Speakers
Keynote Speaker: Janie Ford
Please join me in welcoming Janie Kofford Ford, RN, CFRN, MS, MSN, AGACNP-BC.
Janie Ford has dedicated more than four decades to caring for patients in some of the most critical moments of their lives. After growing up in Southern California, Janie moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she completed her nursing education and earned a bachelor’s degree in health science education. She later returned to Southern California, where her work in emergency care and launched an extraordinary 41-year career as a flight nurse.
Janie has served with air medical programs in both Southern California and Utah and has been part of the University of Utah AirMed team for nearly two decades. During her career, she has held leadership roles including clinical educator and chief flight nurse, teaching and mentoring flight nurses and paramedics for more than 30 years. She has served as a flight nurse with University of Utah AirMed and as a hospitalist nurse practitioner caring for orthopedic patients at TOSH.
Janie is also an expert witness in air medical transport and a contributing columnist for the Air Medical Journal. Throughout her career, she has championed compassionate care, emphasizing that compassion is not a weakness, but one of the greatest strengths a healthcare professional can offer.
Outside of healthcare, Janie enjoys American history, the outdoors, classic rock, sports, and spending time with her husband, Don, their four children, and fourteen grandchildren. She is also devoted to her therapy horse, a spirited Tennessee Walker who works with traumatized youth.
Janie Ford has dedicated more than four decades to caring for patients in some of the most critical moments of their lives. After growing up in Southern California, Janie moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where she completed her nursing education and earned a bachelor’s degree in health science education. She later returned to Southern California, where her work in emergency care and launched an extraordinary 41-year career as a flight nurse.
Janie has served with air medical programs in both Southern California and Utah and has been part of the University of Utah AirMed team for nearly two decades. During her career, she has held leadership roles including clinical educator and chief flight nurse, teaching and mentoring flight nurses and paramedics for more than 30 years. She has served as a flight nurse with University of Utah AirMed and as a hospitalist nurse practitioner caring for orthopedic patients at TOSH.
Janie is also an expert witness in air medical transport and a contributing columnist for the Air Medical Journal. Throughout her career, she has championed compassionate care, emphasizing that compassion is not a weakness, but one of the greatest strengths a healthcare professional can offer.
Outside of healthcare, Janie enjoys American history, the outdoors, classic rock, sports, and spending time with her husband, Don, their four children, and fourteen grandchildren. She is also devoted to her therapy horse, a spirited Tennessee Walker who works with traumatized youth.
End Note Speaker: Amy Usevitch
Amy Usevitch grew up in Aloha, Oregon and chose to attend Brigham Young University to pursue two dreams: become a nurse and play collegiate volleyball. While balancing two difficult schedules, Amy worked closely with advisors, professors and coaches to become one of the most accomplished student-athletes in BYU sports history. A three time All-American, Amy helped lead the Cougars to four consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, including BYU’s first-ever national championship match appearance in 2014. Amy received the 2014 NCAA Elite 89 Award and was also named the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year her final season. In 2018, she was recognized as an NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 honoree and in 2026 Amy was inducted into the BYU Hall of Fame.
Amy’s nursing career began in a skilled nursing facility and progressed to five years in a Medical ICU in Houston, Texas. Amy worked on the front lines during the height of the COVID pandemic and witnessed first-hand the struggles and triumphs of so many. In 2023, her unit received a Daisy award for exceptional patient care despite grueling circumstances. Amy is married to her husband Matthew and is now a stay-at-home mom to four beautiful children aged 7 to 5 months. She loves to play volleyball and adventure whenever she can.
Amy’s nursing career began in a skilled nursing facility and progressed to five years in a Medical ICU in Houston, Texas. Amy worked on the front lines during the height of the COVID pandemic and witnessed first-hand the struggles and triumphs of so many. In 2023, her unit received a Daisy award for exceptional patient care despite grueling circumstances. Amy is married to her husband Matthew and is now a stay-at-home mom to four beautiful children aged 7 to 5 months. She loves to play volleyball and adventure whenever she can.