Faculty & Staff

Chris Cannon
Department Chair, Allied Health Education
EMS Education Program Director
CHRIS Introduction Podcast

• MS, Southwestern College
• BS, Southwestern College
• MICT Instructor/Coordinator
• ACLS-Instructor
• ACLS-Regional Faculty
• BCLS-Instructor
• BCLS-Regional Faculty
• PALS-Instructor
• PEPP-Instructor
• PHTLS-Instructor

Awards:

• Cowley College EMS Division, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions and Dedication, 2005
• N.I.S.O.D. Master Teacher, 2007
• Cowley College Young Achiever Award, 2007

Chris functions as both the Director of EMS Education and as chair of the Allied Health Department. As the Department Chair, he guides and oversees all EMS courses, healthcare-related courses, the MICT program, the Nursing Home Administrator program, Pratt’s LPN/RN program, Certified Medication Aide, Certified Nurse Assistant, Home Health Aide and Restorative Aide classes, EMS leadership degree and certificate, Medical Coding program, and nutrition, medical transcription and medical terminology classes, develops academic policy for the college, develops new college academic programs, evaluates and approves curricular changes at the college, and a host of other duties. He is responsible for guiding and ensuring excellence within the department.

As the Director of EMS education, he is responsible for all aspects of the EMS division. He co-teaches the daytime MICT program and the evening MICT program with Deryk Ruddle. He acts as the academic advisor for all pre-MICT majors and other allied health majors. He is responsible for guiding and ensuring excellence within the division and the continued accreditation of the MICT program.

Chris graduated from Cowley’s first MICT program in 1997 and then worked as a field paramedic and training officer for Butler County EMS. He has been a Cowley adjunct faculty member since 1998 and a full-time MICT instructor since 2005. With many years of EMS experience - including full-time ALS, volunteer fire fighting and BLS first response - he brings an intimate understanding of many different EMS systems to the classroom.

He holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a master of science degree in leadership from Southwestern College.

Chris and his wife Mandy live in Winfield with their daughter Libby. He enjoys participating in 3 gun competitions, reading and internet discussion forums.

• Office: Winfield Center, Upper Level
• Phone: (620) 229-5985
• E-mail:  cannon@cowley.edu

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Jeff M. Fluty
Head Athletic Trainer
Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries, Instructor
Jeff Introduction Podcast

• BS, Southwestern College
• Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)
• Licensed Athletic Trainer in the State of Kansas (LAT)
• Supervisor, health care of Cowley College student athletes
• Coordinator of Associate of Science Degree in Athletic Training (PRE) at Cowley College

Jeff began his professional health care career as a Certified Athletic Trainer in 2002.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern College.  Following his graduation from Southwestern College, Jeff served as a Graduate Assistant/Assistant Athletic Trainer at Missouri State University.  Currently he serves as Cowley College’s Head Athletic Trainer in Arkansas City, Kansas. 

As an enthusiastic ambassador for his profession Jeff states, “ Serving as a Certified Athletic Trainer allows me to be a part of two things I really enjoy on a daily basis, athletics and health care. “  In addition, Jeff maintains his professional credentials through the National Athletic Training Association Board of Certification and The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. 

When not practicing as an Athletic Trainer, Jeff enjoys strength training, golf, serving others, and spending time with his two children Michael (12) and Lauren (11).    

• Office: Main Campus
• Phone: (620) 441-5270
• E-mail:  fluty@cowley.edu

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Loretta Heft
Lead Instructor, Medical Office Programs

Loretta has been an instructor at Cowley College since January of 2008. She received her certification in Medical Coding in 2004 and currently is an independent contractor for medical transcription services.

Loretta says, "I look forward to sharing Cowley's vision of excellence with my students."

Loretta and her husband Jim live in Coldwater, Kansas with their 4 dogs. On weekends she enjoys gardening, NASCAR racing, and hunting or fishing.

• Office:   Off-campus.  Call for appointment times.
• Phone:  620-582-2825      9:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Email:    heftl@cowley.edu

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Bruce Irwin
AIT Coordinator
Bruce Introduction Podcast

• BS, Fort Hays State University
• Adult Health Care Administrator License

Awards

• Cowley College Allied Health Department, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions and Dedication, 2007

Bruce Irwin has been the coordinator of the Administrator-in-Training program for the Adult Health Care Administrator licensure for the State of Kansas since 1996.  

From 1995 through 2000, Bruce was the regional manager for Yoder Management & Associates, a company that specializes in the management of small community and church operated nursing homes.  Since 1995, he started fulfilling interim Administrator positions for Kansas nursing homes – he continues to work in this capacity.

Bruce is a graduate of Fort Hays State University, with a BS degree business.  He has been a licensed Administrator since 1991. 

• Phone: (800) 296-3633 (day or evening)
• E-mail: irwinb@cowley.edu

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Stefani Jones
Coordinator,
Allied Health Support Services

Stefani's primary responsibilities include acting as the Coordinator of Allied Health Support Services and functioning as the Winfield Center Coordinator. She is responsible to the Chair of the Allied Health Education Department for the general operation of activities at the Winfield Center and Allied Health Department faculty.

Contact Information:

• Office: Winfield Center, Room 104
• Phone: (620) 229-5981 or 221-3392
• E-mail: jones@cowley.edu

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Deryk Ruddle
Lead MICT Instructor

• AAS, Cowley College
• MICT Instructor Coordinator
• NREMT-Paramedic
• CCEMTP-Provider
• PHTLS-Provider
• PALS-Provider
• PEPP-Provider
• Newborn Resuscitation-Provider
• ACLS-Provider
• ACLS-Instructor

Awards:

• Cowley College Patrick J. McAtee Award, 2005

Deryk is the MICT instructor for the Cowley 18-month MICT program. Deryk is a graduate of the 2005 Cowley College MICT program where he received the Patrick J. McAtee Award for the class. Prior to becoming a full-time EMS instructor, he worked for Butler County EMS for several years and continues to work part-time for them as a field and tactical medic.

Deryk works with the Director of EMS Education to coordinate and instruct the MICT classes. This includes lectures, coordination of laboratory experiences and assistants, writing/grading homework, quizzes, and tests, coordination of PALS, PHTLS, ACLS, NRP, AMLS and BLS classes for certification, scheduling guest lecturers and outside instruction of WMD, HAZMAT, and vehicle extrication, serving as a clinical coordinator at hospitals, contacting and assigning field internship preceptors, and reporting student progress. Deryk also coordinates and instructs the Cowley tactical EMS courses.

Prior to entering the EMS workforce, he served for 4 years with the Unites States Marine Corps. Deryk and his wife Tracy live in Augusta with their son Logan. Deryk enjoys golf, fishing, snow skiing, and target shooting. He plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in the near future.

• Office: Winfield Center
• Phone: (620) 229-5984
• E-mail:  ruddled@cowley.edu

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Malachi Winters
MICT Instructor

• MICT
• CCEMTP-Provider
• ACLS - Instructor
• BCLS - Instructor
• PALS-Provider
• PEPP-Provider
• PHTLS-Provider

Malachi is the MICT Instructor for the Cowley 12-month MICT program. Malachi has been an MICT since 2000. Prior to becoming a full time MICT Instructor, Malachi worked full time for Sedgwick County EMS since 2001. He served as Lieutenant at Sedgwick County since 2009. Prior to his service at Sedgwick County, Malachi worked as a full time EMT at Butler County EMS for several years.

Malachi works with the Director of EMS Education to coordinate and instruct the MICT classes. This includes lectures, coordination of laboratory experiences and assistance, writing/grading homework, quizzes, and tests, coordination of PALS, PHTLS, ACLS, NRP, AMLS and BLS classes for certification, scheduling guest lecturers and outside instruction of WMD, HAZMAT, and vehicle extrication, serving as a clinical coordinator at hospitals, contacting and assigning field internship preceptors, and reporting student progress.

Malachi lives in Wichita with his wife Andrea and two sons, Hayden and Lucian. He is an avid reader with an affinity towards science and technology subjects. Malachi also enjoys boating, sno-skiing, and camping.

• Office: Winfield Center
• Phone: (620) 229-5986
• E-mail:  wintersm@cowley.edu