Principal Investigator
Dr. Graber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health. After fifteen years working in public health departments in the State of Maine and at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she earned her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is an occupational and environmental epidemiologist whose research is focused on the interactive roles of complex occupational exposures and behavioral risk factors on cancer incidence among first responders and other workers. Her current research examines cancer risk and risk factors among volunteer firefighters with the long-term goal of reducing cancer incidence and mortality among all firefighters. She is the Principal Investigator of the Firefighter Cancer Assessment and Prevention Study (CAPS). She has served on multiple US and international advisory panels about first responder health published over 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented her research team’s work at numerous national and international conferences.

Erika Nesvold joined the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (OVFC) in Odenton, Maryland in 2003 and was trained as a firefighter and EMT-B. While completing high school, college, and a Ph.D. in physics, she continued to respond on fire and EMS calls, became a CPR and EMT instructor, and served as the Assistant EMS Coordinator. Nesvold was promoted to Lieutenant in 2014, and has served on the OVFC’s Board of Directors as Recording Secretary and as Vice President. In 2025, she was elected as President of the OVFC Board of Directors.

Principal Investigator
Samantha Metlitz, MPH, is the study coordinator for the Firefighter Cancer Assessment and Prevention Study (CAPS) at Rutgers School of Public Health. As the CAPS study coordinator, she works with research staff and volunteer firefighters to study cancer risk and prevention among volunteer firefighters. Her background is in occupational safety and health.

Dr. Edwards is a Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health Service Provider. He received his Master’s degree from Tennessee Technological University (2011) and is a Doctoral degree from Trevecca Nazarene University (2016). Derrick’s research focus surrounds the psychological impacts of being an emergency responder. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Tennessee Tech University where he operates the “TTU Responder Health Lab”. Derrick joined the fire service in 2004 and is a licensed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician.

Katherine A. Lubina, M.S., is a Ph.D. candidate in epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Her research focuses on investigating exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and blood lipid levels, including cholesterol, among U.S. volunteer firefighters. She is a member of the CAPS research team and, in addition to her research, leads the development of the CAPS newsletters.

Chief Roy has been a member of the Monmouth Fire Department since 2005 and has served as fire chief for the past twelve years. He has been in the fire service for the past thirty years either serving as a volunteer firefighter, a full-time fire inspector for the Lewiston Fire Department or as a fire investigator for the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. Chief Roy is also self-employed as a private fire investigator for Fire & Explosion Investigations, Inc.

Dr. Maria Koeppel is an Associate Research Scientist at NDRI-USA, where she leads federally funded projects focused on improving the health and wellness of emergency responders. Her research spans topics such as alcohol use among EMS providers, workplace inclusivity in the fire service, and occupational stress impacts on firefighter health, with findings widely published and presented nationally. Alongside her academic role, Maria serves as a part-time firefighter/EMT with the Sugar Creek Fire Department and Pleasant Hill Fire Protection District, responding to medical and fire emergencies. Her dual expertise as a researcher and practitioner bridges science and frontline practice to advance responder safety and wellness.

Deputy Chief/Paramedic
I am a second generation firefighter paramedic and have volunteered in my home town since 1999. I have progressed through the ranks and been blessed with the opportunity to develop the next generation of leaders and improve the fire service on my community. I also have the privilege of being a paid firefighter and serving in a health and safety officer role. Now as the son of a fire service related cancer survivor I have the opportunity to help change how the fire service reduces its cancer risk through programs like this.

Dr. Nicole Henniger is an Associate Professor in the department of Counseling & Psychology at Tennessee Tech University. She holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and has completed large-scale applied behavioral health research with the Naval Health Research Center. Her research focuses on social emotions and motivation in health-related social contexts such as patient-physician interactions, organ donor registration, addiction treatment, and cancer-prevention behaviors in firefighters.

Trenton Loucks is a graduate student working in the Emergency Responder Health Lab at Tennessee Technological University, where his research focuses on the psychological well-being of emergency responders. His primary interests include stress, burnout, loneliness, social support, and hope. He is particularly interested in exploring ways to develop interventions that could enhance resilience and improve mental health outcomes in high-risk occupational settings.

FIRE CHIEF at STRANGER TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL TREASURER AND PEER SUPPORT TEAM LEADER at 10-33 FOUNDATION
With over 35 years of fire service experience, I have started to focus more on the health and well being of firefighters both locally and nationally. It starts with four words, "How are you doing?""