Team Members

Trailblazer, Educator, Leader, and Friend

Eric (Hammer) is the Founder and Chairman of TEAM5.

Based on his vast military and international experience, Eric had a vision in 2010 to build a foundation without political or religious affiliation. A foundation that would do the right thing without any strings attached. To that end, he created Team 5. It is now considered the most extreme medical foundation in existence. Today, Team 5 takes great pride in bringing critically-needed medical relief to remote locations and indigenous populations around the world. The foundation’s motto, “To be involved, you must first show up” embodies the Team’s commitment to brave extraordinary situations to provide medical care to vulnerable populations worldwide. In a testament to the value of Team-5’s outstanding work, the World Health Organization has officially recognized the Team 5 Foundation in support of international healthcare efforts led by the organization including the response to the earthquake at San Marcos, and the Volcano De Fuego eruption.

Before establishing Team-5, Eric had a career in Law Enforcement, UN Peacekeeping, and two militaries (United States and Israel), that spanned more than three decades. His career personifies his desire to serve others. Eric specializes in Airborne Combat Search and Rescue, Escape and Evasion, and covert operations. Eric held a Command Staff position while directing the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). He has been decorated several times for bravery, participation in combat, and search & rescue. He has received the US Secretary of Defenses Above and Beyond and Patriot Award. He is an alumnus of the University of Exeter Medical School, UK with merit, in Extreme Medicine and Humanitarian Relief, and recently received his appointment as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, Nevada for Expedition and Wilderness Medicine. Eric has also been published in a peer-reviewed journal on new methods for Combating Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Developing Country.

Eric currently sits on the board of directors for the International Society of Remote Medical Practitioners, is a lecturer at Zagreb University of Medicine, and holds the position of Vice President of Global Health, Humanitarian Aid, and Disaster Relief at the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

Asst. Team Leader / TEMS Instructor

Bryan is a FMF Navy Corpsman Veteran serving and deploying with 2nd Battalion 6th Marines to Marjah, Afganistan in 2010. He has received a Valor Award for care under fire while deployed. Bryan continued his service as a civilian in multiple Emergency Rooms around the country. He found his calling as an Austere Expedition Medic and TCCC instructor. This calling has brought him to various countries some of which have been Kenya, Columbia, and Peru. He plans on continuing to teach and provide medical care with Team 5 around the world!

Medical Director

Chris is an Intensive Care Doctor from the UK, currently working in Sydney, Australia. He has a subspecialty interest in point-of-care ultrasound and has authored the textbook 'Ultrasound for the Generalist - A Guide to Point-of-Care Imaging' with Cambridge University Press. He is currently undertaking research in advanced critical care echocardiography and is heavily involved in teaching and mentoring practitioners in the use of POCUS in non-specialist settings.

He has been volunteering with Team-5 since 2021 and acted as medical director for the missions to Nepal, Guatemala, Colombia, and the upcoming mission to Peru.

Founding Medical Director

Kenna Stephenson, a native Texan, graduated with honors from The University of Texas at Austin, joining the estimated 3% of children orphaned at birth who hold university degrees. At age 5, she declared her desire to become a physician. As a teen she worked in cotton fields, excelled in fast food, and shortly after her 18th birthday, she eagerly became a certified nurse’s aide. She received her last paycheck in that role on the day that she graduated from medical school!

A human artist with an eternal passion for patient care, she thrives on helping others achieve well-being whatever their circumstance. Doctor Kenna has practiced medicine in diverse settings: under tents with the Texas Mission of Mercy, inside a mobile unit traversing East Texas minefields, and on a Paramount Pictures’ set. She received the Doctor of Medicine degree with Research Honors from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and was selected for a medical student clinical research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Her residency at The University of Texas Health Science Center culminated with the Resident’s Resident Award.

She is board certified in Family Medicine, a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians, and a member of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Her career has spanned private practice; community/rural medicine, the creation of a holistic health center for female veterans, employee health, and academic medicine. She has practiced in underserved areas of Texas, Arizona, Southeast Asia, and rural New Zealand. She implemented a protocol for colposcopy in Southern Belize in conjunction with cervical cancer screening and lead the outreach team that first identified parasitic infections in this remote region. Her clinical research encompasses women’s health, preventive medicine, healthy aging, cardiovascular pharmacology, and holistic medicine and has been featured in: Family Practice News, Cardiology News, UK News Digest, Ob/GYNNews, Medscape, and WebMD.

As the health expert, she created and presented programs for live weekly CBS, NBC television affiliates, and local radio. She launched her YouTube channel, Doctor Kenna, in 2021. She currently practices in Yavapai County and teaches medical students at The University of Arizona College of Medicine at Phoenix. She is married to Doctor Douglas Stephenson, and they have three children. Her book, The Gospel of Women’s Health, a practical guide for girls and women in creating health is an Amazon bestseller.

Director of Dentistry

Burjor is currently an NHS dentist in England. He is a faculty member for World Extreme Medicine, RCPS Glasgow and and the contributing author and editor for the dental chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine. He is also honorary clinical professor in Extreme Medicine (University of Exeter) and dental director of Team5 Medical Foundation.

He is a resident expedition dentist for AdventureMedic; founder of Wilderness Expedition Dentistry and past consultant dentist for the British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit. He has many years’ experience in Wilderness Expedition Dentistry, having first become interested in this specialism while running dental camps in India and later when working in Oman. Further experience was gained in the Antarctic, VSO Malawi, Mobile Surgical Services in New Zealand and humanitarian deployments with Team5 Medical Foundation.

Director of Nursing

Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. I became a nurse 20 years ago and have always tried to focus on these main goals. Team 5 allows me the privilege to travel the world and use my skills to better the less fortunate. I am thankful for the opportunity to do this.

Shadow Program Coordinator

Saskia is a young medical doctor from Zagreb, Croatia who joined Team 5 in 2018 in Guatemala as one of five Shadow Program students. Following the next two missions, in Peru in 2019 as a Student Coordinator and as a Medical Doctor in Nepal in 2022, she grew close to the Team. The reconstructive and small surgery she performed within Team 5 only anchored her love for surgery and humanitarian work. Working as a MD in the ambulance for the past 2 years she aspires to become a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Saskia has deployed to Guatemala, Peru, Colombia, and Nepal.

Honorary Director

From a very early age, Dave exhibited a natural curiosity about cultures, travel, adventure, problem solving and the ways various systems worked, which led to a great interest in foreign affairs, humanitarian work and the habit of setting and meeting tough personal and professional challenges. This preparation, coupled with his natural interests and acquired experiences, became the stepping stone for a career of dedicated military service, international relations, system improvements and innovations and an extraordinary commitment to help others.

This commitment to service is exemplified in his stellar military record. Dave has served as Senior Special Forces Medical Sergeant in 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he treated countless combat trauma patients both under fire and in the forward operational base, planned and executed remote clinical operations, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (with Valor) for tactical and medical actions during combat operations in Afghanistan. Additionally, Dave has continued to serve both the local and global community of medical, tactical, military and humanitarian operators through his relationships with U.S. veterans, national and international aide organizations, foreign nationals with whom he worked in combat, and groups in the U.S. who seek advice on managing aid programs in remote locations.

Based on his vast military and international experience, and his continuing commitment to system improvement wherever it is needed, he established Grey Medical Group (https://greymedicalgroup.com/) and The Eight 32 Group (http://www.eight32group.com/) privately held consulting companies which work with individuals across cultures and continents focusing on defense, intelligence and medical industries in a host of countries spanning SW Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central and South America.

Beyond his entrepreneurial efforts, military service and work as a community educator, Schneider continues to seek other ways to meet the needs of underserved populations with little or no access to even standard medical care and education. In 2011 he joined forces with Eric Linder, and Team 5 Medical Foundation, as the Director of Operations, organizing and conducting medical missions to remote locations around the world and providing modern, efficient and advanced healthcare practices to indigenous communities. Under his guidance, Team 5 has undertaken medical missions to Guatemala, Peru, Dominican Republic, St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

In addition to his experience, Schneider holds a B.A. in Modern Foreign Languages and a B.B.A in Finance from James Madison University.

Base Logistics Officer

Dan has been in EMS for over 25 years 21 years as a paramedic, on the Clark County Fire Dept for the last 15 years as a Firefighter/paramedic. Dan has also been on the Nevada Task Force 1 FEMA USAR team for 12 years and currently serves as a Medical Specialist as well as a water and swift water rescue tech and certified boat operator. He is a private pilot with an instrument rating with over 2000 hrs of flight time and enjoys donating flight time to both Angel Flight West as well as PilotsNPaws. He received the Ventura County peace officers assosciation medal of merit, the highest civilian award given by them and the Clark County Fire Dept Meritorious Service Award as well as a Congressional Citation.

Dan love to to fly, camp, scuba dive, just about anything that keeps him outdoors.

Medical Director

Coming soon.

Lead Mechanic of TRU

"Stretch" is the lead mechanic for the Tactical Rescue Unit and has rebuilt this 2016 Toyota Tundra from the ground up. With almost a year of build, this vehicle has been stripped to the frame where a full custom suspension system from Icon was engineered just for this truck.

For a full story on this amazing build that has been featured in several magazines, SEMA, and Toyota, go check out the tab to the TRU build and see what Stretch has accomplished. As all customs build, there is always something to wrench on with this baby.

Board of Directors, Advisor

Dave was born and raised in Paris, TN with a passion for sports and the outdoors from a young age. He graduated the US Air Force Academy in 1989 with a Bachelors Degree in Engineering Mechanics and immediately started pilot training. Dave flew A-10s for a number of years at various locations around the world with multiple deployments to the Middle East along the way.

He commanded at numerous levels and his last assignment was at the Pentagon as the Director of Strategy, Concepts and Wargaming for the USAF. Official bio https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/486232/brigadier-general-david-w-hicks/

Dave retired from the Air Force and now calls Las Vegas home. He is a corporate pilot flying the Bombardier Global 6000 and also consults in both business and military strategy.

Advisor

Jon Wayne Taylor has dedicated his career to public service and leading change in organizations by implementing best business processes, technology and leading innovation.

Currently, Jon consults for large companies and governments on major infrastructure projects. He has been appointed to several key positions at both the state and national level, including Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Energy.

Taylor was previously recruited by the governor of Texas to lead the state's Economic Development and Tourism Department, where he managed over $1B in funds and incentive programs. Taylor was the Director of the groundbreaking Texas Emerging Technology Fund, the State of Texas' largest venture and research investment fund.

Jon will tell you his best work was in the United States Army. Taylor completed multiple deployments as a medic and Combat Advisor, including tours in Afghanistan and the Dominican Republic. He has earned the Combat Medic Badge, Bronze Star and several other commendations. He continues to volunteer as an EMT/Firefighter in his community.

Development Officer

Seth has been a supporter of the TEAM5 ethos since the beginning. His marketing and public relations expertise focused on technical gear and outdoor adventures render him an asset to Team5, ensuring team members and missions get exactly the gear and equipment they need from our invaluable sponsors and donors to achieve successful missions.

Director of Technology

Kevin Krefting has been volunteering for Team 5 Foundation since 2011. In his off-time he provides expertise and guidance in the areas of technology and marketing.

Kevin has spent much of his career influencing technology through project management, quality assurance, software engineering and data analysis. Prior to Smash Park he served as the chief information officer at MākuSafe, a startup in the insurance technology space. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Northern Iowa. Organizations he has also served include Sparx Technology, Mercer, Wells Fargo, Aviva and Fox Sports 1 (SPEED Channel).

Kevin and his wife of 10 years, Lana, have a five year old daughter. They live in Iowa where they remain close to their extended families who reside in the midwest.

Founding Medical Director

Dr Douglas Stephenson currently works in New Zealand with the National Health Service. Doug is an Attending Physician in the Acute & General Medicine department and is the Medical Director, Quality & Patient Safety for the Waikato Health District in New Zealand. He earned his Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians and holds Vocational Registration (Board Certification), Internal Medicine. Doug has almost 30 years of experience as a physician, teacher and world traveler. He and his wife, Dr Kenna Stephenson, volunteered in the US, Belize and Guatemala while still living in the US.

We first met Eric in Belize during a medical mission in March 2010. We had heard there was guy wanting to meet up with us and we knew little else about him. A few hours later, Eric Linder came walking toward us, with the Chief of Police and the local mayor as his personal escort! We have been friends ever since.

We believe that all people deserve medical care - no matter their geographic location or situation. Team 5 goes where the need is with a wonderful spirit and altruistic tenacity.v

Advisor

Board Certified by the American Board of Family Practice

Swedish Family Medicine, Seattle, WA, Family Medicine Residency

University of Colorado School of Medicine, MD

Georgia Institute of Technology, BEE (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering)

After college Dr. Harris worked on commercial satellite programs as a Systems Engineer for Hughes Aircraft Company in California. He was a spacecraft manager for a satellite program for Mexico and also received a Hughes Invention Award for developing a technique to locate satellite jammers (or “pirates”).

He transitioned to Family Medicine and merged his systems approach & analytic skills with the practice of medicine & caring for people.

Work experience as a physician (see CV) covers the broad areas of a traditional Family Practice Clinic, Urgent Care, and Emergency Room settings, primarily in the Seattle area.

Additional venues include: Indian Health Service on an Apache Reservation, clinics on remote atolls in the South Pacific, and as a ship’s doctor in the Arctic, Antarctic, and South Pacific. He has also served as a Major in the U.S. Army at Combat Support Hospitals in the U.S. and overseas.

Dr. Harris has civilian medical experience in Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, gaining the unique viewpoints of these foreign healthcare systems and medical practice.

“I enjoy working with an organization that allows the traditional aspects of a physician – patient relationship while incorporating leading edge technology and practice models to deliver the highest quality care.”

Other interests include scuba diving, travel, and improving his Spanish.

Support: Information Technology, Security Infrastructure

Jp Cleary currently works as the Information Technology director for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, leading his infrastructure and development teams securely into the AWS and Azure clouds.

Jp finished high school in Lima, Ohio and joined the Marine Corps at 18. His MOS during his five years stint was cryogenics, in support of the second Marine Air Wing FA-18 squadrons of MCAS Beaufort. During Desert Shield he was tasked as a QA resource and shipped to the armed forces storage facilities in Norway to gauge RFI readiness of the staged cryogenic equipment in case the war was a prolonged one and that readied equipment needed to be transported to the desert.

After military life, he used the GI Bill to earn a BA in English Literature at Ohio State University. His plans of teaching English turned into the pursuit of networking and network security in information technology, working his way through general support roles, to security engineer roles, and on to director.

He fell back in love with bicycles at 30 and began competing in individual and team events, including 12 and 24 hour mountain races, 100+ mile road racing events, and a 212 mile race from Seattle to Portland which he completed in 10 hours and 34 minutes of seat time. In his down time, he enjoys playing live music, watching his 10 year old son Maverick shred his Geddy Lee jazz bass in his own live events, and coming home where he lives in Las Vegas and kicking it with his wife Dena and their two dogs.

USMC, Director, Writer & Producer

Allan is the founder of Pipe Hitter Media & Allan R. Smith Productions. Both multi award winning companies that have traveled around the world shooting everything from extreme adventure to working with special operations teams.

Growing up in Hollywood as a child actor gave him his passion for the creative side of life, but his adventure side had him serving six years in the United States Marine Corps, to working as a Firefighter/Paramedic. Today Allan serves on the board of a special operations foundation and works closely within the veteran & First Responder community.

Honorary Advisor

Born in Philadelphia. Swarthmore college, Thomas Jefferson Medical University Medical College and USAF for training.

Cardiology Director Renown Medical Center Reno, NV, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center Las Vegas.

Medical Director several 1970 rock festivals in Wisconsin and medical director air ambulance service in Reno.

Cardiology consultant to FAA currently. Avid pilot, hunter, fisherman, and world traveller.

Partially retired from private practice interventional cardiology.

Dr. Savran has completed medical missions into Guatemala, Ecuador, Hanoi and Saigon.