Dr. Vicki Mazzorana is an accomplished emergency medicine physician, governance leader, and disaster-response expert whose career spans more than three decades across clinical medicine, regulatory oversight, emergency preparedness, and organizational leadership. She brings a rare combination of frontline medical experience and systems-level strategy, grounded in ethical judgment, risk management, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for making decisive, principled, and compassionate choices in environments where lives, resources, and public trust are on the line.
Raised in the discipline of emergency medicine, Dr. Mazzorana built her early career on rapid-fire clinical decision-making, trauma response, and the ability to orchestrate teams under intense pressure. After completing her medical degree at Rush Medical College and residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, she went on to serve in emergency departments across the United States, delivering care in diverse and often underserved communities. Her medical practice has taken her from major academic medical centers like Stanford University to rural hospitals and Indian Health Service facilities, shaping a perspective that is both clinically rigorous and deeply human-centered.
As her career advanced, Dr. Mazzorana expanded her impact beyond the clinical setting and into organizational governance. She was appointed by Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo to the Cannabis Compliance Board, where she provides medical and regulatory insight on public health policies, risk mitigation, and industry oversight. In this role, she advises on complex regulatory issues within a rapidly evolving sector, ensuring decisions reflect medical integrity, ethical guardrails, and public accountability. Her ability to blend clinical knowledge with business acumen is reinforced by her MBA from Louisiana State University, where she earned membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, recognizing her academic distinction and strategic leadership capabilities.
In addition to her regulatory leadership, Dr. Mazzorana has served for nearly two decades as a ringside physician for the Nevada and California State Athletic Commissions. Her work in professional combat sports—including UFC, boxing, MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and emerging formats—centers on athlete safety and real-time medical intervention. Operating at the intersection of sports medicine, regulation, and ethics, she is trusted for her sound judgment, composure, and ability to make high-impact decisions during nationally televised events with significant operational and medical risk.
Beyond domestic clinical and regulatory environments, Dr. Mazzorana has an extensive history in wilderness and disaster medicine. As a Medical Team Manager for both Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Nevada and the federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), she has led interagency teams through complex emergency preparedness initiatives and national disaster responses.
Dr. Mazzorana’s academic contributions are equally significant. She has served as a clinical professor and educator for institutions including Stanford University, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Touro University, and Midwestern University. Over the years, she has trained countless medical students, residents, paramedics, and emergency professionals in subjects ranging from emergency ultrasonography to advanced airway management and wilderness medicine. Her published research, textbook chapters, and clinical guidelines have advanced the field, particularly in wound management, trauma evaluation, and emergency department procedures.
A prolific instructor and course director, Dr. Mazzorana has developed and led national workshops, international conference sessions, and multi-day medical programs. Her leadership roles include directing major wilderness medicine conferences, developing new curriculum for academic institutions, and delivering hands-on training for physicians in extreme environments. Through these contributions, she has shaped future generations of emergency medicine practitioners while consistently championing excellence in patient care, preparedness, and clinical education.
Her professional achievements are complemented by deep personal passions centered on wildlife conservation, ethical stewardship, and animal welfare. A long-standing advocate for wild cat protection and canine rescue initiatives, Dr. Mazzorana unites her medical knowledge with a broader commitment to preserving life—human and animal alike. She is also an avid fitness enthusiast, boxer, and outdoor adventurer, finding balance and renewal in physical discipline and time spent in nature. Her Great Danes, a constant presence in her life, anchor her belief in compassion, responsibility, and the profound value of animal companionship.
Today, Dr. Mazzorana is sought after for board service by mission-driven organizations that prioritize ethics, safety, accountability, and community impact. She brings a governance perspective shaped by years in high-stakes arenas and a leadership approach rooted in clarity, compassion, and integrity. Her professional journey reflects not only technical mastery but also a moral compass calibrated to service, stewardship, and the unwavering pursuit of meaningful outcomes. Vicki was recently appointed to the NV SPCA Board, reflecting her deep commitment to animal welfare and community service. She is passionate about advocating for animals and is excited to support the organization’s mission to protect and care for vulnerable pets.
Character:
Dr. Mazzorana leads with integrity, grounding every decision in ethical judgment and a deep respect for human life. She consistently demonstrates courage in the face of uncertainty, drawing from decades of work in emergency and disaster environments. Her compassion for people, communities, and animals underscores her commitment to service and responsible leadership.
Knowledge:
She brings unparalleled expertise across emergency medicine, regulatory oversight, wilderness care, and disaster response. Her academic contributions and extensive clinical background reflect a lifetime dedicated to learning, teaching, and advancing medical practice. With an MBA strengthening her strategic and organizational insight, she navigates complex systems with clarity and precision.
Strategic:
Dr. Mazzorana excels at connecting frontline realities with big-picture governance, ensuring decisions are both principled and operationally sound. She anticipates risks before they emerge, applying data-driven reasoning and medical insight to strengthen oversight and policy development. Her leadership style empowers teams to perform effectively in high-pressure, high-consequence settings.
Communication:
Communicating with authenticity, clarity, and purpose, whether educating students, advising regulators, or collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. Her ability to translate complex medical concepts into accessible language builds trust and alignment across diverse audiences. In crisis settings, her voice provides calm direction, ensuring rapid coordination and sound decision-making.
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