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.

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.

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.

Richard, widely knows by the nickname, "Gus", has over fourty-eight years experience in clinical, supervisory, teaching, staff and middle management positions in acute care hospitals.

This experience includes forty years as a Respiratory Therapist, twenty years as EMT-I, twenty-three years as a Naval Reserve Hospital Corpsman, twenty-three years in Hyperbaric Medicine, eighteen years’ experience in wound and burn care, and nineteen years as a Registered Nurse.

Experience in hyperbaric medicine has included Technical Director, Program Director, Nurse Manager and Critical Care Educator specific to hyperbaric medicine.

Member and Special Expert for the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 99 Technical Committee, Hyperbaric and Hypobaric Facilities –March 20, 2023 to Present

Currently, Gus teaches hyperbaric medicine across the U.S. and beyond, serves as the Principle for R.B. Gustavson Consultants, LLC, and is studying with Walden University Online, looking forward to earning his Doctor of Public Health.

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.