E. John Wipfler IIIDr. John Wipfler is a board certified attending emergency physician and a Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In medical school he joined the armed forces starting in 1985 and retired at the ran of Major, U.S. Army Medical Corps (Res) after 14 years of service. In 1994 as an academic emergency physician, he obtained training and additional military experience (Panama, multiple military bases) and started volunteering as a tactical physician for several SWAT teams in the Midwest. Gaining valuable experience over the past 25 plus years, he continues to serve as tactical physician and TEMS medical director for three SWAT teams and multiple law enforcement agencies in central Illinois.Since completing his internship in surgery and residency in emergency medicine, he teaches and practices medicine with the Department of Emergency Medicine at OSF Healthcare Saint Francis Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center in Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Wipfler co-founded the first tactical EMS unit in the state of Illinois, the Special Tactical Assistance Trauma Team (STATT) in 1998. He is a sworn LEO, a Sheriff’s Physician who has been involved in tactical operations for more than 220 SWAT callouts. The STATT Tactical EMS unit (five physicians, one nurse, two paramedics) supports three law enforcement tactical teams: Central Illinois Emergency Response Team (CIERT), Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm Services team (ILEAS region 6/7), and the Peoria City Police Department Special Response Team (SRT). He also supports callouts and/or training with the United States Secret Service for regional presidential motorcade escorts, United States Marshals Service (SOG), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). He has flown SOG helicopter missions with the United States Marshals Service Special Operations Group during high-risk prisoner transport.As a certified firearms instructor who is also qualified expert in pistol, small-bore rifle, and high-power rifle marksmanship, Dr. Wipfler routinely teaches firearms safety classes integrated with tactical medicine principles. He is certified by the Illinois State Police, and along with his wife they have taught over 10 concealed carry courses. He has completed multiple military and civilian tactical/ medical courses, including the Chapman Academy (Basic and Advanced Pistol, Tactical Rifle), Combat Casualty Care Course, Counter Narcotics & Terrorism Operational Medical Support (CONTOMS), Radiation Emergency Assistance Center /Training Site (REAC/TS) radioactive injury management course, Heckler & Koch Basic and Advanced Tactical EMS courses, United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Disease (USAMRIID) Chemical and Biological Warfare School, Insights Training, and Strike Tactical Solutions close quarters combat courses.Dr. Wipfler was instrumental in starting and served as medical director of the Region 2 RMERT disaster response team in central Illinois, and has deployed on multiple real-world disasters including several large tornado strikes with mass casualties. Dr. Wipfler served with 12 others on the founding executive council for the sole state-wide disaster response agency in Illinois, the Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team (IMERT). He served for 5 years as medical director of Life Flight, and has served as a flight physician for hundreds of air medical rescues and transfers.He has coauthored textbooks on emergency medicine and firearms safety, written chapters for textbooks-including the tactical medicine chapter in the International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) text-as well as multiple tactical medicine and research papers. Dr.' Wipfler lectures internationally (Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, others) and teaches tactical medicine, disaster preparedness, bioterrorism/WMD response, and advanced emergency ultrasound at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.In 1999, Dr. Wipfler developed one of the first emergency medicine residency program tactical medicine elective rotations in the world.' This is a two week training session that over 90 percent of the EM residents at UICOMP / OSF St. Francis Residency Program complete during their three year training program.' Many have graduated and moved on to new communities where they now serve as tactical physicians throughout the USA.As the co-chair of the Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA) tactical EMS committee, he has been involved in expanding TEMS in the Midwest and instructing Tactical EMS with the Chief Jeff Chudwin and the ITOA and other law agencies, and has co-chaired the annual ITOA Tactical Medicine Conference for 6 years. He gained valuable experience by teaching with Dr. Heiskell at the International School of Tactical Medicine in California for many years.In 2005 Dr. Wipfler was asked by officials with the Department of Homeland Security to serve with an 18-agency member tactical medicine coalition in California, representing the Illinois Department of Public Health Tactical Medicine Committee. This California committee worked with the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training and California EMS Authority (EMSA) to create the State of California Tactical Medicine Operational Program and Standardized Training Recommendations, approved in March 2010.He continues to engage in firearm competition, and 3-gun matches, advanced pistol courses, and other training helps keep his skills sharp.' Dr. Wipfler recently competed in the 2018 US National Patrol Rifle Competition in Novi, Michigan (LE only), where he scored in the top 9 shooters of over 100 law enforcement officers.' For hobbies, he enjoys scuba diving, fishing, and continues to engage in mountaineering with friends and family, having summited the Matterhorn, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, Mount Baker, Long’s Peak, Hallet’s Peak, and others. He and his wife are Blessed and very proud of their six children and many travels and family adventures they have shared together. 'When he initiated one of the first tactical medicine teams in the Midwest, he began teaching EM residents about tactical medicine.' At that time, in 1999, there was no formal textbook of tactical medicine, and so he was honored to serve as the lead author and join with three trusted friends (Chief Jim Smith, Dr. Heiskell, and Dr. Campbell) to assemble a textbook that gathered the input and expertise of over 120 seasoned professionals in prehospital and tactical medicine, fire, law enforcement, disaster response, military operations, and other talented individuals. Many members of the ACEP Section of Tactical Medicine were able to provide valuable expert input. The resulting textbook, published by Jones and Bartlett Learning, was endorsed by ACEP, and is now used to help educate students internationally. This new second edition was enhanced even further by additional expert reviewers and with updated information. Dr. Wipfler considers it a true honor and a privilege to medically support the brave men and women in blue and camo uniforms. Read More Read Less