Executive Staff
CEO/FOUNDER
The founder of SOM+C is a special operations medic. He saw a need to improve prehospital medicine and support for his fellow medics and operators.
coo
The coo of SOM+C is a special operations medic. He wants every Special operations medic to have every opportunity and resource needed to succeed and help improve their community both military and civilian.
Executive director
Katie Perez
Katie is an experienced Nonprofit professional. She has worked as executive staff for nonprofits since 2015. Prior to that she studied Nonprofit Management at Northeastern University where she graduated with her Master's of Science in Nonprofit Management. She honorably served just under 10 years in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman before embarking on her career in the Nonprofit sector.
Board of Directors
Doctor Mark Shapiro
Board chairman
Mark Shapiro is a Trauma surgeon currently living in New Hampshire. He graduated from Michigan State University where he played football. He trained in Cincinnati, OH Where he completed his Fellowship in Trauma and surgical critical care. his first job was at UMass and then North carolina where he spent 11 years at Duke University. at duke he stood up a successful MPT program for the Special Forces Medics. he has published numerous manuscripts, book chapters, and research projects as well as training many residents and Fellows. Dr Shapiro brought the MPT program from Duke and continued this program at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, GA where the medics went from largely observers and shadowers to actually participating and performing procedures and became part of the critical decision making process that challenges and highlights the capabilities of the SOF medic. He has worked with Ragged Edge and supported PFC training since its early years. He continues to support medics and surgeons in the military as he is one of 2 surgeons instructing the Ground Surgical teams of the USAF. He is currently working as a trauma surgeon in Boise, ID.
SFC Justin Rapp
Justin Graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a Special Operations Medical Sergeant in 2009. He has completed Three combat tours. Working in the combat medical field has afforded Justin the opportunity to contribute to multiple research papers and Clinical Practice Guidelines: Acute Traumatic Wound Management in the PFC Setting, Analgesia and Sedation Management During PFC, Sepsis Management in PFC, and COVID-19 Austere Management Guide. Justin currently serves as a plank-holder for the DoD’s Prolonged Casualty Care Committee where He is responsible for the development and updating of the DoD’s resuscitation protocols for extended care. He is a proud father to two amazing girls, Carmella and Caraline, and is married to Andrea, who works as an Emergency Department Nurse at the 12th busiest ED in the country, Cape Fear Valley Hospital. He is currently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
HMCS Tyler scarboroug
Tyler has served as a Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman for the last decade of a sixteen year Navy career. Multiple trips to Afghanistan and Iraq have given him a breadth and depth of experience in combat trauma management from TCCC, to construction & management of austere Casualty Collection Points, implementation & management of Remote Damage Control Surgical teams, operational medical planning, as well as command level involvement in medical and operational integration. He continues to work on various projects throughout his career to bring the best training, education, & equipment as far forward into the fight for the Special Operations Medic.
abigail compton
Abigail Compton is mom to three boys and wife to a medically retired MARSOC operator. Enjoying her life in Northern VA where her family recently moved onto a farm. She enjoys hanging out with her growing flock of chickens and looks forward to adding more animals this spring. She is thrilled to be part of the SOM+C team and hopes to bring awareness and support to the needs to the SOF Medic community.
Staff Volunteers
Chairman of Education Ambassadors
William Eisenhart
WILLIAM EISEnHART IS A SPECIAL OPERATIONS MEDIC AND FORMER NAVY EOD WITH OVER 18 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE. HE IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING THE YALE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM. HE HAS A MASTERS DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AS WELL AS NATIONAL REGISTRY PARAMEDIC, TACTICAL PARAMEDIC, AND FLIGHT PARAMEDIC CERTIFIED. WILLIAM IS DEDICATED TO HELPING SOF MEDICS TRANSITIONING INTO THE CIVILIAN SECTOR, ESPECIALLY INTO MEDICAL PROGRAMS. HE CURRENTLY LIVES IN THE DC METRO AREA WITH HiS WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND BEAGLE.
director of communication and marketing
10 year SPECIAL OPERATIONS CIVIL AFFAIRS MEDICAL SERGEANT WITH DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ AND VARIOUS COUNTRIES WITHIN AFRICA. HE IS CURRENTLY PURSUING A BACHELORS IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE WITH A CONCENTRATION IN SCIENCE THROUGH WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY. he IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING FELLOW VETERANS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOF MEDICS AROUND THE WORLD.
director of RESEARCH and education
Ricky ditzel
Ricky Ditzel served in the U.S Army for 8 years with his final 4 being with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) as a SOF Critical Care Flight Paramedic. Ricky graduated from the George Washington University with an Bachelors of Science of Health Science in Leadership for Emergency Action and Disaster Response/Management (LEADR). He is now currently a Columbia University premedical postbaccalaureate student set to graduate in 22'. Ricky engages and promotes evidenced based medical research regarding topics of traumatic coagulopathy and neurotrauma/neuroscience. While serving as the R&E Directror, Ricky also serves as a pre-hospital military advisor for the Center of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM), a SME for the Committee of Surgical Combat Casualty Care, an editor for the JSOM, and a section editor for the Journal of High Threat and Austere Medicine. Ricky enjoys listening to podcasts, running, and watching the Philadelphia Eagles.
director of international relations
Mike Turconi
Mike Turconi, originally from Italy, served as a NATO Special Operations Combat Medic deploying multiple times. He is involved in many international initiatives aimed to enhance the SOF medical community. Mike currently lives in Newfoundland with his wife, working on his degree in
Paramedic studies through University College Cork, Ireland.
fundraising director
mariah rhodes
Mariah is a Sports Massage Therapist who has worked with organizations such as the US Olympic Bobsled Team, US Paralympic Athletes, the Semper Fi Fund, Wounded Warriors, World Class IronMan Triathletes, and multiple CrossFit Games Regional Athletes. Mariah is currently finishing up a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with a focus on Nutrition and Agriculture. Mariah currently lives in Eastern North Carolina with her husband and their three dogs.
rico pesce
Rico served for 7 years in the Army as a SOF Medic for 2d BN, 75th Ranger Regiment. During his tenure as a Ranger Medic, he completed 5 combat deployments to Afghanistan and left as the BAS NCOIC. Rico is on track to graduate Columbia University in 2021 with a B.A. in Computer Science, a minor in Biology, and having completed the premed program. Before joining the staff at SOM+C, he was on the board of two student groups aimed at advancing veterans in the civilian sector, served as a veteran mentor to incoming students, and was a Research Associate at NYU.
treasurer
Robert henegar
Rob is a native New Yorker and former Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Corpsman who separated after 10 years to attend Columbia University. Rob has a passion for finance and aims to foster career paths for those Special Operations veterans who will not be pursuing careers in medicine following their transition from active service. Beginning his next career in banking, he currently resides in New York City.
secretary
lynn pfeffer
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and earned a Bachelors Degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Nebraska - Omaha. Wife to an active duty marine and a mom of 3. Currently works full time from home and always volunteering in one way or another. Enjoys interior design and watching her kids succeed in everything from chess to wrestling or singing on a stage.