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Episode 43 | NAEMT's 2025 Newly Elected Officers. Meet the leaders who will bring their wealth of experience and passion to continue the momentum of NAEMT’s next chapter. In this episode, Macara Trusty shares the origins and successes of the Lighthouse Leadership Program, a cornerstone for developing future EMS leaders. Chris Cebollero emphasizes the importance of professional organizations in driving change and empowering EMS professionals to take charge of their industry. Bruce Evans, as Treasurer, outlines his vision for NAEMT’s financial stewardship and organizational modernization. Finally, Rob Luckritz, President-elect, reflects on his career in EMS and advocacy while discussing his goals for the association’s future.
Episode 42 | Importance of Sustained Advocacy Efforts
Chris Way, NAEMT President-elect, and Kim Krenik, NAEMT Director of Federal Relations, emphasize the narrow legislative window to
secure critical funding and policy support before Congress recesses on Dec. 31. Chris and Kim discuss the importance of sustained advocacy efforts to push essential EMS bills across the finish line. Key priorities, such as the TIP Act and Medicare extenders, face tight deadlines and will need swift, unified action from EMS professionals across the country.
Episode 41 | Mentees, Mentors and the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Program
Listen to Dave Edgar, Rom Duckworth, Tiara Green, and Tony Bixbyas they discuss the critical role of mentorship in EMS leadership development, focusing on the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Program. They delve into the program’s origins, inspired by EMS pioneer Jim Page, and how it provides tailored mentorship to EMS professionals. Our guests reflect on their experiences as both mentors and mentees, emphasizing the value of personal and professional growth while highlighting key program features, such as the Journal Club, and the importance of real-world problem-solving, along with the powerful support system that the mentorship fosters. Tiara and Tony recently completed the program and share how it has shaped their leadership approach and how they are now paying it forward by mentoring others.
Episode 40 | Pan American Trauma Society
The Pan American Trauma Society (PTS) is an organization that connects trauma experts across North, Central, and South America to improve patient outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Paula Ferrada, system and division chief for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Services, Inova Healthcare system, and Juan Cardona, NAEMT’s representative to the PTS, discuss the impactful work of PTS. Dr. Ferrada shares her early experiences in Colombia to becoming a leader in U.S. trauma care and President of PTS, highlighting the evolving practices in trauma management and the shift to prioritizing bleeding control in the "X-ABCs" of trauma care. Juan recounts his work supporting emergency systems throughout Latin America, emphasizing the importance of resourcefulness in prehospital care and the need for proactive, cross-border collaboration in trauma response.
Episode 39 | NAEMT Volunteer Opportunities
In this episode, Dr. Gary Peterson, NAEMT Mid-Atlantic Region Director, and Shannon Watson, Great Plains Region Director, talk about volunteer opportunities within NAEMT. They discuss the importance of getting involved to the diverse roles available, and how volunteering can significantly impact both personal career growth and the broader EMS community. Shannon highlights committee positions in advocacy, education, and membership, encouraging listeners to get involved based on their interests and passions. The episode also features comments from NAEMT volunteers Dr. Gustavo Flores, NAEMT Advocacy and Membership Coordinator in Puerto Rico and member of the NAEMT Advocacy Committee, and Julius Jackson, NAEMT Advocacy and Membership Coordinator in DC and member of the NAEMT EMS Workforce Committee.
Episode 38 | A Case for Whole Blood with Dr. Jon Krohmer. Exsanguination remains the leading cause of preventable deaths among victims of trauma with nearly half of these patients dying in the prehospital setting. Prehospital blood resuscitation is also clinically indicated for selected patients who hemorrhage from medical conditions (e.g. postpartum hemorrhage, abdominal bleeds). Individuals requiring critical care in the field in many locations in the US do not have access to prehospital blood transfusions due to reimbursement policies and scope of practice limitations. In this episode, Dr. Krohmer identifies the issues of whole blood availability, clinical scope of practice and reimbursement and suggests outcomes and solutions. He also talks about the work of the
Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition and its survey of the agencies currently delivering pre-hospital blood administration.
Episode 37 | Meet two of the 2024 National EMS Awards of Excellence Recipients. Hear from Military Medic of the Year Award, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Jonathan Lu, Special Forces Medical Sergeant who served with a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha Team, and Zachary Alvey, full-time EMT with Ute Pass Regional Health Services District, our EMT of the Year. Master Sgt. Lu’s military journey culminated as the Chief Medical Operations NCO and Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor for the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where his leadership and vision ensured the medical operational readiness and holistic well-being of his fellow Green Berets and Special Operations Forces soldiers. EMT Alvey’s journey in EMS is marked not only by professional accomplishments but also by a profound commitment to mentorship and community service. His tireless advocacy and leadership efforts are helping to shape the landscape of emergency medical care and ensure a stable and fruitful career path for future EMS professionals.
North American Rescue sponsors the NAEMT Military Medic of the Year award, and Demers-Braun-Crestline-Medix sponsors the NAEMT EMT of the Year Award.