About our Team
Our team of exceptionally trained emergency responders include 4 levels of providers and over 100 years of experience in total. Rest assured, when you need our care, you will be in good hands.
Meet our team below!
Meet our Leadership
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Director and Critical Care Paramedic
Heather has been with HCEMS since 2009 and had been in EMS since 2008, where she volunteered with Winfield Fire & Rescue. Heather doesn’t like to think of a hometown as she was in a nomadic house when she was young. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Heat
Director and Critical Care Paramedic
Heather has been with HCEMS since 2009 and had been in EMS since 2008, where she volunteered with Winfield Fire & Rescue. Heather doesn’t like to think of a hometown as she was in a nomadic house when she was young. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Heather rose through the ranks at HCEMS by show of patience and achieving a masters degree in business administration.
Dr. Samir Patel, MD
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Medical Director
Dr. Patel has been HCEMS’s medical director since 2024. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his wife and two daughters #girldad! His hobbies include cycling, running, soccer, and ice hockey. He decided to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine after a personal experience involving a family member with an emergency.
Wesley O'Connor
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Wesley O'Connor
Operations Supervisor and Critical Care Paramedic
Wesley has worked at HCEMS since 2008 and been working in EMS since 2004. He volunteers with New London Fire and Rescue. Wesley started his career as an Army medic. In his free time, he enjoys hunting and fishing.
Meet our Emergency Medical Technicians
Jeff Beavers
Aaron Dorothy
Aaron Dorothy
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Jeff has been with HCEMS since 2005 and been working in EMS since 1995. He has volunteered with Mt. Pleasant Fire since 1977. In his free time, he enjoys going to the Ozarks to enjoy his vacation home. Jeff started working in public safety to give back to his community.
Aaron Dorothy
Aaron Dorothy
Aaron Dorothy
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Aaron has worked with HCEMS since 2022 and worked in EMS since 2021. He volunteers with Mount Pleasant Fire & Rescue since 2018. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family and watching their sports. Aaron also enjoys most winter sports, including ice skating, ice hockey, and driving his side-by-side.
Casey Grover
Aaron Dorothy
Layla Fischer
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Casey has been with HCEMS since late 2024 and been in EMS since 2009. When he isn’t volunteering with Oxford Fire and Rescue, he likes to spend time in the great outdoors with his kids. He likes working in EMS because of the spontaneity of calls and situations.
Layla Fischer
Aaron Dorothy
Layla Fischer
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Layla has been with HCEMS since 2025, earning her license in 2023 and has been a first responder since 2020. When Layla isn't working at HCEMS and Jefferson County EMS, she likes to spend time reading, riding horses and being an avid Swiftie. Layla loves working in EMS because she has a passion for helpin
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Layla has been with HCEMS since 2025, earning her license in 2023 and has been a first responder since 2020. When Layla isn't working at HCEMS and Jefferson County EMS, she likes to spend time reading, riding horses and being an avid Swiftie. Layla loves working in EMS because she has a passion for helping others and believes prehospital care is fun and vital to positive patient outcomes.
Kurtis Olson
Craig Shetler
Craig Shetler
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Kurtis has worked at HCEMS since 2023 and been in EMS since 2019. Previously, he has worked at Area Ambulance Service and is currently a volunteer with Ainsworth Fire Department. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family and dog, fishing, camping, and riding his motorcycle.
Craig Shetler
Craig Shetler
Craig Shetler
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Craig has been at HCEMS since 2021 and working in EMS since 2014. He has worked at various services in the area including WCAS and in Jefferson County. When he isn’t working, he likes to spend time hunting/fishing with friends or family.
Sue Komanduri
Craig Shetler
Sue Komanduri
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
Sue has working at HCEMS since 2025 and has worked in EMS since 2022. Sue also works part-time at Anamosa Area Ambulance. When Sue isn’t working, she likes to spend time cooking and baking. Sue is currently pursuing her BS in Medical Sciences with a plan to continue her education and one day be a DO.
Crystal Young
Craig Shetler
Sue Komanduri
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Crystal has been fulltime at HCEMS since 2025 and has been a first responder since 2017. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her kids, camping and hiking. Crystal enjoys working in EMS because she enjoys helping people in her community.
Meet our Paramedics
Dakota Connolly
Samantha Schmeiser
Dakota Connolly
Critical Care Paramedic (CCP)
Dakota has been with HCEMS since 2021 and working in EMS since 2020. He works full time at MEDIC EMS of Scott County. In his free time, he relaxes at home. He has worked in EMS since he was 17, but found that working in a nursing home or hospital wasn't for him; he likes working in EMS significantly more.
Jarod Conrad
Samantha Schmeiser
Dakota Connolly
Critical Care Paramedic (CCP)
Jarod has worked at HCEMS since 2022. He volunteers with Salem Fire and Rescue. In his free time, he hunts, spends time with his family, and plays bass guitar in a local band. He grew up in Wayland. He started EMS when Salem Fire and Rescue asked him to take a basic EMS course. He found that he enjoyed EMS so much that he advanced to being a paramedic!
Cody Dill
Samantha Schmeiser
Samantha Schmeiser
Critical Care Paramedic (CCP)
Cody has worked with HCEMS since 2013 and in EMS since 2012. He has worked in healthcare since he was 16 years old in some capacity. He has volunteered with New London Rescue since 2012. He started working in healthcare because he grew up caring for his mother who suffered from MS. He learned that being kind costs nothing.
Samantha Schmeiser
Samantha Schmeiser
Samantha Schmeiser
Critical Care Paramedic (CCP)
Sam has been with HCEMS since 2024 she has been working in EMS since 2021 and has previously worked at Burlington Fire Department. She currently volunteers with New London Fire. In her free time, she likes to craft and spend time with her daughters.
Michael Swartzendruber
Michael Swartzendruber
Michael Swartzendruber
Paramedic
Mike has been with HCEMS since 2023 and has been in EMS since 2016. He currently volunteers at Wayland Fire Department. In his free time, he likes to work on his house, make ice cream, and woodwork.
Stephen Carrithers
Michael Swartzendruber
Michael Swartzendruber
Paramedic
Stephen has been with HCEMS since 2023 and in EMS since 2020. In his free time, he likes to play video games and hangout at home. He hopes to one day go to PA school.
Sophie Kongable
Michael Swartzendruber
Sophie Kongable
Paramedic
Sophie has been with HCEMS since 2023 and has been a first responder since 2021 with Winfield Fire and Rescue. In her free time, Sophie enjoys cooking, spending time with her dog and remodeling her home. Sophie started working in EMS because of a few community mentors that helped her along her journey, and hopes to have a long
Paramedic
Sophie has been with HCEMS since 2023 and has been a first responder since 2021 with Winfield Fire and Rescue. In her free time, Sophie enjoys cooking, spending time with her dog and remodeling her home. Sophie started working in EMS because of a few community mentors that helped her along her journey, and hopes to have a long lasting and fulfilling career as a first responder with HCEMS.
Eric Benge
Michael Swartzendruber
Sophie Kongable
Paramedic
Eric has been with HCEMS since 2014 and worked in EMS since 2003. He volunteered on MPFD for 12 years. In his free time, he likes to golf, bike, or hangout with his daughter.
Blair Edwards
Blair Edwards
Blair Edwards
Paramedic
Blair has been with HCEMS since 2025. She earned her paramedic certification in 2022 and has worked in EMS since 2019. In her free time, Blair enjoys spending time with family and traveling, noting that Savannah, GA has been her favorite place she has visited. Blair enjoys working in EMS as she is able to help people and be a positive light on our patients' bad days.
Lee Wittler
Blair Edwards
Blair Edwards
Paramedic
Lee has been with HCEMS since 2025. Lee has been a paramedic since 2019 and has been in EMS for 15 years. When Lee isn't working for HCEMS, Superior Ambulance or Lifeguard Ambulance, he enjoys spending time with family and his 2 boys.