EMS One-Stop

When systems hesitate, they deploy: The rogue air crews who faced Ebola head-on

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Kevin Hazzard to explore No One’s Coming, a gripping account of the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the extraordinary effort to rescue infected American aid workers from West Africa.
|WATCH NOW: FDNY’s future: AI, BWCs and pay parity with Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore 
What begins as a seemingly impossible mission evolved into a high-stakes, time-critical operation led by Phoenix Air — a team known for taking on the missions no one else will.
Hazzard traces the origins of this unconventional organization, from transporting explosives and nuclear materials, to pioneering aeromedical evacuation of the world’s most dangerous infectious patients.
The conversation moves beyond storytelling into operational reality. With no established protocols, limited knowledge of Ebola and widespread public fear, crews were forced to improvise, adapt and execute under intense pressure.
The episode examines the intersection of EMS readiness, public health hesitation and leadership under uncertainty. At its core, this is a study in preparation, risk tolerance and professional duty — illustrating how a small group of individuals stepped forward when systems hesitated, reinforcing the enduring EMS principle: when the call comes, you answer.
Key quotes from Kevin Hazzard
“This is as scary as it gets.”
“It is the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak in human history.”
“We’ve got to figure out how to transport highly contagious patients — nobody does that.”
“They risked their lives. They risked their families’ lives for strangers.”
“Preparation is the most important thing.”
“We are notoriously short-minded … we’re not long-range thinkers.”
“There are people out there who are willing to step into the breach when needed.”
Episode timeline
00:00 – Opening context: Ebola outbreak severity and mission stakes
01:00 – Introducing Kevin Hazzard, author background
03:30 – Origins and evolution of Phoenix Air
08:00 – High-risk missions (including Libya nuclear extraction)
14:30 – Transition to EMS and infectious disease transport
16:00 – Development of the biocontainment system
20:00 – Ebola mission planning and execution challenges
27:00 – U.S. reception, EMS transport and public reaction
31:00 – Leadership lessons and EMS preparedness gaps
35:00 – Reflections on readiness, resilience and future threats
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‘Hydraulic debriefing:’ Alcohol, stress, and the hidden culture of EMS

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Dr. Maria Koeppel to explore a topic that has long existed in the shadows of EMS culture — alcohol use among providers.
| MORE: First responders and alcohol – how much is too much?
Drawing on NIH and FEMA supported research, Koeppel outlines how EMS clinicians may be engaging in higher-risk drinking behaviors than the general population, with patterns influenced by stress, exposure and workplace culture.
What emerges is not a story of individual weakness, but one of systemic pressure — where both major traumatic incidents and the accumulation of low-acuity, high-frequency calls contribute to a steady burden of stress that many providers attempt to manage off-duty.
The conversation moves beyond statistics into culture, leadership and generational change. Koeppel highlights how traditional “crew bonding” through alcohol — what one participant termed “hydraulic debriefing” — may be giving way to a new, more wellness-focused approach among younger clinicians.
At the same time, gaps in education, policy and peer support remain evident across EMS systems. For leaders, the message is clear: alcohol use is not a fringe issue, but a workforce health, safety and performance issue that requires thoughtful engagement, cultural awareness and proactive support structures.
Key quotes from Maria Koeppel
“Over 50% of firefighters surveyed had binge drank in the last 30 days — about twice the rate of the general population.”
“EMS providers tend to drink a little bit more frequently than the general population — and that’s tied directly to stress.”
“It’s not just the big trauma calls — it’s the micro-stressors that add up over time.”
“A third of clinicians in our sample engaged in high-risk drinking behaviors.”
“Younger clinicians are at higher risk — but that risk declines with age as coping mechanisms develop.”
“Paramedics are at higher risk than EMTs, likely due to increased responsibility and patient exposure.”
“Some described going out after shift as ‘hydraulic debriefing’ — using alcohol to process the day.”
“Gen Z is driving a more sober culture — they’re choosing connection without alcohol.”
“Leadership isn’t just policy — it’s culture, awareness and how you care for your people.”
“Alcohol and coping has to be part of the conversation if we care about workforce health and patient safety.”
Episode timeline
01:06 – Maria’s background: firefighter and researcher
02:24 – Overview of NIH/FEMA research and EMS focus
04:14 – Key findings: stress, frequency of drinking and EMS culture
05:08 – Micro-stressors vs. major trauma calls
06:54 – Risk factors: age, role, education, multiple jobs
10:11 – Culture and “hydraulic debriefing”
11:46 – Fire vs. private EMS cultural differences
14:38 – Generational shift: Gen Z and sober culture
19:24 – Alternative substances and coping trends
21:20 – Leadership roles: policy vs. culture
24:11 – Peer support gaps in EMS
26:41 – Workforce impact: sleep, stress, retention
27:14 – Education gap and need for EMS-specific training
29:11 – Conferences and future research dissemination
30:13 – Episode wrap-up
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FDNY’s future: AI, BWCs and pay parity

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence travels to New York City to sit down with Lillian Bonsignore, the 37th Commissioner of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). A 30-plus year veteran who rose through the ranks of EMS — from EMT in the South Bronx to Chief of EMS and now Commissioner — Bonsignore brings a ground-up understanding of the largest fire-EMS system in the United States.
She reflects on stepping into the role as “walking onto a fast-moving train,” immediately confronted with major incidents, severe weather and system pressures, while simultaneously building her leadership team and setting direction for the future.
| MORE: ‘We have to right the ship’: FDNY commissioner doubles down on EMS pay parity
The conversation explores the unique structure of FDNY, where the Commissioner operates as the executive leader “almost like CEO of the company,” while operational command sits with the Chief of Department.
Bonsignore is clear-eyed about the scale and demands of the system: over 2.2 million runs annually, with 1.6 million EMS-related, reinforcing her long-held position that EMS must be treated as an essential service with appropriate funding and career pathways.
Drawing on her experience leading through the COVID-19 pandemic and responding on Sept. 11, 2001, she emphasizes resilience, communication and presence — being visible in stations, honest with staff and committed to supporting those who “leave their own families behind to go serve a stranger.”
Bonsignore also addresses criticism of her appointment directly and without hesitation, framing it as a misunderstanding of the Commissioner’s role and the realities of modern emergency response. She underscores that FDNY is both fire and EMS, and that her career — spanning 9/11 response, pandemic leadership and decades of frontline service — positions her to lead the entire enterprise.
Looking ahead, she speaks to the need for infrastructure investment, workforce stabilization, mental health support, and the thoughtful adoption of technologies such as AI and body-worn cameras. As FDNY approaches the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the nation’s 250th year, her focus remains clear: support the workforce, strengthen the system, and prepare the department for the next generation of service.
Key quotes from Commissioner Bonsignore
“Walking into a position like this is like walking onto a fast-moving train.”
“I understand the ground level challenges that go on because I lived them.”
“The commissioner is the administrative level, almost like CEO of the company.”
“We’re responding to over 2.2 million runs a year … 1.6 million of those runs are EMS-related runs.”
“We have to stabilize our system … it’s time that EMS is finally treated as an essential service.”
“I will always tell you the truth. You may not like my truth, but I will give it to you.”
“The decision of a first responder is to leave their own families behind … to go serve a stranger.”
“They are literally your heroes … they will put their lives on the line for you.”
Episode timeline
01:10 – First 100 days as Commissioner — “fast-moving train”
02:30 – Career journey and EMS roots shaping leadership
04:30 – Workforce trust, credibility and lived experience
06:30 – Pay parity and EMS as an essential service
09:00 – Structure of FDNY — Commissioner vs. operational command
11:30 – Setting direction and stabilizing the organization
13:30 – Relationship with the Mayor and political leadership
17:30 – Addressing criticism and misconceptions
19:30 – Leading through COVID — scale, innovation, mutual aid
23:30 – Morale, resilience and leadership presence
26:30 – Recruitment and retention challenges
30:30 – AI and future innovation in EMS
32:30 – Behavioral health response and BeHeard program
36:30 – First responder mental health and support systems
38:30 – Violence against EMS and workforce protection
41:00 – Body-worn cameras and transparency
43:30 – 9/11 reflections and legacy
50:30 – Commemoration planning and future outlook
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CAAS accreditation – More than a badge, a blueprint for excellence

This week on EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Sarah McEntee, executive director of the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), to unpack what accreditation really means for modern EMS systems.
Moving beyond the “sticker on the truck,” Sarah reframes CAAS as a living, breathing process — one that drives internal improvement, organizational alignment and long-term sustainability. From its origins within the American Ambulance Association in the 1990s, to the latest Version 4.0 standards, the conversation highlights how CAAS provides a unified, industry-driven framework that elevates agencies from compliant to high-performing.
Rob brings a practitioner’s perspective, reflecting on his own experience navigating multiple accreditation cycles, emphasizing how CAAS becomes a “guiding light” for governance, clinical care and operational excellence.
Together, they explore the structure of the standards, the application journey, and the cultural readiness required to succeed.
The key takeaway is clear: accreditation is not a project with an endpoint — it’s a continuous process that strengthens organizations from the inside out, identifying risks, improving systems, and ultimately delivering better care to patients and communities.
Episode timeline
01:30 – Origins of CAAS and need for unified standards
03:30 – Breakdown of CAAS standards (admin, clinical, operations)
06:30 – Deep dive into operational standards and structure
10:30 – Rob’s real-world experience with accreditation
12:30 – Accreditation as a process vs. project
16:00 – Value proposition: internal vs. external benefits
18:30 – Cost vs. value — and the risk of not being accredited
22:00 – Step-by-step accreditation journey (readiness → submission → review)
28:30 – Site visits and peer collaboration
31:30 – Resources, support and how to get started
34:30 – Final reflections and leadership call to action
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Live from NEMSMA: From battlefield to boardroom

This edition of EMS One-Stop, recorded at the inaugural National EMS Management Association conference in Arlington, Virginia, pairs two complementary conversations about leadership and the future of EMS.
 
In the first half, General Robert Neller brings a military leader’s lens to universal leadership truths: lead yourself first, remember that everyone is watching, stay humble, listen better and understand that decisiveness matters. His message is simple and sharp. People want leaders who will set the example, make the call when it matters, and balance standards with empathy.
 
| MORE: EMS Leadership Institute — AI and the future of EMS
 
In the second half, NEMSMA President Dr. Hezedean Smith reflects on a successful launch for the conference and looks ahead to where EMS leadership must go next. He frames this association as a growing home for mentorship, shared learning and strategic thinking, while also pointing to the disruptive forces already reshaping the profession:
Artificial intelligence
Redesigned systems
Recruitment and retention pressures
The possibility of autonomous ambulance operations
Taken together, the episode is both a leadership masterclass and a forward look at an EMS profession that cannot afford to stand still.
Episode timeline
00:39 – Rob sets the scene from the inaugural NEMSMA conference in Northern Virginia.
00:51 – Rob introduces General Neller as the opening keynote speaker.
01:38 – General Neller explains his leadership “roadmap,” beginning with leading yourself first.
03:38 – Rob and General Neller discuss how leaders are always being watched.
06:04 – Advice for the newly promoted EMS lieutenant: growth takes time, ask for advice, study and learn.
08:11 – General Neller reflects on what he wishes he had known earlier in his career: be a better listener.
09:41 – The “don’t eat the cake” story becomes a lesson in humility and example-setting.
11:42 – General Neller discusses when leaders must consult and when they must simply decide.
13:22 – Final leadership theme from General Neller: empathy strengthens standards rather than weakening them.
17:04 – Rob returns with Dr. Hezedean Smith, President of NEMSMA.
17:18 – Dr. Smith describes the early success of the inaugural conference and strong turnout.
18:12 – Dr. Smith confirms planning is already underway for next year because the event has outgrown the venue.
19:25 – Discussion shifts to the future direction of EMS leadership and system design.
19:49 – Dr. Smith highlights AI, system redesign, and recruitment and retention as major themes.
20:47 – Dr. Smith talks about self-driving ambulances, solar-powered systems and rapid technological change.
21:38 – Dr. Smith emphasizes that technology must make providers’ work easier, not harder.
22:22 – Rob asks why people should join NEMSMA.
22:28 – Dr. Smith outlines mentorship, information sharing and rapid organizational growth.
23:13 – Dr. Smith closes by reaffirming NEMSMA’s role in the EMS leadership space.
23:46 – Rob signs off from what he calls an “amazing time” at the conference.
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Six minutes to live: Inside the push to save cardiac arrest victims

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by Bob Davies and Hilary Gates to explore the mission behind Six Minutes to Live, a growing movement focused on improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
| MORE: ‘Six Minutes to Live': Mini-documentary spotlights cardiac arrest care crisis
The conversation begins with the stark reality that every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces survival by 10%, and then widens into a larger discussion about injustice, geography and system performance.
Bob reflects on his landmark USA Today investigation into EMS disparities across the country, while Hilary explains why this issue remains deeply personal and why communities, not just medical systems, must be part of the solution.
The episode then turns from problem to action. Hilary and Bob describe how Six Minutes to Live is using storytelling, advocacy, community partnerships and public training to drive change, especially through bystander CPR education, school-based training and public access defibrillation.
From Santa Cruz to the Resuscitation Academy in Seattle, the emphasis is on making the simple feel possible: hands-only CPR, early defibrillation and empowering ordinary people to act. The result is more than a nonprofit or a campaign. As Rob notes, this is a movement.
Memorable quotes
“For every minute that a person's heart has stopped, their chance of survival decreases by 10%.” — Hilary Gates
“Life and death is defined by geography.” — Bob Davies
“There are vulnerable, voiceless people living on the margins who need a voice.” — Hilary Gates
“The main way that people save more lives is they care.” — Bob Davies
“Every podcast that Hillary and I are involved with is actually sponsored by R&D. Rip off and duplicate, show up, take our stuff, go and save lives with it.” — Rob Lawrence
Additional resources
Six Minutes to Live
Six Minutes to Live mini documentary
Episode timeline
01:34-02:14 – Rob Lawrence introduces the episode and welcomes Hilary Gates and Bob Davies.
02:21-03:21 – Hilary Gates shares her background as an educator turned paramedic and cofounder of Six Minutes to Live.
03:48-08:14 – Bob Davies recounts his experience as a paramedic and journalist, including his USA Today investigation into EMS performance disparities.
08:24-10:50 – Rob asks what has changed in 20 years; Bob discusses the enduring formula, new technology and the energy of younger clinicians.
11:08-13:02 – Hilary explains why Six Minutes to Live was founded and frames cardiac arrest survival as an issue of injustice and community responsibility.
13:13-17:08 – Rob asks what Six Minutes to Live is and how it fits among other advocacy organizations; Bob and Hilary describe its role as a connector and storyteller.
18:04-18:39 – Rob resets the conversation and asks what the organization is doing now.
18:50-20:47 – Hilary describes the Santa Cruz partnership, community CPR training and support from donors and local agencies.
21:12-23:47 – Bob highlights their upcoming workshop at the Resuscitation Academy in Seattle and the power of systems that care enough to measure and improve.
24:00-25:20 – Rob offers a transatlantic explainer connecting Eisenberg, Utstein and UK ambulance response standards.
25:24-28:41 – Hilary discusses community myths about CPR and AEDs, and the need to simplify action for laypeople.
28:48-31:02 – Bob outlines what is next: documentaries, deep listening, connecting voices and helping movements grow organically.
31:17-33:01 – Rob and Hilary talk about creating local champions, liability concerns and getting communities to act.
33:13-34:47 – Rob asks the closing question; Hilary urges EMS clinicians to become local champions for simple lifesaving actions.
35:22-37:20 – Bob closes with a call for EMS professionals to confront the “little secrets” they know and act on them.
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EMS leaders head to Capitol Hill with one message: It’s time to fund the future

EMS on the Hill isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s the profession’s annual moment to stand in front of Congress and tell the EMS story with clarity, confidence and unity.
In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by NAEMT President, Chris Way, to preview EMS on the Hill (March 25–26, 2026) and explain why this event matters now more than ever: EMS is where most Americans first enter the healthcare system, and the care delivered in the field is no longer “drive-you-to-the-hospital medicine.”
Chris and Rob also unpack what’s changed — the scale of collaboration across national organizations and the discipline of going to Capitol Hill with aligned priorities and a shared message. They walk listeners through the event flow (Education Day, briefings, Hill visits, awards and reception), the importance of working relationships with staffers, and the advocacy “ask” that could reshape the future: reimbursement for treatment in place, mobile integrated healthcare/community paramedicine, and sustainable support for initiatives like prehospital blood. The throughline is simple: show up, speak with one voice, and translate momentum into legislative wins.
Additional resources:
EMS on the Hill Day
One voice, one profession — EMS leaders open summit with call for unity and coordinated action
Episode timeline
00:00 – Chris Way frames the goal: becoming a trusted, go-to EMS resource for lawmakers
00:52 – Why EMS on the Hill matters; EMS as the front door of healthcare; call to action
02:16 – Advocacy theme and EMS on the Hill as the seminal D.C. event
03:27 – Kansas City summit recap; commitment to making it annual; “stronger together”
05:39 – Evolution of EMS on the Hill into a multi-organization partnership; one message
08:24 – Logistics overview begins: dates, hotel, education day, briefings, awards
10:16 – How to succeed in legislative meetings: reading the room, time limits, staffer relationships
17:14 – Priority bills: treatment in place, MIH/CP, whole blood, NAMSP priorities
21:02 – “This is ongoing” collaboration: monthly cross-organization calls, broader coordination
24:05 – Chris shares his recommended approach: prep, priorities, cards/coins, questions, follow-up
27:34 – Rob’s add-ons: photos after meetings, tagging lawmakers, comms/PR value
28:59 – Final logistics recap; what to expect as a first-timer at state tables
30:37 – Chris closes: unprecedented partnership, focus to “get this done”
31:14 – Rob plugs state-level advocacy (CAA Stars/Capitol Day)
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Synergy in action: How EMS leaders are aligning for impact

Recorded on location at the EMS Association Summit in sunny Kansas City, this edition of EMS One-Stop captures something that’s been building for a while across the profession: real momentum.
In the first half, Rob Lawrence sits down with Bill Seifarth, CEO of the National Registry of EMTs, to unpack what the Registry is today; how its mission has evolved; and why partnerships, research and continued competence sit at the heart of public trust when 911 is called.
In the second half, returning guest Patrick Pianezza joins Rob to talk Code 3, the top streaming EMS movie’s impact on providers and families and what comes next.
Across both conversations, the theme is unmistakable. When EMS organizations collaborate, align messaging and show up as one voice, the profession becomes harder to ignore and easier to support. The summit becomes more than a meeting. It becomes a signal.
Episode timeline
1:02 – Introduction of Bill Seifarth; brief personal bio and career path
2:01 – “National Registry 101”: Bill explains the mission and what the Registry does
2:53 – Research focus: the Registry’s fellowship and EMS research priorities
3:31 – “Bread and butter”: entry-level and continued competence assessment and why it matters to the public
4:33 – Rob notes the Registry’s growing national presence; Bill outlines advocacy-through-partnership
5:08 – Preview of next year’s summit; participation in EMS on the Hill and NCSL with multiple EMS orgs in one booth
6:33 – Why the summit matters: state associations and national partners coming together under one roof — it’s a sold-out inaugural event; education, networking and shared experience highlighted
10:52 – Next stop: EMS on the Hill; “hunting in a pack”
12:20 – Bill’s closing: partnership, collaboration, synergy and supporting the profession
13:38 – Transition: Rob introduces Patrick Pianezza, co-writer of Code 3
14:41 – Patrick reflects on the film’s reception — especially among working providers
15:33 – Patrick shares the origin story: a “homework assignment” turned full-length film
17:39 – Where to watch: Apple/Amazon to rent or purchase; streaming on Hulu; performance metrics shared
18:30 – What’s next: pitching a TV series and interest in a sequel; realities of funding and IP ownership
21:33 – Discussion of the “Mr. President” scene and the intentional visual tension-building
24:19 – Patrick addresses feedback and the goal: honest portrayal and conversation-starting, not villainizing partners
27:41 – Leadership pipeline point: great clinicians aren’t automatically great leaders; mentorship matters
30:15 – Closing theme returns: one voice, fewer scattered voices, more impact for the profession
31:20 – Rob wraps: summit takeaways, guests, and a final nudge to watch Code 3
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Dr. Linda Dykes: From toxic culture to safer systems

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Dr. Linda Dykes joins Rob Lawrence from the UK for a wide-ranging, transatlantic conversation that starts with workplace culture and ends with a practical look at how health systems can keep patients safely at home.
In the first half, Linda breaks down her newly published (open-access) qualitative paper, provocatively titled “It’s not bullying if I do it to everyone,” drawn from UK NHS “Med Twitter” responses: a raw, heartbreaking window into the red flags of toxic workplace culture, how bullying is experienced in the eye of the beholder, and why incivility and silence are not just HR problems — they’re patient safety threats.
In the second half, Linda brings listeners into the UK’s evolving admission alternative world: frailty care at home, urgent community response models, and the increasingly important interface between EMS and community-based teams. She explains the UK’s SPOA (single point of access) concept, why she dislikes the term “admission avoidance,” and how ED crowding and access change the risk-benefit equation for hospital vs. home.
Rob connects the dots back to the U.S. reality — reimbursement, APOT/wall time, treatment-in-place policy — and why this work is becoming a shared challenge on both sides of the Atlantic.
Timeline
00:51 – Rob opens, recaps NAEMSP in Tampa and recent content.
02:25 – Rob introduces Linda as the “triple threat” (emergency medicine, primary care/GP, geriatrics) and tees up two-part discussion.
05:39 – Rob introduces Linda’s paper: “It’s not bullying if I do it to everyone.”
06:13 – Linda explains why toxic culture is increasingly visible and how the tweet prompt became a dataset.
07:33 – “Flash mob research group” forms; Linda explains social-media-to-qualitative methodology and limitations.
10:03 – Rob asks about bias; Linda clarifies purpose: insight, not representativeness.
16:39 – Linda defines gaslighting and why it’s so destabilizing.
18:21 – Reactions to publication; resonance, sharing and uncomfortable self-reflection on learned behaviors.
20:18 – The “16:55 Friday email” as a weapon — and as an accidental harm.
23:29 – Leadership as “the sponge” — absorbing pressure rather than passing it down.
25:27 – “One thing right now”: know the impact your words can have, especially on vulnerable staff.
26:41 – Rob on “pressure bubbles,” micro-movements and atmospherics: how leaders shift climate without realizing it.
30:53 – SPOA explained: single point of access and urgent community response behind it.
33:03 – EMS interface: calling before conveyance to find safe pathways to keep patients at home.
35:47 – Linda on mortality risk of access block/long waits and how that reframes risk decisions.
37:19 – Evolving models: primary care-led response vs. hospital at home approaches.
39:34 – Clinical myths challenged: oral antibiotics sometimes non-inferior to IV in conditions we assumed needed admission.
40:34 – Outcomes: hospital at home trial signals safety and fewer patients in institutional care by 6 months.
42:00 – Telemedicine/telehealth: underutilized but useful; when you still need a senior clinician in person.
44:50 – Closing takeaways: read the paper (with trigger warning); admission alternative work is deeply satisfying.
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EMS One Stop: Resilience and beyond

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, host Rob Lawrence welcomes John Sammons, an advanced practice paramedic with Wake County EMS, a peer support team member and a key leader in the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Program. John sits at the intersection of system design and human performance, helping build the kind of operational and cultural scaffolding that keeps clinicians effective, healthy and coming back tomorrow.
In this episode of EMS One-Stop, host Rob Lawrence welcomes John Sammons, an advanced practice paramedic with Wake County EMS, a peer support team member and a key leader in the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Program. John sits at the intersection of system design and human performance, helping build the kind of operational and cultural scaffolding that keeps clinicians effective, healthy and coming back tomorrow.
| MORE: Peer support teams: How to build trust and maximize effectiveness
This week’s conversation goes beyond “be more resilient” and into the practical realities of burnout, moral injury, mentoring and culture, including the role of frontline and unofficial leaders in shaping what “normal” looks like inside an agency. John also shares the Wake County approach to peer support: presence first, then resources, plus the power of finding your people: your team, your tribe, your board of directors.
Memorable quotes from John Sammons
“We have folks that don’t stay in the profession. We have folks that leave. We have folks that unfortunately develop substantial mental health crises up to and including, unfortunately, suicide in our profession.”
“What an amazing privilege that we’re invited into somebody’s home to take care of them and to figure it out.”
“Every one of those people expects to call 911 and have an expert show up and solve the problem.”
“I work to live, I don’t live to work. And that’s a great philosophy to have.”
“Everybody goes home ... but there should be an addendum on the bottom of it that says, ‘but everybody comes back tomorrow.’”
“Nobody gets us like we get us.”
“Leadership is action, not a title.”
“Everybody has their bucket, and everybody’s bucket can only hold so much.”
“Nobody got into this because we wanted to be crusty and angry and miserable and difficult to be around.”
Episode timeline
00:40 – Rob opens the episode and introduces John Sammons and the theme: resilience and beyond
02:05 – John’s “Sammons 101” bio: Wake County APP, peer support, Lighthouse Leadership involvement
03:01 – Burnout data and why it matters for retention and wellbeing
04:16 – Wake County’s Advanced Practice Paramedic Program: the “three Rs”
05:03 – John’s post-COVID turning point: “I’m done ... I don’t want to do this anymore”
06:12 – What brings John back to work: purpose, people, privilege, challenge
09:16 – Prevention and balance: identity beyond the job, sleep, nutrition, purpose
12:15 – Peer support in practice: presence, triage, in-house clinician, canines, statewide resources
17:09 – Podcast/vodcast reminder and John’s slides supporting the discussion
18:14 – NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership: why relationships and peers are the real multiplier
20:39 – Mentorship as a resilience strategy: formal programs and informal investment
24:25 – Culture: administration vs frontline leaders vs unofficial leaders
28:06 – Closing reflections: remembering why we got into EMS
30:36 – Final takeaways
Enjoying the show? Email editor@ems1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.