HCC Graduates

Abbigail Oswalt began her healthcare career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), gaining valuable experience across a variety of care settings. Her growing interest in wound care led her to pursue specialized training, earning her Wound
and Ostomy Certification.

Driven by a deep interest in hyperbaric medicine, she became a member of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and embarked on an intensive educational journey. Through rigorous research and hands-on experience, she developed expertise in hyperbaric medicine with a particular focus on safety protocols and technical operations. She went on to earn both her Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) and Hyperbaric Certified-Safety (HC-S) credentials.

Abbigail currently serves as the Hyperbaric Safety Director in a hospital-based setting and holds the position of Chair for the System’s Outpatient Wound Care Integration Council. In this role, she has played an integral part in advancing the Council’s initiatives, leveraging her extensive knowledge in wound care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, advanced modalities, reimbursement strategies, and regulatory compliance. She is committed to clinical excellence, patient safety, and the advancement of hyperbaric and wound care medicine.

Cameron Smith earned his degree in Commercial Diving in Seattle, Washington, where he trained as both a chamber operator and dive medic. After graduation, he worked in the Gulf of Mexico as a commercial diver/underwater welder and has since completed numerous dive jobs across the United States.

Since then, he has worked at major hospitals, wound care clinics, and private clinics as a CHS, Safety Director, and Program Director, ensuring safe and effective hyperbaric therapy.

Cameron continues to work as a licensed freelance commercial diver, taking on select projects each year. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from Colorado State University and is currently pursuing his master’s in the same field. He is passionate about advancing hyperbaric safety, education, and patient care.

Daphne began her career in Hyperbaric medicine in 2013 as a certified medical assistant. Driven by a passion for patient safety and clinical excellence, she returned to college and earned her Licensed Practical Nurse credential in 2015. In 2016, she stepped into the role of Hyperbaric Safety Director, where she helped establish a critical care hyperbaric program. Daphne trained multidisciplinary teams-including ICU nurses and respiratory therapists-on the safe setup and operation of monoplace hyperbaric chambers, bringing clarity and confidence to complex clinical environments.

She currently works at PeaceHealth Hyperbaric center in Springfield, Oregon, a 24/7 facility providing both emergency and outpatient hyperbaric treatments, and remains dedicated to advancing safety, education, and high-reliability care in hyperbaric medicine.

David, a retired first responder, began working in HBOT over five years ago. His passion for providing the safest conditions for his patients' healing has inspired him to continue his Hyperbaric education at the highest level.

David is looking forward to sharing his knowledge of hyperbarics and safety with his community. Congratulations!

Mr. Derall Garrett has been certified by the National Board of Diving Hyperbaric Technology as Hyperbaric Technologist since 2000. He is currently serving as the Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Director for the UHMS.

He has over 20 years experience working with both multiplace and monoplace chambers in freestanding clinics and hospital-based centers. Mr. Garrett is a graduate of the College of Oceaneering with a degree as a Commercial Diver with further specialization as a Diver Medic.

Mr. Garrett is factory-trained in both ETC and Perry Chambers. His areas of training include maintenance and repair on monoplace chambers; he has provided maintenance and repair services in the United States and for several companies overseas.

While Vice President of Hyperbaric Services for Innovative Healing Systems from 2006 – 2012, Mr. Garrett helped conduct training programs for technicians and safety directors. He has written policy and procedures for the company, as well as participated in many start up programs for hyperbaric and wound care centers in the United States, India, and Dubai. He was involved in the planning, construction, and finishing stages of getting the facility operational.

Mr. Garrett has also participated in several UHMS Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation surveys as a UHMS accreditation surveyor for both monoplace and multiplace facilities since 2013. He has been a member since 2003 of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Gray Ladd is a retired Navy Diver after 24 years on active duty service. He was stationed all over the nation and performed UWSH, Salvage, Readiness and Training, Combat Swimmer, and Special Warfare with an emphasis on Operational Risk Management, Diving and Hyperbaric Systems, and Mixed Gas diving.

After the military, he studied Fire Science and NFPA code compliance while working as a part-time Firefighter/EMT for a year. During that time he kept his foot in the waters of hyperbarics and diving as he worked part time at Virginia Masons' Center for Hyperbaric Medicine. Gray assumed the full time role as Hyperbaric Engineer and Safety Director of the Rymers System 24 person multiplace chamber at Virginia Mason in the summer of 2022 where he continues to work to this day.

Gray is a Certified Hyperbaric Technologist and an active member in the UHMS and a recently acquired the distinction of Hyperbaric Certified Program Director (HC-PD)

Holly Manchini, BS, RRT, has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist since 2000 and is currently pursuing her MBA, with anticipated completion in January 2026. She transitioned into the field of hyperbaric medicine in 2013, quickly earning her Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (CHT) credential. Shortly thereafter, she assumed the role of Safety Director at a monoplace hyperbaric facility located south of Pittsburgh.

Since 2018, Ms. Manchini has served as a facility surveyor for the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). She is also an active member of the UHMS Accreditation Support Forum team and has contributed to a recent editorial and update project. In addition, she was a presenter at the most recent UHMS Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).
Most recently, she completed the UHMS Safety Director course as both a refresher and a preparatory step toward her next professional goal—achieving the Hyperbaric Certified-Safety (HC-S) certification.

Ho Man is an Advanced Practice Nurse at the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Centre, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong. Since joining the field in 2018, he has played a key role in the establishment and ongoing development of the centre as a member of its commissioning team. The centre is the only regional facility offering a 24/7 hyperbaric service integrated with critical care support.

His clinical expertise is supported by comprehensive international training in Australia, Singapore, and the United States. He is qualified to serve both as a hyperbaric attendant and chamber operator. Ho Man holds multiple professional credentials, including Advanced Hyperbaric Certified Registered Nurse (BNA), Certified Hyperbaric Technologist (NBDHMT), European Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse, and European Certified Hyperbaric Chamber Operator. He is also an active member of the European Baromedical Association and the Hyperbaric Technician and Nurse Association (Australia).

Matthew Burkhart is the Technical Director of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Department at US Wound Care & Hyperbaric Centers, bringing 18 years of experience in the field. He oversees the maintenance and modification of multiplace hyperbaric chambers across three DFW locations: Fort Worth, Arlington, and Lewisville. He is a Certified Hyperbaric Technologist through the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technologies and is also a licensed Emergency Medical Technician.

In addition to his technical responsibilities, Mr. Burkhart serves as Safety Director for the Arlington location, ensuring compliance with NFPA, UHMS, CGA, and ASME-PVHO standards. He develops and implements policies and procedures that guide safety practices across hyperbaric departments and clinics, and he is responsible for training new hires and incoming safety directors within the organization.

Randall Brooker is VP & Director of Hyperbaric Operations Apex Health Network, El Paso, Texas. His almost 20 years of experience, education, and mentoring have shaped Randall into an amazing leader.

Randall is the first graduate to receive the HC-S certification with Distinction. He will continue to teach, lead, and impact the field of Hyperbarics.

R.B. “Gus” Gustavson brings more than 58 years of experience in healthcare, with a diverse clinical background that includes roles as an orthopedic technician, EMT-I, respiratory therapist, and registered nurse. Since 1994, he has specialized in hyperbaric medicine and wound care. His clinical experience also includes three years as a critical care burn nurse.

Mr. Gustavson has delivered numerous presentations at both national and international conferences, including those hosted by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and the Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA). He currently serves as an instructor with Wound Care Education Partners, where he teaches courses in Introduction to Hyperbaric Medicine and Hyperbaric Safety Director training, both online and in person.

As a UHMS Accreditation Surveyor, Mr. Gustavson has evaluated hyperbaric medicine programs across the United States and internationally, including in Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, and Kuwait.

Mr. Gustavson also served 23 years in the United States Navy Reserve, providing medical support to the United States Marine Corps, Naval Coastal Warfare Group One, and Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 34. His military service included participation in Operations Desert Storm, Noble Eagle, and Iraqi Freedom. During Iraqi Freedom, he provided hyperbaric support for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and special warfare units operating out of Kuwait. His military training includes Combat Casualty Care, Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense (CBRD), as well as roles as an instructor and Senior Enlisted Leader. He also completed training with the Marine Corps at the Winter Warfare and Mountain Warfare School.

Within UHMS, Mr. Gustavson is a past president of the Associate Council and has served on the Publications Committee, FDA Liaison Committee, and Accreditation Council. He is also a former member of the UHMS Pacific Chapter Board and continues to contribute to chapter meeting planning. In addition, he serves on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee on Hyperbaric and Hypobaric Facilities.

His academic credentials include an Associate of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Management, and a Master of Public Health (MPH) with honors in epidemiology. He has also completed additional graduate-level coursework in ethics, policy studies, and education.

Mr. Gustavson is currently self-employed as a consultant specializing in hyperbaric medicine education, program implementation, and operational development. He also teaches courses in hyperbaric medicine, hyperbaric safety, and cultural sensitivity in healthcare.

R.B. Gustavson, MPH, RN, CHRNC-A, HC-S, CHT-A, CRT, UHMS-ADS

Bob brings more than two decades of military diving and chamber experience and over 20 years of civilian hyperbaric medicine expertise to his work as a Certified Hyperbaric Technologist and Hyperbaric Safety Officer. A 26-year U.S. Navy veteran, he served as a Navy Diver with responsibilities that included Unlimited Diving Supervisor, Chamber Supervisor, and Chamber Inside Attendant across multiple multiplace chamber operations. His military career also included service as a Navy Instructor and Master Training Specialist, specializing in High Risk and Submarine Escape training.

After retiring from the Navy, Bob transitioned into hospital based hyperbaric medicine, earning his CHT certification in 2004 and serving as Hyperbaric Safety Director for both hospital and freestanding hyperbaric centers. He has taught components of the UHMS approved Hyperbaric Medicine course and continues to train new personnel as a preceptor while providing hyperbaric safety consulting.

Since 2006, Bob has served as a Surveyor for the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Program, conducting surveys for both Monoplace and Multiplace facilities. He is factory trained on Sechrist and Perry chambers in maintenance, repairs, and acrylic inspections for Monoplace systems. Bob holds an AS degree in Medical Office Administration and maintains certifications as a Certified Hyperbaric Technologist and Hyperbaric Certified Safety(HCS). He is an active member of the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society, Divers Alert Network, and the Diving Historical Society.

Robert Van Slyke is a seasoned safety and technical director with over 18 years of experience in hyperbaric and dive medicine. Currently serving as Safety Director at Corewell Health West, he leads safety and technical operations at Michigan’s only 24/7 hyperbaric facility, which holds the prestigious “Accredited with Distinction” title from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS).

Robert is a subject matter expert in NFPA compliance, hyperbaric chamber maintenance, and staff training. He plays a pivotal role in regional hospital site development of both monoplace and multiplace locations, quality improvement initiatives, and clinical trials with previous site involvement in the HOBIT Trial for traumatic brain injury. His leadership extends to committee work through the UHMS with participation in the safety committee and serving as a surveyor for the UHMS accreditation team.

Beyond his clinical and technical expertise, Robert is a certified instructor for STOP THE BLEED®, a former Reserve Deputy with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a retired first responder, and an active volunteer with the Ottawa County Medical Reserve Corps. He holds multiple certifications in hyperbaric medicine, emergency management. and tactical EMS and is a passionate advocate for hands-on safety education and disaster preparedness.

Ryan is passionate about learning and continuing to educate others on hyperbaric safety measures & protocols. Now that he has obtained the new safety designation, he hopes to share his mastery with others in the middle Tennessee area and beyond.