Welcome to Day 1 Of The EMS Leadership Summit

About the Session:
With less than two years in her position as EMS Chief, her department has addressed staffing challenges head-on, including making the workplace more diversity and equitable for those serving the city. The Chief reveals their successful Freedom House EMT Academy for training and onboarding new dedicated members of their team and will share the numbers behind their initiatives.

About the Speaker:
Amera Gilchrist, the Chief of EMS for the Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS — and the first African American woman to hold this prestigious title. With 26 years of dedicated service, Chief Gilchrist has made an indelible mark on Pittsburgh’s EMS community. Starting as an EMT in 1999 and quickly advancing to paramedic within 9 months, her journey has been one of resilience and determination. Because of the challenges she faced while earning her certifications, Chief Gilchrist is now on a mission to remove barriers for others pursuing a career in prehospital care.

About the Session:
The command and control paradigm of leadership is an insufficient system for most situations. In this presentation you will discover the power of the systems paradigm to empower, engage and enable high performance without struggle, conflict and defensiveness. There is no need to become an amateur psychologist to have a thriving team. The systems' approach provides clarity and consistency.

About the Speakers:
Trevor is a coach and author who lives and plays at the intersection of Love, Language and Leadership. He's on a mission to transform the world of leadership from fear-based command and control to love-based inspire and enroll. He loves to walk really slowly and listen to the Universe.

Steve Chandler is the author of 30 books translated into 25+ languages. A renowned success coach and speaker, he’s worked with CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, and top professionals to spark lasting change. His “MindShift” approach helps people overcome pessimism and reconnect with their passion for work and life.

About the Session:
In this session we will explore practical strategies for managing the demanding nature of emergency medical services while maintaining personal well-being. Learn effective tools to reduce burnout, improve team morale, and foster a healthier work environment. Whether you're an EMS leader or team member, this session will provide valuable tips for balancing the high-stakes world of EMS with a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle.

About the Speaker:
Scott Moore, Esq. is a founding partner of Werfel, Moore, & Kelly Law Group, LLP, a national firm that advises mobile healthcare agencies on a wide range of human resource and labor law issues. He has been an active EMT for over 34 years. Scott advises EMS organizations on leadership and human resource issues. Scott is a licensed attorney, specializing in human resources, employment law, reimbursement, and compliance issues. He is the Human Resources & Operational Consultant to the American Ambulance Association (AAA).

About the Session:
Today’s EMS agencies require a unique combination of managerial acumen and leadership vision. Those in charge must not only ensure the smooth operation of their agency but also chart a forward-thinking course to adapt to evolving challenges.

EMS leaders must juggle both immediate operational demands and long-term strategic goals. This duality –whether focused on day-to-day initiatives such as workforce issues and accurate budgeting or more strategic initiatives such as community paramedicine - can be difficult to navigate and is made more so by the increasing complexity of EMS demands in public health, community care, and disaster response.

Ray will draw on his more than 25 years in EMS to discuss the realities of walking the line between manager and leader and offering practical advice based on real-world examples.

About the Speaker:
Raphael M. Barishansky is a public health and EMS leader with more than 30 years of experience in a variety of systems and agencies, with positions of increasing responsibility. Currently an independent consultant providing his unique perspective and multi-faceted public health and EMS expertise for various organizations, his most recent position before this was as the Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, a role he recently left after several years.

About the Session:
Traditional career paths in EMS, Mobile Integrated Health (MIH), and Community Paramedicine (CP) are rapidly shifting, and the old roadmap for success no longer applies. Instead of following a rigid 10-year plan, the most successful leaders embrace “being wrong,” and focus on adaptability, continuous learning, and strategic pivots.
This session challenges the way we think about career growth and leadership in EMS. Together we will explore the Dunning-Kruger Effect, the power of being wrong, and how small, 1% daily improvements lead to massive professional and industry-wide change. By considering the next right step, we foster the adaptability needed to drive impact, achieve success, and create future-proof results in a rapidly evolving industry.  

About the Speaker:
Dr. Victoria Reinhartz is the CEO of Mobile Health Consultants, and is an industry leader in Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine (MIH/CP). Dr. Reinhartz is the Executive Director of the National Association of Mobile Integrated Healthcare Providers (NAMIHP) and serves as the MIH subject matter expert for the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. For her leadership and innovation in MIH, Dr. Reinhartz has gained recognition from the US Public Health Service, and has been nationally named The Next Generation Civic Leader and a Top 50 Most Influential Leader.

About the Session:
This lecture explores the dynamics of a changing workforce through the lens of integrating the organization and the employee. Decades of information have demonstrated the key to a symbiotic relationship between employee and employer lies in the harmony of great leadership. This 1-hour presentation will dive into three evidence-based core concepts that can be implemented at any level to start retaining, recruiting, and reinvigorating members in organizations of all sizes.

About the Speaker:
 Nick Carson, FP-C, CCP-C, TP-C, NRP, B.S. is a Flight Paramedic with the University of Vermont Health Network. He owns Precision Training, LLC, and hosts the Code 321 Podcast. Nick is a national conference speaker specializing in training, safety systems, trauma care, leadership, and active threat response. Nick has authored multiple training programs across emergency response agencies and currently sits on his organization’s training committee. He has worked in the career fire service, municipal EMS, and critical care medicine. Nick also works with Mind the Frontline, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dedicated to responder mental health.