Alex Pollak is a seasoned NYC paramedic with 18 years of 911 experience. He served as a first responder during the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, contributing to recovery and relief efforts. He holds an MBA in Finance and International Business, an MPH in Health Care Management, and is certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

In 2011, Alex identified a critical gap in the market for high-quality on-site event medical services. Inspired by his firsthand experiences during large-scale emergencies and his commitment to improving event safety, he founded ParaDocs Worldwide. Under his leadership, ParaDocs has grown from a small startup to a nationally recognized brand. Today, the company has offices in six states, employs over 1,600 people, and provides trusted medical services at major events nationwide.

Alex’s accomplishments have earned him prestigious accolades, including Crain's 40 Under 40, Forbes Best Startup Employers 2020, and recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, among others.

Dr. Danica Barron joined our team in 2017 as Pacific Region Medical Director and specializes in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals. After graduating from Yale University Medical School, she completed her Emergency Medicine residency at UCSF-Highland Hospital. Dr. Barron is board-certified, a Drug Medical Review Officer, and an Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor. Based in California, she also holds licenses in several other states.

Dr. Barron has worked at over 100 festivals, including Electric Daisy Carnival and Coachella. She holds Diplomas in Mountain Medicine from the University of New Mexico and Air Zermatt in Switzerland. Additionally, she has training in tactical combat care and has served as an expedition physician in the Alps and on K2. Dr. Barron also works with National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions.

Dr. James Salway joined our team as a staff physician in 2019. He is a board-certified Emergency Physician with fellowship training in Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness. Dr. Salway serves as the Senior Director of Emergency Management at NYC Health + Hospitals and practices clinically at Kings County Hospital Center while holding an academic position at Weill Cornell Medical College. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College and completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center.

Dr. Salway’s expertise includes pandemic response, disaster medicine, and mass-gathering medical care. His combination of clinical practice and leadership in emergency management allows him to bring valuable experience to the ParaDocs team, ensuring effective and prepared responses to complex medical challenges in large-scale events.

Leo Vanegas joined ParaDocs in 2013 as an EMT and quickly moved up through the ranks. He gained valuable experience working within the NYC 911 system at a voluntary hospital in central Brooklyn, as a supervisor at an ambulance company, and in the mental health field, supporting autistic children and families through intensive at-home family therapy using the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) model. Leo also worked in finance as a Billing Coordinator, further broadening his skill set.

As Chief Operating Officer, Leo oversees day-to-day operations, including both operational and human resources management. He has developed strong relationships with clients, state, and city agencies, ensuring that ParaDocs consistently delivers exceptional service and patient care. Leo also leads festival pre-planning and operations, playing a crucial role in making every event a success.

Passionate about music, EMS, and teaching, Leo fosters a positive work environment and motivates the team with his favorite saying: "Teamwork makes the dream work!"

Jeffery Day joined our team after retiring from the Orlando Fire Department with over 28 years of experience, including the last 10 years as a field operations District Chief. As an Operations Chief, Jeff also served as the Special Events Coordinator for the Orlando Fire Department, responsible for medical and emergency response planning, staffing, and managing events throughout the city. With a focus on event safety, Jeff has extensive experience overseeing cross-functional teams, implementing preventive measures, and developing emergency plans for events with over 100,000 attendees. He is passionate about coaching teams, providing educational support, and ensuring excellence in event safety.

Jeff is dedicated to risk reduction, prompt emergency response, and safeguarding patrons and staff. His leadership and analytical skills help ensure a well-coordinated approach to all events. Music, fitness, and teamwork inspire Jeff, and he strongly believes in promoting well-being and encouraging others to recognize their value and purpose.

David Barbosa is an experienced leader with a strong background in EMS, technology, and event operations. With over 15 years in the NYC EMS system, David has worked with several local and national EMS agencies, gaining extensive experience in emergency planning, event operations, and special project management, including managing major concerts and festivals. His technology expertise, combined with his EMS knowledge, allows him to bring innovative solutions and a well-rounded perspective to his work.

As Director of Technology at ParaDocs, David leads the development of ParaTrak, an all-in-one platform for event planning, staffing, resource tracking, incident management, and post-event reporting. The system allows us to monitor our medical operations in real-time, ensuring nothing is missed and providing all administrative staff with up-to-date information, reports and notifications. David's expertise in integrating EMS with technology has been key to building this innovative system, enhancing service quality and efficiency.

Jon Saltzman has over 22 years of experience in public service, beginning his EMS career in the NY Capital District area before joining American Medical Response in NYC as an operations supervisor. He transitioned to municipal service in 2008, joining FDNY as a paramedic in Brooklyn. Jon spent two years with the Office of Medical Affairs SmartCPR research initiative, and three years as a senior EMS dispatcher, handling almost 2 million EMS calls annually. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2015 and currently serves as a tour supervisor for FDNY EMS Bureau of Communications Emergency Medical Dispatch.

As Director of Communications for ParaDocs, Jon oversees dispatch operations, MEDCOM, and acts as a joint agency liaison for large-scale events. He is instrumental in ensuring seamless communication during complex event operations, maintaining efficient information flow and coordination. Jon also assists in refining communications protocols and providing training for dispatchers to ensure high standards of service are consistently met.

Bayla is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a master's degree in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. She graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College with a degree in Health and Nutrition Sciences and completed her dietetic internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Bayla gained extensive experience as a clinical dietitian at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, providing medical nutrition therapy to a diverse patient population. She also served as the sports performance dietitian at Stony Brook University Athletics, working with individual athletes and teams to optimize health and performance.

Bayla takes a whole-person approach, integrating physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing into her nutrition counseling. She emphasizes evidence-based, personalized guidance and a mindful eating approach to help clients reach their goals, develop healthier relationships with food, and improve long-term health.

MELISSA MORALES
Scheduling Manager

THOMAS JANOW
Compliance Officer