AUTHOR BIO
Photo by Anthony Dimaano
Derek O. Hanley is a long-time paramedic and disabled Veteran combat medic, author, published photographer, multi-instrumentalist, noted video producer,
and is the founder of DOHP.
Derek served an active-duty tour in the U.S. Air Force as a paramedic and instructor, assigned to the 59th Medical Wing and stationed in the emergency department of
the USAF level-one trauma center
Wilford Hall Medical Center, where he received several awards and medals for his service.
Following this, Derek worked as a civilian paramedic in New York and served a tour with the Army National Guard as a combat medic and instructor with the 42nd Infantry Division,
also receiving several commendations,
including the Army Achievement medal,
and a nomination for division soldier of the year.
Photo by Anthony Dimaano
After moving to California, he was co-founder of a boutique commercial video production company in Oakland, producing and editing dozens of videos, while working with professional athletes, musicians, and CEOs.
Photo by Anthony Dimaano
Concurrently during this time, Derek became an EMT program director, teaching hundreds how to save lives, before starting his own business.
Photo by Olivia Hanley
He has feature-length film credits for cinematography, photography, and sound for his work on the independent film When the Man Went South, the first film to be shot on the island nation of Tonga completely in the
Tongan native language.
Derek also recorded and co-produced the album
Krooked Change Smeered with NY spoken word genius
The Poet Essence, as well as played guitar, keyboard,
and produced beats for the record.
Currently, Derek is the editor for
A Moment In Time films and Still I Rise films,
both founded by award-winning documentary director
Mimi Chakarova.
His pictures are heavily published in EMS World magazine, garnering the center spread with his photos from the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, and twice his images from the field have been selected for the cover.
In addition to being a Nationally Registered Paramedic, Derek also holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Health Science from UT Health San Antonio, which he graduated cum laude, an Associate of Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Science from Berkeley City College, graduating with High Honors, and is a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Photo by Anthony Dimaano