Tyson Bryant, DO
A native of Cordell, Oklahoma, Dr. Bryant grew up in rural southwestern Oklahoma, where athletics, academics, family, and the outdoors played an important role in his life. A multisport athlete, he graduated as valedictorian of Cordell High School before attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, graduating cum laude in 2007, while also playing football for the SWOSU Bulldogs from 2004–2007.
Dr. Bryant graduated from the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) in 2012 and completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Oklahoma State University Medical Center (OSUMC) in 2016, serving as Chief Resident during his final year. He has been board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) since 2016.
Today, Dr. Bryant serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at OSUMC, where he is Co-Director of Emergency Ultrasound and Director of Medical Simulation for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He is also an ACLS and PALS instructor and is actively involved in educating and preparing the next generation of emergency physicians.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Bryant enjoys hunting, outdoor sports, and spending time with his family. He has been married for more than 17 years to his high school sweetheart, an OB/GYN who is also a fellow graduate of SWOSU, OSU-CHS, and an OSUMC residency program. Together, they have two sons. Some of his fondest memories have been made on hunting trips and outdoor adventures with family and friends.
Paul Freeman, MD, FAWM, DiDMM, Chief of Emergency Medicine, UNC Blue Ridge
Paul is a published Emergency Medicine physician with a career spanning military medicine, clinical leadership, disaster response, and wilderness medicine. A 2009 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2013 and completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in 2016.
Over more than a decade of military service, Paul has served in a variety of clinical and operational leadership roles, including Chair of Emergency Medicine in South Korea and Battalion Surgeon with the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. He currently serves communities of Valdese and Morganton North Carolina as Chief of Emergency Medicine at UNC Blue Ridge. His experience includes international medicine, disaster response, search and rescue, environmental and exposure medicine, and dive medicine. He continues to pursue advanced training in wilderness and dive medicine, including completion of the Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) and the Diploma in Diving and Marine Medicine (DiDMM).
Paul is most at home outdoors and preferably somewhere beyond reliable cell service. His interests include SCUBA diving, freediving, mountain biking, overlanding, skydiving, camping, hunting, and fly fishing. Closer to home, he is an avid beekeeper, brewer, and beef farmer.
His wife, Ellie, shares his love of the outdoors and beekeeping. A U.S. Army veteran and registered nurse, she has built her own career in emergency medicine. Together, they are happiest outside, exploring new places, working the cows, or tending bees.
Greg “Radar” Gray, DO, FACEP
Dr. Gray, Radar, started his wilderness medicine activities at the age of 14 when he joined an explorer search and rescue team at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. This lead to becoming a student athletic trainer and EMT for OSU’s Athletic Department. He then went to medical college at then OCOMS which became OSU-COM his 3rd year of medical college.
Upon graduating from OSU-COM, he did his internship at OKC Hilcrest Osteopathic Hospital. He went on to do his Emergency Medicine residency at Tulsa Regional Medical Center which is now OSU-Medical Center. During his last year of his residency he joined the Oklahoma – 1, Disaster Medical Assistance Team with the United States Public Health Service and the National Disaster Medical System. He has been deployed to many disasters, including the OKC bombing and the Super Dome after Katrina.
He went on to be an Emergency Department Physician for the St. Francis System in Tulsa, OK for 30 years. He retired 4 years ago upon finding out he had to have open heart surgery. He still teaching Clinical Sciences on Thursdays at OSU.
Radar is an avid outdoorsman. He has hiking Mt Elbert in Colorado and been a Camp Director for the Scouts. He does guest lectures to paramedic programs, respiratory therapist, and various medical groups. He is a lifetime member of the Wilderness Medical Society as well as NASAR. This is his 45 year being involved in Emergency Services.
Amy Gunnells, DO
Amy Gunnells, D.O., is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and currently serves as an attending physician with Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Arkansas, where she also played Division I college softball. She went on to attend Oklahoma State University for medical school, where she met her husband, who is now an Orthopedic Surgeon in Tulsa as well.
Dr. Gunnells completed her Emergency Medicine residency at WellSpan York Hospital, where she had the opportunity to meet and train under Dr. Baumeister and Dr. Bowman. She has also attended the Pennsylvania Wilderness Medicine Conference hosted by Dr. Bowman. Since completing residency three years ago, she has practiced in a rural community hospital in Pennsylvania as well as critical access hospitals across Washington State. These experiences have allowed her to care for diverse and underserved patient populations, practice in resource-limited settings, and navigate the unique challenges of managing difficult transfers.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Gunnells enjoys traveling, exploring new places, spending time with friends and family, working out, hiking, and skiing—although she is currently reconsidering her skiing career after tearing her ACL on only her second time on the slopes. Her most outdoorsy accomplishment to date is hog hunting, which she feels more than qualifies her as an outdoorswoman. When she’s not adventuring outside, she is a self-proclaimed expert in reality TV.
James Bryan Harris, D.O., MBA
Dr. Harris is a board-certified cardiologist and internal medicine physician who brings an impressive combination of clinical medicine, medical education, research, and rural healthcare experience to our faculty.
A proud Oklahoma State University Cowboy through and through, Dr. Harris earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology from OSU before graduating from the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. He later returned to earn his MBA from Oklahoma State University in 2021.
After medical school, Dr. Harris completed a surgical-emphasis internship in Fort Worth before returning to Oklahoma for his Internal Medicine residency and Diagnostic/Invasive Cardiology fellowship at OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. Today, he practices diagnostic and invasive cardiology with Stillwater Medical Center Cardiology Clinic, where he has cared for patients since 2015.
Dr. Harris is also an Assistant Professor of Rural Cardiology at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, helping train third- and fourth-year medical students and internal medicine residents while expanding access to specialty care in rural Oklahoma.
Cardiology is only part of his story. Before becoming a physician, Dr. Harris worked in immunogenetics and molecular research, investigating the genetics of systemic lupus at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. His research experience includes PCR, DNA sequencing, molecular cloning, protein expression, bioinformatics, and DNA-based vaccine research for hepatitis B.
His academic accomplishments include membership in Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor Society, along with multiple awards for academic excellence.
From the research laboratory to the cath lab to the classroom, Dr. Harris has built his career around understanding complex medicine, caring for patients, and teaching the next generation.
Joshua Kessler, DO, FAWM, MAJ USAR
Josh is an Emergency Medicine physician and assistant professor at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. He is actively involved in the University of New Mexico’s International Mountain Medicine Center and serves as a rescue specialist on the Metro Air Services Unit in partnership with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. He also provides medical direction for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, as well as First State National Historical Park. He has worked for the AMSOil amateur and professional snowmobile racing circuit. He completed his residency via the US Army at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA and served as an active-duty Emergency Medicine physician at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with deployments to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Folk Polk, LA with the 101st Airborne, to the Sinai Peninsula on a Damage Control Surgical Team (DCST), on a congressional deployment (CODEL) to Africa and Europe, and as a Brigade Surgeon to Kosovo before joining the civilian workforce. He initially completed his Fellowship in Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) via the Wilderness Medical Society and went on to pursue a formal Austere and Wilderness Medicine fellowship at the University of New Mexico this adding Avalanche Rescue, a Diploma in Mountain Medicine, and Swift Water Rescue to his credentials. His interests include camping, hiking, ice climbing, mountain biking, rafting, and rock climbing. He is incredibly thankful that he’s been invited on as faculty at Tier 1 Wild Med!
John Rollhauser, Wilderness EMT-B
John is a true Swiss Army knife and master problem-solver—the person you want around when something needs to be built, fixed, engineered, powered, connected, improved, or somehow made to work when everyone else has run out of ideas. From preparation to setup, execution, troubleshooting, audiovisual and electrical support, teardown, and the inevitable improvements for next year, John plays an enormous role behind the scenes in making this conference possible.
But his talents extend far beyond engineering and logistics. John has spent the majority of his life serving others as a first responder and rescue professional. A firefighter, EMT, and rescue technician since 1996, he has served communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Maine, most recently with the Kingfield Fire Department. He is a member of Franklin Search and Rescue (FSAR) in Franklin County, Maine, where he has served on the Board of Directors and as a member of the Technical Rope Rescue Team.
John's extensive mountain and rescue experience also includes serving as a professional ski patroller at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Maine and as the former Pro Patrol Director at Liberty Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania. Over the years, he has instructed Outdoor Emergency Care, lift evacuation, off-trail rescue, rope rescue, and climbing, sharing decades of practical knowledge with other rescuers and outdoor professionals.
When he isn't solving problems or helping someone out of one, John is probably headed toward his next adventure. He is an avid rock climber, hiker, backpacker, mountaineer, mountain biker, kayaker, skier, and caver who has taken on countless adventures in all kinds of wilderness—and is almost always ready for another.
Brilliant, capable, humble, and endlessly dependable, John is the kind of person every expedition, rescue team, and wilderness conference hopes to have around. He is an invaluable part of our team, and we are incredibly fortunate and thankful to have him as part of the Tier 1 Wild Med family.
And after all those years spent outdoors, John still believes one of the best sounds in the world is rain falling on his tent at night.
Photo: Hiking the mountains of Pennsylvania with his niece.
Christopher Scott, CISSP, CHS-III, EMT, FAWM(c)
Christopher Scott’s journey in wilderness survival and medicine spans more than 50 years, beginning as a young Boy Scout and developing through a lifetime of adventure, military service, emergency medicine, rescue, and technical expertise.
Christopher’s early years were spent exploring the forests of Germany and the United States, where childhood adventures sparked a lifelong fascination with survival and self-reliance. A survivor of a plane crash in Germany with his father, Christopher developed an early appreciation for preparedness and responding when things go wrong.
As a young member of BSA Explorer Post 1111 EMS, Christopher entered emergency medicine and participated in his first rescue. He later served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, receiving U.S. Army Combat Medic training and gaining firsthand experience providing care in challenging tactical environments.
His professional career has been equally diverse. As a federal investigator, Christopher worked cases ranging from vehicle crashes and theft to violent crimes. He later earned a degree in Management Information Systems and built a career in cybersecurity, investigating hacking, financial crimes, and online exploitation during the early days of the internet.
Yet wilderness medicine and rescue remained constant passions. Christopher joined the mountain safety team at Ski Liberty in 1998 and later became part of the Pennsylvania Wilderness Medicine Conference, working alongside Dr. Eric Bowman for more than 20 years as a staff member and lecturer.
His adventures eventually took him underwater. After earning his Open Water certification, Christopher progressed through Advanced and Rescue Diver training to become a professional Divemaster and IANTD technical Trimix diver. He has logged more than 1,000 dives, including extensive wreck diving.
Christopher later returned to formal EMS education, finishing third in his EMT class and receiving a Leadership Award. Today, he serves with the Jefferson Volunteer Fire/Rescue Department and has additional training in high-angle, swift-water, and ocean rescue.
We’re excited to welcome back Christopher and his extraordinary range of real-world experience to Tier 1 Wild Med 2026!
Onur Yenigun, MD
Dr. Onur M. Yenigun brings a unique combination of military service, frontline medical expertise, and advanced academic training to the tactical training community. A physician specializing in Emergency Medicine, Dr. Yenigun earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and is board certified in Emergency Medicine. He currently practices in high acuity emergency departments, providing critical care and life saving interventions in some of the most demanding clinical environments.
Before pursuing medicine, Dr. Yenigun served as a United States Marine Corps infantryman, where he developed the leadership, resilience, and operational mindset that continue to shape his approach to training and emergency response. His military background, combined with years of experience managing trauma, medical emergencies, and crisis situations, provides a rare perspective on performance under pressure.
As an instructor, Dr. Yenigun specializes in bridging the gap between tactical operations and evidence based medical care. His training focuses on practical, real world application of trauma management, emergency decision making, team coordination, and casualty care in high stress environments. Whether teaching military personnel, law enforcement professionals, first responders, or responsible civilians, he emphasizes skills that improve survivability, effectiveness, and confidence when seconds matter most.
Dr. Yenigun’s mission is to equip students with the knowledge, mindset, and medical capabilities needed to perform decisively in critical situations, drawing from his experiences as both a Marine and an emergency physician on the front lines of modern medicine.
Marko Yurachek
Marko Yurachek is an explorer, adventurer, and wilderness professional whose career spans two centuries of travel through high glaciated peaks, tropical jungles, and
remote environments across the globe. He currently guides custom river trips, rock and alpine climbs, and leads wildlife photo safaris in Alaska and beyond. Marko
specializes in taking people to remote, seldom visited wilderness destinations worldwide.
As an instructor, Marko has taught a wide range of wilderness skills—from primitive and traditional techniques to modern expedition travel. He has delivered wilderness, remote, and austere medicine training through SOLO, universities, and rescue organizations worldwide, and has consulted extensively for the TV and film industry on wilderness and adventure-based projects.
Marko is active in Search and Rescue, serving on multiple SAR teams as both a team leader and technical rescue specialist. He has trained with SAR organizations throughout the Americas and Europe and currently instructs high-angle and technical rescue for the National Park Service.
Marko’s approach to wilderness medicine is shaped by his experience as both rescuer and patient. Having sustained numerous orthopedic and soft-tissue injuries in the
field, he brings a grounded, empathetic understanding of patient care and the realities of remote medical decision-making.
Certifications: NR-EMT, WEMT, WFR, BLS Instructor, AMGA PM, NPS Rescue Technician, NSAR FTL.
