Medic2medic Podcast

Episode 115: Stephen Kavalkovich is the host of a brand new podcast called Rescue The Rescuer. Stephen was a 911 Paramedic who in his career saw and helped those suffering and experiencing tragedy. He was part of a team that went to New York City right after the 9/11 attacks and he tells a story that you won't believe about the trip from New Jersey to New York on that day. Stephen is a person who knows what it is like to be rescued and saved. He is recovering from substance abuse and PTSD. We discuss his story and how he changed his life around and how Rescue The Rescuer Podcast came about. I recommend after listening our podcast you listen to the first two episodes of Stephen's http://rescuetherescuer.com.

Episode 114: Joseph Zalkin joins the podcast this week. Joseph is the retired Deputy Director from Wake County EMS and his career spans close to 40 years. His career includes being a field paramedic, training and education, teaching and numerous leadership roles. Listen how Joseph goes from Georgia to McDowell County North Carolina to Wake County EMS. We discuss the early days of the Wake County EMS System too. Joseph talks about his EMS teaching experience on the Indian Reservation in Western North Carolina and his research projects. Our discussion leads to EMS and what is occurring in the profession today. If you thought retirement was going to slow him down, it is not and he updates us on what projects he is involved with today.

Episode113: The Happy Medic Justin Schorr joins me this week to discuss his blogging and how his podcast called the Crossover Show got started. It is an interesting tale and you will be surprised how he meet his co-host. Justin has over 25 years in the fire service and his entry into EMS is a good listen. He is a Paramedic Captain and works at one of the busiest airports. He started writing his blog in 2008 and were no subject is off limits. We discuss all of this and his thoughts on EMS.

Episode 112: Larry West started his EMS career in 1989 in Ventura, California. Somehow he ended up in North Carolina. Larry tells how he went from Southern California to the South and ended up at Cary Area EMS as a volunteer. Larry spent time as a Paramedic at Six Flags Amusement Park and also became a RN. Larry is a Clinic Manager for Duke University Hospital. Larry was the first person who I met when I arrived for my interview at Cary. Larry and I discuss his beginning days in EMS, how he arrived at Cary Area EMS, why his certification lapsed and why he will be a lifelong volunteer.

Episode 111: Jessie Senini is a clinical research paramedic and recovering art student with more than a decade of EMS experience with private, municipal and federal EMS agencies. Jessie is the creator and artist of the comic strip "White Shirts" on EMS1.com. Jessie traveled across the country to live in Louisiana, a state with no snow, Jessie now draws from her experiences on the truck to bring humor and awareness to life and issues surrounding emergency services. Jessie truly believes that laughter is the best medicine and hopes to continue to treat those around her through comics. Our discussion starts off in Montana and we travel to New Orleans with this starving artist on her adventure into EMS. Jessie shares with us her stories about joining New Orleans EMS and a day that changed her path in the profession. We talk about the effects of stress and burnout had on her. If you have not seen her comic strip, I highly recommend you take a look. She also has a fantastic laugh.

Episode 110: Don Garner is a nationally registered paramedic with over 20 years of pre-hospital and critical care experience. He is currently the Deputy Director of Professional Development for the Wake County EMS System. Assuming the role in 2013, Donald is responsible for all aspects of education and training for the EMS System. Don is a published author, researcher and lecturer on pre-hospital medicine and education topics. He is also an adjunct instructor for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine. Our discussion starts with his early beginnings and interest in helping people, to his days as a volunteer at Garner EMS and coming to work in the Wake County EMS System. We have a great a discussion about the current and future challenges of education in EMS.

Episode 109: Hawnwan Philip Moy MD, AKA Dr. Phil, is an EMS Physician in Washington University Saint Louis. He is the medical director of the Missouri Division of Arch Helicopter EMS Service as well as Co-Medical Director of Christian Hospital EMS. He is the one of the hosts and the editor of NAEMSP's Prehospital Emergency Care Podcast. Dr. Moy explains how he "fell" into podcasting. Dr. Moy had no interest in becoming a physician or emergency medicine at first. Listen to what changed his mind, his great experience as had as a Fellow in Emergency Medicine at University of North Carolina. Dr. Moy has a great appreciation for EMS, Paramedics, EMTs and the Wake County EMS System.

Episode 108 is Alex Pollak. Alex is the President of ParaDocs. ParaDocs is a global event medical providers with over 1,600 medical professionals nationwide including doctors, nurses, paramedics and EMTs. It is designed and implemented mobile emergency triage/treatment tents for large events across the country. Alex's path to creating ParaDocs goes through being a street medic in New York City, obtaining his MBA and his entrepreneurial spirit. As a paramedic, Alex was part of the EMS response to the 9/11 attack and Miracle on the Hudson. We talk about both these incidents, ParaDocs creation and the need for venues to have EMS and medical personnel at their events. Alex also speaks about taking chances and leadership.

Episode 107: Mark Wilcox is the Senior Manager of Security for SAS Institute where he coordinates the enterprise’s physical security and responses to emergencies.This includes oversight of proprietary and contract security teams, company police and a Global Security Operations Center (GSOC). SAS Institute is the world’s largest privately held software company.SAS employs nearly 15,000 people with about 75 offices in over 50 countries. Mark works from the 450-acre corporate headquarters campus in Cary, NC. Mark brings 20 years in public safety and has held numerous positions within the sector. Mark is a fast learner as well as he is very creative as he defined and created numerous firsts during these 20 years. Mark came to Cary Area EMS as a volunteer paramedic and today he is one of the Board of Directors. Our discussion includes making sure that 15,000 employees stay safe, being the first paramedic for an organization and how he ended up at Cary Area EMS.

Episode 106: Brett Schneider is the the host of the podcast Words Off The Street. Brett talks to guests that write, talks with authors, podcasters, writers and bloggers that put the proverbial pen to paper about the world of Police, Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services about what’s going on out in the street. Brett's professional career spans a collection of careers, starting in the Army in the mid-1980s. He has worked as a policeman, a paramedic, a Safety Manager and many other positions. He says he basically didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up.Brett and I talk about his interesting career at New Orleans EMS, the books he has written (he is currently working on his 4th book), the podcast and many other topics.

Episode 105: Chief Robert Farrow is the Chief of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS. Chief Farrow was also my Supervisor when I worked for the City. Chief Farrow is a 41-year veteran with the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Chief Farrow has held the position of Chief since May 2016. Chief Farrow is one of three remaining Bureau of EMS employees who started with Pittsburgh EMS upon its inception back in June 1975 at the age of 19. Chief Farrow has held the rank of Paramedic, Crew Chief, Supervisor/District Chief, Rescue Division Chief and Deputy Chief. The Chief and I discuss his start in EMS in high school, the challenges of being a chief, what it was like in the beginning days of EMS in Pittsburgh and a little bit about how it was to supervisor me.

Episode 104: Chief Dan DeGryse from the Chicago Fire Department joins the podcast this week. Chief DeGryse has 28 years with CFD and holds the rank as Battalion Chief/EMT. What is unique about Chief DeGryse is that he is the Director of the Rosecrance Florian Program. Rosecrance is a leading provider of behavioral health services with nationally recognized addiction treatment programs. Rosecrance is a place for veterans and public safety providers can go to who need help.The Chief shares his start at CFD and his career path. He shares his personal story and how that led him to become the Coordinator of the Chicago Firefighters' Union Local 2 Employee Assistance Program for 14 years. You will hear during our conversation the importance of firefighter and EMS mental health, emotional wellbeing, peer support and sleeping. We have to many of our public safety family committing suicide or not seeking help, Chief DeGryse is here to help, just give him a call.

Episode 103: Josh Stuart from Medical Rescue Team South Authority (MRTSA) joins me this week to discuss his 25 year journey in EMS. His career started when he was in elementary school, when a visit from MRSTA guided him to becoming a Paramedic. As he got a little older, he started by watching the Emergency! and he never looked back. Josh discusses his persistence to get his career started, as he met some resistance from MRTSA who said he was too young to start volunteering. Josh talks about calls that impacted him as well as the call that he encountered that led him to become a leading educator regarding the"Choking Game" and risky teen behaviors. Josh provides the fantastic details on how MRTSA changed his life forever.

Episode 102: How would you feel if you were a patient in a driverless ambulance? How would you feel if you are a provider transporting the patient going lights and sirens? This week on the podcast Dr. Joseph Keebler, Dr. Stephen Rice of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Dr. Scott Winter from Florida Institute of Technology discuss their research study on this interesting topic.The professors discuss the creation, methods and the results of this study. The results may surprise some and intrigue others. We discuss the pros and cons of a driverless ambulance and the future research needed on this subject. Let Medic2Medic Podcast know your thoughts regarding this topic on Facebook, Spreaker, Soundcloud and Podbean or by email at medic2medicpodcast@gmail.com

Episode 101: Faces of EMS is a project that was created by Paul Falavolito, Chief of White Oak EMS in Western Pennsylvania. Paul created a wall of EMS practitioners by taking their portraits and displaying these portraits and Faces of EMS was born. Paul joins me to talk about this project. The project is being launched to celebrate the 43rd Annual National EMS Week that runs from May 21-27, 2017. Faces of EMS is being featured on the cover of EMS World Magazine, NAEMT's website and other areas of EMS as part of the #EMSstrongcampaign.This podcast is dedicated to all those those who are involved in EMS. Medci2Medic Podcast wishes you a happy and safe EMS Week.

Episode 100: City of Pittsburgh EMS Old Timers Podcast. Robert Farrow, Dave Lindell, Mike Yee and Tim Gaughan join me for a free flowing conversation. We talk about their humbling beginnings in EMS and how they became a Pittsburgh Paramedic.They talk about the good and sad times as well as some stories that may never have been told before. This is number 100 of the podcast, the guests had no idea that this would be number 100 (neither did I at the time). I just want to say a big thank you to all of you for the support to reach this milestone. Here is to another 100!

Episode 99: This podcast brings up the old as time tale of: Do we need Red Lights and Sirens in EMS? Doug Wolberg is the guest. Doug has been involved in EMS since 1977. He started as an EMS provider and later worked at the county, regional, statewide and federal levels in his career as an EMS administrator. Doug is an attorney and a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, the nation’s best-known and most respected EMS law firm. Doug is an author of several books and hundreds of articles in the industry’s leading publications and has been a featured presenter at EMS conferences. We discuss this well debated topic, his first encounter with James Page and he answers what is the number 1 liability an EMS agency faces.

Episode 98: Ginger Locke is the creator and host of the podcast Medic Mindset a Paramedic and an Associate Professor of EMS Professions at Austin Community College. Ginger's podcast is cool and unique as she interviews medics face to face in long, intimate format. During the interviews the medics open up about their mindset, routines, mistakes and their thought process. Ginger started a project called #PartnerProject (#partnerproject) that has gone viral just not in the United States, but Internationally. We discuss #partnerproject and how it came about, the podcast, how did the name Medic Mindset was derived and her beginnings in EMS.

Episode 97: Lisa Giruzzi and Rob MacCue are the founders of the EMS Leadership Academy. The Academy creates leadership resources for EMS providers to enhance their organization and develop magnetic thriving organizations that people want to be a part of. The Academy's purpose is to be the source of transformational leadership in Emergency Services. Robbie MacCue has more than 14 years experience in the EMS industry. Currently, he is a flight paramedic NY. For more than 10 years, Robbie has served as President of Sand Lake Ambulance, a non-profit EMS organization in Upstate New York. Lisa Giruzzi is a best-selling author, result-producing consultant and an award-winning trainer with more than twenty-five years’ experience helping individuals and organizations to be more successful and achieve their goals. Our discussion travels their careers, how they met and the creation the EMS Leadership Academy. They both offer great tips for EMS leaders on the issues they face today. Robbie and Lisa are offering Medic2Me

Episode 96: Jerry Overton serves as the Chair of the Board of Accreditation for the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, the organization charged with setting standards, establishing curriculum, and conducting research for public safety dispatch worldwide.Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer, Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA), Richmond, Virginia, for 18 years and had overall responsibility for the internationally acclaimed performance based EMS system. Mr. Overton also served as the Chief Executive of the Kansas City, Missouri, EMS system. As an expert in EMS system design and deployment strategies, he was named one of the 20 most influential leaders in EMS by JEMS magazine. In 2016 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of EMTs and the National Registry of EMTs. We discuss his great EMS history, work in other countries, a few good lessons he learned, his leadership style, Jack Stout and what he is doing now.