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Our Leadership

Executive Board Members

Mary Kate Funari '09
Captain
marykate.funari@villanova.edu

Mary Kate is a senior nursing major from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. This is her fourth year as a member of Villanova EMS and her second term on the Executive Board, previously serving last year as the Training Lieutenant. She currently holds the following certifications: Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician, BLS Instructor, ASHI Instructor, HAZMAT, and Emergency Vehicle Operations. Mary Kate is both a cleared EMT and cleared driver within our organization.

In addition to Villanova EMS, Mary Kate is an EMT with the Radnor Fire Company in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Upon graduation, Mary Kate plans to pursue a career as a neonatal nurse practitioner.

not photo avail

Kristen Parodi '09
Training Lieutenant
kristen.parodi@villanova.edu

Andrew Packer '10
Equipment Lieutenant
andrew.packer@villanova.edu

Andrew is a junior mechanical engineering major from Wayne, Pennsylvania. This is his third year as a member of Villanova EMS and his second term on the Executive Board, previously serving last year as the Scheduling Lieutenant. He currently holds the following certifications: Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician, and EVOC. Andrew is both a cleared EMT and a cleared driver within our organization.

In addition to Villanova EMS, Andrew is an EMT with the Radnor Fire Company in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Andrew's career plans are undecided.

Justin Turner '09
Scheduling Lieutenant
justin.turner@villanova.edu

Gabrielle Jordan '11
Assistant Training Lieutenant
gabrielle.jordan@villanova.edu

Gabrielle is a sophomore biology major from Langhorne, Pennsylvania. This is her second year as a member of Villanova EMS and her first term on the Executive Board. She currently holds the following certifications: Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician, BLS Instructor, EVOC. Gabrielle is a probationary EMT and secondary driver within our organization.

In addition to Villanova EMS, Gabrielle is also an EMT with the Radnor Fire Company of Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Christopher Cahill '11
Treasurer
christopher.cahill@villanova.edu

Christopher is a sophomore mathematics major and pre-med minor from Oreland, Pennsylvania. This is his second year as a member of Villanova EMS and his first term on the Executive Board. He currently holds the following certifications: National Registry and Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician, and EVOC. Chris is a probationary EMT and cleared driver within our organization.

In addition to Villanova EMS, Chris is an EMT with the Radnor Fire Company in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Upon graduation Chris plans to pursue a career that combines mathematics with medicine.

Meredith Capron '11
Secretary
meredith.capron@villanova.edu

Meredith is a sophomore nursing major from Baltimore, Maryland. This is her second year as a member of Villanova EMS and her first term on the Executive Board. She currently holds the following certifications: Maryland and Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician, HAZ-MAT, and EVOC. Meredith is a probationary EMT and secondary driver within our organization.

In addition to Villanova EMS, Meredith is a member of the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company of Phoenix, Maryland.

Meredith plans to pursue a career as an emergency room nurse practitioner.

photo not avail

TBD
Quality Assurance Liaison
@villanova.edu

This position is currently vacant.




Our Advisor

John "Diz" Gillespie, MS, EMT, CFC
Coordinator for Emergency Medical Services
john.gillespie@villanova.edu

John recently took over as the Coordinator for Emergency Medical Services and Advisor to Villanova EMS in August 2008, but John is no stranger to Villanova EMS. He was one of the founding members of Villanova EMS and served as the Operations Specialist since October 2006.

In his new role, John supervises the professional, developmental, and administrative aspects of the organization. Working closely with the elected members of the Executive Board, he manages the operational and discretionary budgets, assists with the development and implementation of programming, and promotes responsible and informed decision-making among Board members. He also serves as the primary liaison to University faculty, staff, and administration.

John graduated from Villanova University's College of Arts & Sciences in 1992, with a B. A. in sociology and a minor in business management. While at Villanova, he gained significant leadership and student life experience through his involvement with the New Student Orientation Program, and the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. John was recognized by Who's Who Among Students for outstanding campus leadership and community achievements.

John is currently employed as the Communication's Coordinator for PennSTAR Flight - the aeromedical service of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also currently serves as the Vice-Chairperson of Radnor Ambulance, a division of the Radnor Fire Company of Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he has been an active firefighter/EMT since graduation. He currently holds the following certifications: Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician, BLS Instructor, ASHI Instructor, PHTLS, FFI, FFII, Rescue Technician, Haz-Mat Technician, Fire Instructor I, and II, and Pennsylvania State Fire Instructor.

John also completed his Master of Science in Public Safety Management at Saint Joseph’s University.