Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of James Aagenes, Robert Carlson, Megan Hartigan, Dr. Mark Lindquist, Jon Linnell, Donald Otte, and Michael Parrish to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Regulatory Board.

Aagenes, of Fosston, is the chief of the Fosston Fire Department. He is also an EMS manager with First Care Medical Services in Fosston, the deputy Polk County medical examiner, an executive board member and treasurer of Greater Northwest EMS, the Northwest Region Representative to the Minnesota Ambulance Association, and an EMT, CPR, and first responder instructor for the northwest region. Aagenes replaces Martin Scheerer as a representative of fire chiefs for a four-year term that expires on January 1, 2007.

Carlson, of Maple Grove, is the principal planning analyst with the Hennepin County Community Health Department EMS Unit and is vice-chairman of the Metro Region EMS Program. Carlson replaces Theresa Gisch, who resigned, as a representative of the Metro Region EMS Program to complete a four-year term that expires on January 5, 2004.

Hartigan, of Monticello, is the operations supervisor, flight nurse and paramedic with Life Link III in St. Cloud. She has been a state and nationally registered paramedic since 1978. Hartigan replaces Steven Nesseth as a representative of paramedics for a four-year term that expires on January 1, 2007.

Lindquist, M.D., of Detroit Lakes, is a full-time ER physician and the EMS medical director in Detroit Lakes, the medical director for the West Central EMS and a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians. Lindquist replaces Dr. Michael Wilcox as a representative of family practice physicians for a four-year term that expires on January 1, 2007.

Linnell, of Warren, is the administrator and CEO of North Valley Health Center and a 29-year EMT. He is chairman of the Greater Northwest EMS, president of the Warren Volunteer Ambulance Service, chairman of the Region I Minnesota Hospital Association and vice-chairman of the North Region Health Alliance. Linnell replaces Betsy Wergin, who resigned, as a representative of a regional EMS program to complete a four-year term that expires on January 2, 2006.

Otte, of Sauk Centre, is a member of the Stearns County Human Services Board and the Central Minnesota EMS Region Board. Otte replaces John Baerg as a representative of a local board of health for a four-year term that expires on January 1, 2007.

Parrish, of Isanti, is the director of operations of North Memorial Medical Transportation with North Memorial Medical Center. He is the alternate director of the Minnesota Ambulance Association and an associate faculty with St. Thomas' mini-MBA in EMS management program. Parrish, whom Governor Pawlenty also designated chairman of the EMS Regulatory Board, replaces John Prondzinski as a representative of Minnesota hospitals for a four-year term that expires on January 1, 2007.

The Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board makes recommendations on improving access, delivery and effectiveness of the state's EMS delivery system and establishes procedures for investigating, hearing and resolving complaints against EMS providers. The board consists of 19 members, including 15 appointed by the Governor.