The EMS Educator

How well do EMS teams manage critically ill pediatric patients—and how do we know? In this episode of the EMS Educator Podcast, hosts Rob Lawrence and Maia Dorsett speak with Mark Cicero, lead author of a landmark study published in Prehospital Emergency Care. The study used simulation to assess EMS performance in pediatric emergencies. From medication dosing errors to missed fundamentals like cap refill checks, Dr. Cicero breaks down what the study revealed across more than 150 simulations in three states. Dr. Dorsett shares how the findings challenged her own assumptions as an educator and led to reflections on curriculum design, quality improvement, and the need for deliberate, high-frequency pediatric practice. They also explore the power of SIM Box—a free, low-tech, high-impact simulation toolkit—and how small, creative learning opportunities can help EMS clinicians gain confidence, accuracy, and readiness for rare but high-stakes pediatric calls. Whether you're a field provider, educator, or medical director, this episode offers practical insights and real tools to help build a system of pediatric care that’s proactive, not reactive. Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." Mentioned in the episode: Simbox: https://www.emergencysimbox.com/emstelesimbox Quality of Care and Opportunities for Improvement in Prehospital Care of Critically Ill Pediatric Patients, An Observational, Simulation-Based Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10903127.2025.2500715 The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com. Follow @ProdigyEMS on FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

We’re going back to school in this episode of The EMS Educator podcast! Specifically, you’ll hear audio recordings of what EMS students and educators wish they had known when they were in school.  Hosts Hilary Gates and Rob Lawrence are joined by EMS educator Ginger Locke to offer commentary on this sage wisdom. There are tips about possessing quiet confidence and kindness, practical study strategies, and the importance of active reflection and being open to feedback. Tune in for this helpful discussion to help you navigate the demanding task of learning how to be an EMS clinician. Mentioned in the episode: Unconditional positive regard: https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/57646/how-unconditional-positive-regard-can-help-students-feel-cared-for Sahaj Khalsa's EMS Educator episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/addressing-bias-in-patient-care-part-1-of-2/id1573326528?i=1000565780169 For the first time, Maia Dorsett highlights the episode's key points with "Maia's Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com.  Follow @ProdigyEMS on FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

What if we began asking patients “what happened to you?” instead of “what’s wrong with you?” This mindset shift exemplifies the principles behind trauma-informed care. DCFEMS Behavioral Health Coordinator Ronit Reguer once again joins hosts Maia Dorsett, Hilary Gates and Rob Lawrence for a powerful, practical conversation on trauma-informed care.  They discuss how this approach can improve both patient outcomes and provider wellness. Drawing on clinical experiences, EMS education, and real-world applications, you’ll hear a deep dive into how trauma affects patient behavior, the importance of recognizing individual agency during care, and how to build trauma-informed principles into EMS training.  Whether you’re an EMS educator, clinician, or student, this episode will challenge you to rethink your approach to care—and inspire meaningful change. Mentioned in the episode: SAMHSA's Trauma-informed Approach: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/trauma-violence/trauma-informed-approaches-programs The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748 What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey https://a.co/d/72CItzf Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

How should we best acquire medical knowledge and skills so that we can easily retrieve and effectively use them in the field? Now that we are past the stressful March 31st recert deadline, hosts Maia Dorsett, Hilary Gates and Rob Lawrence delve into the issues surrounding EMS recertification and continuing education. Special guest Ethan Setnik, Chief Technology Officer at Prodigy EMS, offers unique insights into the design of learning from his perspective as a system engineer.  We know that the typical last-minute rush to recertify isn’t the most effective approach to learning, so listen and be inspired by evidence-based strategies for better knowledge retention. We discuss effortful retrieval, spaced repetition, and interleaving to enhance learning and improve clinical practice. Ethan shares insights about the ways technology and system design can support continuous competency and self-directed learning, moving beyond simply “checking the box” to fostering a meaningful educational journey for EMS clinicians. Mentioned in the episode: The graph of recert volume at Prodigy EMS: https://postimg.cc/6T7ShPYB "Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning" https://a.co/d/0n5zMCr Learning by Scientific Design: https://www.deansforimpact.org/tools-and-resources/learning-by-scientific-design Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

Does your classroom have a joyful buzz? Jonathan St. George has it figured out--as the founder of the Protected Airway Collaborative (PAC), Jonathan was inspired by a museum visit to create a learning environment like no other. Join us as we dive into his innovative world of airway management education.  Prodigy EMS team members Maia Dorsett and Shane O'Donnell report from the PAC as they experienced the self-directed learning approach firsthand.  Listen to their interviews with Jace Mullen and Andrew Merelman, and learn how to enhance your instructional delivery through this pioneering educational format. Mentioned in the episode: Protected Airway Collaborative: https://theprotectedairway.com/ Flipped Classroom: https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/flipped-classrooms Self Directed Learning: https://www.self-directed.org/sde/ Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

What if the best EMS educators weren’t clinicians, but patients themselves? In this episode, hosts Hilary Gates and Maia Dorsett welcome sudden cardiac arrest survivor Nova McCarthy and medical director Alicia Bond for an insightful discussion on how patient experiences can enhance EMS education. Nova describes her experience as a keynote speaker and explores the power of patient-centered learning. She details powerful moments from her near-death experience, including the compassion and kind words of the EMS clinicians who cared for her.  Listen in to discover how EMS providers can learn directly from those they serve—gaining deeper empathy, refining communication, and improving decision-making in high-stakes moments.  This conversation challenges traditional training methods and offers an innovative take on EMS education.  Mentioned in the episode: Heartsight Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Trauma Survivors Network Near Death Experiences Email Alicia Bond: jcemsmedical@gmail.com Email Nova McCarthy: mccarthynova@gmail.com State of Jefferson EMS Conference Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. This podcast is sponsored by EMS Gives Life.  Would you consider becoming a living organ donor? For more info visit www.emsgiveslife.org Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

How do EMS clinicians process the trauma they witness daily—and how can they be better supported? In this episode of The EMS Educator podcast, hosts Rob Lawrence, Hilary Gates and Maia Dorsett explore the critical topic of trauma stewardship with guest Ronit Reguer, the first behavioral health coordinator for DC Fire and EMS. Together, they unpack the challenges of emotional resilience, the importance of proactive mental health care, and the cultural shifts shaping the future of first responder support. Ronit shares her experiences implementing innovative wellness initiatives, from peer support programs to “Wellness Wednesdays,” and offers powerful insights on addressing trauma before it leads to burnout. Whether you’re an EMS clinician, educator, or leader, this episode delivers vital lessons on fostering a culture of care that ensures long and meaningful careers as well as healthy humans. Mentioned in the episode: Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky https://traumastewardship.com/inside-the-book/ The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748 Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. This podcast is sponsored by EMS Gives Life.  Would you consider becoming a living organ donor? For more info visit www.emsgiveslife.org Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

Want more advice about how to effectively create EMS credentialing programs for your learners? In the latest episode of the EMS Educator Podcast, join hosts Rob Lawrence, Hilary Gates, and Maia Dorsett for a dynamic conversation with guests Dr. Jeremy Cushman and Shane O’Donnell. They dive into the intricacies of their successful educational program that trains EMS clinicians for specialty care transport (SCT). Jeremy and Shane discuss how to conduct needs assessments, perform gap analyses, and build learner-centered education models tailored to your system’s unique demands. From psychomotor skill validation to fostering clinical acumen, this episode offers actionable insights for EMS educators and leaders. Whether you’re refining an existing program or starting from scratch, this episode is packed with lessons and strategies to enhance EMS education and elevate patient care. Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. This podcast is sponsored by EMS Gives Life.  Would you consider becoming a living organ donor? For more info visit www.emsgiveslife.org Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube, TikTok & IG.

How should EMS educators expand their reach beyond the classroom? Prodigy's new Associate Medical Director of Pediatrics Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, MPH, FAAP shares her profound dedication to public health education and CPR training in Pittsburgh’s community and beyond. Join hosts Rob Lawrence, Hilary Gates, and Maia Dorsett as they discuss Sylvia's life-saving training of University of Pittsburgh athletes to discussing her global initiatives, including her impactful work in Ghana. The hosts highlight critical disparities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest responses and emphasize the importance of community-specific interventions. This episode explores how educators can expand their reach and provides practical insights for anyone aiming to become a force multiplier in public health. Listen in for inspiration and actionable tips to foster life-saving skills within your community. Ginger Locke highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." Bonus content: Rob interviews Jon Needle, Community Response Manager of the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust about the unique ways that our friends across the pond leverage their community members. Mentioned in the episode: Pitt Center for Cardiac Arrest Survival Ellie Breech saves her father's life with CPR Damar Hamlin's 3 for Heart Challenge Akoma United Disparities in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest  East of England Ambulance The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. This podcast is sponsored by EMS Gives Life.  Would you consider becoming a living organ donor? For more info visit www.emsgiveslife.org Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube & IG.  

Ginger Locke, newly-minted Prodigy teammate and host of the "Medic Mindset" podcast joins The EMS Educator podcast as co-host. She highlights the episode's key points with her "Mindset Minute." We then dive into Ginger's EMS origin story and her ideas about the future of EMS education. Alongside Hilary Gates, Rob Lawrence, and Maia Dorsett, Ginger explores key aspects of creating a positive learning environment in EMS education. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of EMS education, being a learner in our information-rich environment, data-driven customization of continuing education (CE), and the integration of new tools and technologies into practice. The EMS Educator is published on the first Friday of every month! Be sure to turn on your notifications so you can listen as soon as the episode drops, and like/follow us on your favorite platform. This podcast is sponsored by EMS Gives Life.  Would you consider becoming a living organ donor? For more info visit www.emsgiveslife.org Check out the Prodigy EMS Bounty Program! Earn $1000 for your best talks! Get your CE at www.prodigyems.com  Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube & IG.