MEET THE TEAM

Founder, Director, & Instructor

Danielle Heinlein-Ball, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C, FAWM

Danielle was born and raised in Wenatchee. She is a dual certified family and emergency nurse practitioner, earning her doctoral nursing degree from Loyola University New Orleans and emergency certification from Vanderbilt University. She has a passion for wilderness medicine and received her Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine in 2022. When she isn't working in the ER, she spends her time hiking and skiing. She also works as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of Utah teaching Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response and varying courses in the undergraduate nursing program. She has taught WFA and WFR courses in Utah, highlighting her love for teaching and the outdoors. She volunteers her time for the Salt Lake County Medical Reserve Corp with disaster response and shelter medical care. She has also volunteered for several outdoor events, such as skimo races or ultra-marathons. She is an active member of the Wilderness Medical Society and currently serves as a social media content generator. Danielle has presented at national conferences on emergency care and prides herself in her commitment to evidence based practice. 

Co-Founder & Instructor

Jason Ball, NRP

Jason, a native of Texas, developed a passion for both the outdoors and aiding others from a young age, as evidenced by his early attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout. Since then, he attended Texas A&M University and was an active member of the Corp of Cadets for 4 years. He is now a paramedic firefighter with a plethora of emergency experience and skills under his belt. Jason is a certified hazmat technician, ice rescue technician, and is Fire 1 & 2 certified. Medically, he is certified in ACLS, PALS, TECC, ATLS, NRP, and GEMS. He has years of experience in the backcountry with skiing, mountaineering, climbing, and mountain biking. He has a love for water and is an advanced open water diver and has completed swift water rescue training. Jason has experience volunteering for the Salt Lake County Medical Reserve Corp, helping triage patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his off time, he enjoys trekking through the hills searching for chukar or sitting next to a river with a fly rod (alongside his dogs Porter and Fisher). His most recent hobby is HAM radios, with the achievement of an Amateur Radio License.