Senior leadership team

Susan Long, vice president of operations

After working as a paramedic in large and small ambulance services, Susan started her career with Allina Health 22 years ago working as an ambulance manager for our North Metro area. 

Long then moved to Administrative Support Manager/Compliance Liaison, and followed by Clinical and Support Services Director before taking the role of interim co-president of EMS this past April. Susan, now Vice President of Operation is a life-long educator who helped transition local EMS services to AHEMS (New Ulm and ALF), and was instrumental in getting our Community Paramedic program started. Susan is a Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer through the National Academy of Ambulance Compliance.

Charles Lick, MD, medical director

Charles Lick, MD, is responsible for the care delivered by Allina Health Emergency Medical Service's personnel. He sets equipment and training standards and service protocols.

Throughout 20-year career, Lick has worked with community, health care and civic organizations to advance the cause of early defibrillation for sudden cardiac arrest. He founded Allina's Heart Safe Communities program, which was designed to increase the survival rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by placing automated external defibrillators in public places.

Joey L. Duren, MD, chief medical director

Joey L. Duren, MD, assumed the position of Chief Medical Director with Allina Health Emergency Medical Service (AHEMS) in March 2022 and leads a team of three physicians.

Duren has held the position of Medical Director for River Falls area hospital emergency department since 2017, and had been serving as interim AHEMS lead physician. Duren received her medical degree from University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed her residency training in emergency medicine at Regions Hospital. 

Kevin Miller, director of operation and business development

A paramedic for 32 years, Kevin Miller leads Allina Health EMS Operations for all emergent and nonemergent divisions. This encompasses more than 120 communities across Minnesota. This work provides 9-1-1 ambulance services to more than a million people in these communities. Miller oversees 29 leaders and a staff of 500+ paramedic, EMT and support staff. Allina Health EMS has more than doubled in size since he joined the organization in 2008. 

Miller has a rich public safety background, which includes law enforcement, military, municipal and hospital-based EMS systems, volunteer system and atypical EMS response models. His tenure includes EMS leadership positions in both Minnesota and Texas. He is a gubernatorial appointee to the Minnesota Emergency Medical Regulatory Board by Governors Walz, Dayton and Pawlenty. His current board term expires in 2023, and serves as the Board's Vice Chair. Miller completed Bethel University's Organization Leadership program in 2008.

Jeff Czyson, director of EMS workforce

Czyson began his EMS career in 1987 and held multiple positions as both a clinician and educator before entering leadership in 1999. His career has been highlighted by relationship building and collaborative efforts yielding the EMS Incident Response Plan, the Minnesota Department of Health CBRNE guideline for EMS, the creation of the Minnesota School Safety Center and the EMS Multi-Agency Coordination Center to name a few. Czyson is a certified emergency manager in Minnesota and during Hurricane Katrina and Rita commanded a six-week, 48-person EMS deployment to assist the city of New Orleans. He led the creation and implementation of several response plans including an EMS-hospital radiological response plan that received the Governor's Private Partner Award. 

In his current role, Czyson is responsible for onboarding and workforce engagement. Working in public safety can be very difficult, he and his leaders work to help staff cope and build strength. He has a Master’s degree in organizational leadership and serves on several EMS committees and boards at various levels.