-355-7437
Melissa is MedForce's Human Resource Manager and has been part of our team since 2004. Melissa holds a master’s degree in Administration, and is a certified PHR-Human Resource Manager and Billing and Coding Specialist. She says, “Providing lifesaving critical care service to the community is an honor. The strength of the company is the crew. The MedForce team is safety focused, highly skilled and compassionate.”
Contact Information mwanek@medforceair.com
Office 563-355-7437
Gary currently serves as a MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since our beginning in November 2002. Gary says, “I enjoy all aspects of flying, along with the critical thinking and challenges of the patients we fly.”
Contact Information grobertson@medforceair.com
Shannon Wehrle, currently serves as a MedForce Chief Flight Nurse and has been with us since the opening of MedForce 2 base in 2005. She currently holds the following certifications: PALS and TNCC Instructor. BSN, TNCC, PALS, ACLS, NRP and PHTLS. She says, “I truly enjoy working with such an amazing and talented group of people who I call my family. We work so well together, trying to make our patient’s worst day a little easier to bear.”
Contact Information swehrle@medforceair.com
Justin Hicks, RN, BSN, currently serves as a MedForce Lead Flight Nurse and has been part of our team since July 2013. Justin currently holds the following certifications: TNS, TNCC, PHRN, PHTLS, NRP, AHA Instructor for ACLS, PALS and BLS. He says, “I enjoy the chance to make a difference in someone’s’ worst day and flying with MedForce allows me to help those in need. I work with some amazing people who are like family to me and that is very difficult to find.”
Contact Information jhicks@medforceair.com
Miranda Benner RN CFRN PHTLS TNCC ACLS PALS Miranda currently serves as a MedForce Lead Flight Nurse. “I enjoy working for Medforce because of the care we are able to provide to our patients. Growing up in rural Iowa majority of our healthcare systems do not have the resources that our critically ill patients need. Being able to provide quick timely transport to larger facilities so patients can get the additional resources needed. Our staff is one big family, we work hard to get the job done for our patients and keep each other accountable and safe.”
Contact Information mbenner@medforceair.com
Rachael Wilson, currently serves as a Full-Time MedForce Flight Nurse and has been part of our team since November 2017. Rachael currently holds the following certifications: RN, BSN, CFRN, Certified Emergency Nurse, Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse, Pre-hospital Registered Nurse, Trauma Nurse Specialist, Trauma Nursing Core Course, Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support, International Trauma Life Support, Emergency Communications Registered Nurse, ACLS, BLS, PALS and NRP. She says, “All the nurses and paramedics at MedForce are great to work with and treat you like family. It is a busy flight service and we get to help people in many surrounding communities. I enjoy the autonomy this job gives me as a Nurse to help patients in their greatest time of need. MedForce is a great place to work.”
Contact Information rwilson@medforceair.com
Brian Dillie, RN, PHRN, currently serves as a Full-Time MedForce Flight Nurse and has been part of our team since 2017. He says, “I enjoy the patients I work with and being able to help them in such a terrifying and stressful time. I also enjoy the amount of teamwork and unity there is on every shift. At MedForce we are a great team and family, truly a great place to work.”
Contact Information bdillie@medforceair.com
Carol Zimmerman, BSN, CFRN, PHRN, currently serves as a MedForce Flight Nurse and has been part of our team since July 2004. She says, “I enjoy the difference our team can make in the lives of our community - differences not only in patient care, but health education too. I also enjoy mentoring the upcoming generation of new health care providers and fostering their knowledge by training and support.”
Contact Information czimmerman@medforceair.com
Janna Wilkins, currently serves as a Part-Time MedForce Flight Nurse and has been part of our team since 2019. Has worked Emergency Medicine since 2002. 2 years Neo/Peds Transport. BLS ACLS PALS NRP ENPC TNCC PHTLS STABLE
“Being the newbie to the group, I couldn’t ask for a better Management team and Fellow nurses and Paramedics to fly with!”
Contact Information jwilkins@medforceair.com
Bill Bevins, currently serves as a Full-Time MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since August 2015. A part of EMS since 2006, when he obtained his EMT during high school, Bill has gained experience as a Critical Care Paramedic in Emergency Rooms, Level 1 Trauma Center and multiple ambulance services throughout Central and Eastern Iowa. Maintaining instructor status in several certifications, including Critical Care Paramedic, Paramedic- Iowa, Paramedic- Illinois, NIMS ICS 100, NIMS ICS 200, NIMS ICS 300, NIMS ICS 700, CPR Instructor, ACLS Instructor, PALS Instructor, NRP, PHTLS Instructor, TCCC Instructor, EMS Evaluator and HazMat Operations, Bill also spends many hours teaching and giving back to the EMS field. He says, “I enjoy the opportunity to work alongside the Fire and EMS agencies in the area. I enjoy the challenges encountered while working in HEMS.” Bill and his family reside in Cedar Rapids and can usually be found at the local fishing hole enjoying time with his family
Contact Information bbevins@medforceair.com
Mark Long, NRP, CCP, currently serves as a Full-Time MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since 2016. Mark says, “I enjoy working with MedForce because I get to work with an awesome group of people. I also like that I get to do a challenging job, and I get to do it 1,000 feet above the ground!”
Contact Information mlong@medforceair.com
Cole Goepfert, currently serves as a Full-Time MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since 2014. Cole is a Certified Flight Paramedic,a Nationally Registered Paramedic as well as a Critical Care Paramedic. He says, “I enjoy working for Medforce because everyone is willing to help each other, no matter the situation. Whether it’s covering a shift last minute, helping with training or lending study books for advance exams.”
Contact Information cgoepfert@medforceair.com
Wayne currently serves as a MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since 2005. Wayne enjoys working with MedForce because he loves to fly and his coworkers are like family.
Contact Information wkroll@medforceair.com
Andy currently serves as a Part Time Flight Medic that has been with MedForce since 2006.
Andy is a Captain with the Muscatine Fire Department, Andy and his wife Heidi have three children; Bailey, Cameron and Morgan. He is an avid golfer and loves the Iowa Hawkeyes.
He currently holds the following certifications: NREMT-P, CCP, PALS, NRP, PHTLS, EMS-Instructor, CPR, FF1, FF2, Haz-Mat Tech, Confined Space Tech, Arson Investigator, Fire Instructor and Vehicle Rescue Tech 2. He says, “What I enjoy about working at MedForce is being a part of a team of providers devoted to providing Critical Care to the extremely sick and injured and hopefully making a difference in those people’s lives.”
Contact Information asummitt@medforceair.com
Randy currently serves as a MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since 2004. Additionally, Randy serves as EMS Chief of the Eureka-Goodfield Fire Protection District and has over 40 years of EMS experience. He says, “I enjoy working with MedForce because I get to work with a team that feels like a close knit family. I am privileged to care for the patients and communities we serve.”
Contact Information rawolfe@medforceair.com
Lari Jo, currently serves as a MedForce Flight Medic and has been with our team since 2005.
Contact Information lsmith@medforceair.com
Vicki,currently serves as a MedForce Flight Medic and has been with our team since 2005
Contact Information vgallaher@medforceair.com
Gary currently serves as a MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since 2012. Gary’s favorite part about working for MedForce is giving the highest level of care to the ill and injured.
Contact Information gsoderstrom@medforceair.com
Michael currently serves as a MedForce Flight Paramedic. He currently holds the following certifications: CCP and NR-P. He says, “I enjoy working at Medforce as a flight paramedic being able to serve and give back to our hometown community.”
Contact Information mstefko@medforceair.com
Tim currently serves as a MedForce Flight Medic and has been with our team since 2014. He currently holds the following certifications: Iowa, Illinois, and National Paramedic License, BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, PHTLC and CCP. He says, “I enjoy working for Medforce because the diversity of the work I do ensures that no day is like any other. I enjoy my co-workers and work environment. I enjoy that my job challenges me every day in different ways.”
Contact Information tmcalister@medforceair.com
Andy currently serves as a MedForce Flight Medic and has been with our team since 2004.
Contact Information amorrow@medforceair.com
Mike currently serves as a MedForce Flight Paramedic and has been part of our team since 2018. Additionally, Mike serves as EMS Supervisor for MEDIC EMS.