Bios

Dr. Kat Ogle - Medical Director



Dr. Ogle is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at George Washington University. She is a former RN and first-generation college graduate and physician. She is engaged in medical education and professional development from the undergraduate to faculty level. Her roles include Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Director, Executive Chair of the Clinical Competency Committee for the residency, leading the Medical Education and Leadership Scholarly Concentration as well as Clinician as a Medical Educator course. Dr. Ogle serves on local, regional, and national organizations including the GW Antiracism Coalition Steering Committee, SAEM Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine and the Society of Clinical Ultrasound Fellowships, is a reviewer for several academic journals, is an award-winning educator and her professional interests include medical education, point-of-care ultrasound, mentorship, diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership, and promotion. She balances her academic and professional responsibilities with her role as a mother.

Alexander Cullen - Director of Innovative Practice



Alex is an experienced leader in healthcare with over 20 years of experience in emergency medicine, management and telehealth. He oversees multiple Innovative Practice Programs to include: The Worldwide Emergency Communication Center, GW Maritime Medical Access, GW Repatriation Services, GW Training Center, On-Site Concierge Medicine, and GW Operational Medicine. He has a BA in Emergency Management, is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and Certified Flight & Critical Care Paramedic. In addition to his duties with the Department of Emergency Medicine, Alex enjoys sailing, snow sports, scuba diving, and traveling off the beaten path.

Austin Sutton - Training Center Manager

Austin Sutton, AAS, NRP is the Training Center Manager for the GW Medical Faculty Associates. Austin had his introduction to emergency medicine as a lifeguard prior to entering Emergency Medical Services in 2008. During his time in EMS, he served as an EMT, a paramedic, a field training officer, as well as many operations management and clinical management roles. Austin has experience at multiple EMS and Fire agencies throughout the east coast, including public and private services. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to the furthering of EMS care through education. His focus in EMS education stems in the need for providers to be well educated on what to do, but also ensuring they can effectively complete the job tasks needed for the wholistic care of patients. Austin also currently practices paramedicine at a volunteer organization. Outside of work, Austin enjoys time with his family, spending time exploring outdoors, motorcycling, and golfing. 

Gretchen Wills - Training Center Instructor

Gretchen began her love of patient care as a volunteer Candy Striper during her last two years of high school. While an undergraduate student at The College of William and Mary, Gretchen completed First Aid training and did some volunteer work with James City County Fire and Rescue. After graduating with honors with a degree in Biology, Gretchen joined Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad in Northern Virginia and became a volunteer EMT in 1997. She continued to serve her community as a field preceptor and volunteer EMS provider for 20 years. Gretchen worked full time as an Editorial Assistant while attending evening classes at The George Washington University to become an Intermediate, and then a Nationally Registered Paramedic in 1999. She became an AHA Instructor and EMS Educator in the spring of 2002 and was a Paramedic Program Director from 2009 to 2016. Gretchen has taught AHA courses at Northern Virginia Community College and was an Adjunct Professor for EMS Programs at Lord Fairfax Community College. Gretchen joined the GWDEMTC team in March of 2016, first as an independent contractor, and then as a Training Center Instructor and fulltime team member. She was given the role of EMS Program Coordinator in the summer of 2022. When Gretchen isn’t teaching AHA courses and EMS classes, she enjoys singing, hiking, boating, and spending time with her husband, her four children, and her menagerie of pets. 

Steven Wilson - Training Center Instructor



Steve started his medical career in 1999 as a whitewater raft guide and WEMT. Since then, he has worked as a contractor, Department of Defense employee, and associate professor of Health Sciences. He has a love for research and development, working on numerous projects throughout the years for wilderness medicine, including a publication on envenomation of Black Widow spider bites, PRP injections for knee OA, and will be working with IBSC to develop new exam questions for Wilderness Paramedic - Certification. Steve is in the process of finishing his Ph.D. in Education with a special concentration in curriculum development, in hopes to continue research in the wilderness medical community.

Dr. Neal Sikka - Medical Director



Dr. Neal Sikka is an Attending Physician and Associate Professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences who specializes in Emergency Medicine and Telemedicine Medicine. Dr. Sikka is the Co-Chief of the Innovative Practice division at the Department of Emergency  Medicine.  After completing his medical doctorate at Washington University in St. Louis in 1999, Dr. Sikka came to work clinically in the Emergency Department at the George Washington University Hospital.  He is the acting medical director for the GW Lifesavers AED Program, and is an avid proponent of early recognition and intervention of sudden cardiac arrest.

George Hunkele - Innovative Practice Financial Manager/ GW Lifesavers



George graduated from Williams College in 2017 with a degree in Mathematics and a Pre-Medicine track. George was also a student-athlete, and served as an Assistant Captain on the hockey team his senior year. After graduation, George taught Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Statistics at Avon Old Farms School, a college preparatory school in Avon, CT. He also served as a dorm parent, and coached football, hockey, and lacrosse. George completed the 2020 Summer EMT course at the GWDEMTC, and began working as the Training Center Program Administrator in September of 2020. He now serves as the Training Center Program Administrator and GW Lifesavers AED Program Administrator, while also instructing BLS, Heartsaver, and EMT classes. George is beginning the Professional MBA program at GWU, where he will pursue his degree while continuing to work at the GWDEMTC. When not in the office, or in class, George works to expand his startup, a virtual hockey consulting business.