Herbie initially took a NOLS semester course in 1975 and became an instructor for the school in 1978. Over the next seven years, he worked as an instructor, primarily at NOLS Rocky Mountain and NOLS Alaska. He was an instructor on the successful 1981 Denali Expedition. Herbie became the Medical Advisor for NOLS in 1991 and was elected to the Board of Trustees the following year. He served as Secretary from 1994-1997 and was Vice Chair from 1995 to 1997. He served multiple terms before becoming an ex officio member of the Board as the Medical Advisor in 2011.

In 2024, Herbie was elected Trustee Emeritus. He was also the Medical Advisor for 33 years, 1991-2023, helping to develop and edit the industry-standard NOLS Drug and Field Protocols. He provided consultation and medical management for field health and risk issues and assisted Admissions with medical screening of applicants.

Herbie graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in Eastern philosophy. After an 8-year hiatus, he completed Bryn Mawr’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med program and attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. His internship and residency in Emergency Medicine were at Harbor-UCLA in Los Angeles.

Herbie has worked as an Emergency Physician in Colorado for 33 years and is still working. He was President of Longs Peak Emergency Physicians and Medical Director of the Emergency Department at LUH Trauma Center for 22 years.

Before starting his medical career, Herbie was involved in many pursuits. He was a ‘technical ice consultant’ for a Toyota commercial filmed on icebergs off the Columbia Glacier in Alaska and the sales manager for a radio station in Maine. He was a teacher at a school for dyslexic children, an illustrator for a children’s animated film, and (favorite job!) - a bicycle messenger in New York City. These exploits were the basis for a featured chapter on him in the book, “Latebloomers” published in 1985.

He lives in Lafayette, Colorado, with his wife, Sheila, and continues to mtn bike, cycle, ski, hike, and enjoy life with friends and family. Although he has worn many hats at the school, his proudest is that of a NOLS parent. His son Luke completed a Wind River Mountaineering course, the NOLS Whitewater expedition (with his sister), and was a summit member of the 2011 Denali Expedition. His daughter Lillie also completed a Wind River Rock Climbing course and an NOLS Scandinavia kayaking/wilderness course before taking the NOLS Instructor Course in 2018. Like Dad and true to the NOLS mission, they have all been life-changing experiences.