Episodios

  • Episode 322: Chief Amera Gilchrist

    Episode 322: Chief Amera Gilchrist
    Feb 14 2026
    In Episode 322 of the Medic2Medic Podcast, Steve sits down with Chief Amera Gilchrist of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS for one of the most open, honest, and meaningful conversations in the show’s history. This episode continues Steve’s long-standing tradition of speaking with the Chiefs of his former department a place where his own paramedic career began and a system that has shaped him both professionally and personally. Steve reflects on his years with Pittsburgh EMS and shares why the bureau will always hold a special place in his heart. Chief Gilchrist discusses her journey from growing up on Pittsburgh’s Northside to becoming the first woman and first African American to lead the department. The conversation traces her path through the ranks, the challenges she faced, and the responsibility that comes with leading one of the most historic EMS systems in the country. Together, Steve and Chief Gilchrist explore the lasting legacy of the Freedom House Ambulance Service, her commitment to honoring that history, and the importance of educating the community about where modern EMS began. They discuss the departments involvement wiith “The Pitt,” and how leadership shows up in both high-profile moments and everyday operations. Throughout the episode, Chief Gilchrist speaks candidly about leadership, accountability, resilience, and staying grounded as she serves her department, her family, and her city.
    About the Guest
    Chief Amera Gilchrist is the Chief of the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS. She joined the department in 1999 and rose through the ranks. She is a lifelong Pittsburgh resident, a wife and mother of three.
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    Subscribe to Medic2Medic wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode
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    56 m
  • Episode 321: Hilary Gates

    Episode 321: Hilary Gates
    Feb 8 2026
    In this episode of the Medic2Medic Podcast, Steve sits down with educator, paramedic, writer, and advocate Hilary Gates for a fun, engaging, and wide-ranging conversation about EMS, leadership, education, and human connection.

    Hilary, who serves as Director of Educational Strategy for Prodigy EMS and is co-founder of Six Minutes to Live, brings insight, honesty, and heart to every topic discussed. Throughout the episode, Steve and Hilary explore her unique path into EMS, her work improving systems of care for cardiac arrest, and her commitment to building meaningful, human-centered education that supports both patients and providers.
    The conversation moves easily between storytelling, innovation, leadership, and advocacy, reflecting Hilary’s ability to blend professional expertise with real-world experience. The tone is warm, thoughtful, and often lighthearted—while never losing sight of the realities of the profession.

    One of the most powerful moments in this episode comes during a serious discussion about provider wellbeing and mental health. Steve and Hilary speak candidly about the lack of consistent support in parts of the profession, gaps in leadership response, and the absence of a national system to track EMS personnel suicides. They emphasize the urgent need for better data, stronger accountability, and a culture that treats provider mental health with the same priority as patient care.

    Subscribe to Medic2Medic wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode with someone who believes in building a healthier profession.

    https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-321-hilary-gates--69875918
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    39 m
  • Episode 320: LE McCollough

    Episode 320: LE McCollough
    Feb 1 2026
    In this episode of the Medic2Medic Podcast, Steve speaks with Pittsburgh journalist, author, and playwright L.E. McCullough, Ph.D., about his new play, "Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance", based on the true story of the Freedom House Ambulance Service. The conversation explores how the history of Freedom House, one of the most important chapters in modern EMS, has been brought to the stage, highlighting its impact on emergency care, education, civil rights, and community trust.

    About the Guest
    L.E. McCullough, Ph.D., is the author of 52 books and more than 200 published stage and script works performed worldwide. His commissioned plays have explored historical, cultural, and social justice themes, and he currently serves on the board of Prime Stage Theatre in Pittsburgh. Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance brings the legacy of Freedom House Ambulance Service to a new generation through live theatre.

    Listen, Subscribe & Share
    If you’re interested in EMS history, storytelling, and the roots of modern prehospital care, this episode is worth your time. Subscribe to Medic2Medic wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode with someone who should know the story of Freedom House.

    https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-320-le-mccollough--69725183
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    47 m
  • Episode 319: Dr. Jeff Jarvis

    Episode 319: Dr. Jeff Jarvis
    Jan 24 2026
    In Episode 319 of the Medic2Medic Podcast, Steve welcomes back Dr. Jeff Jarvis, a returning guest from the first edition of the podcast, for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation rooted in experience, evidence, and perspective.
    Jeff is the Chief Medical Officer and System Medical Director for the regional EMS system serving the Fort Worth Fire Department in Fort Worth, Texas. He is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services, and he began his career in EMS in 1984 as a volunteer firefighter in rural East Texas.
    This episode is packed with nuggets of advice, words of wisdom, and storytelling as Jeff reflects on his path in EMS, from his early days as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic to his current role as a nationally recognized EMS physician, researcher, and medical director.
    Jeff’s reflections offer a perspective that only comes with time on the street, in education, and in system leadership. This is a conversation about how EMS has evolved, how it should use evidence and data wisely, and why experience and curiosity still matter.
    Subscribe to Medic2Medic wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode with someone who appreciates wisdom earned the hard way.

    https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-319-dr-jeff-jarvis--69574894
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Episdoe 318: Mike Verkest

    Episdoe 318: Mike Verkest
    Jan 17 2026

    In Episode 318 of the Medic2Medic Podcast, Steve sits down with longtime EMS clinician, educator, and storyteller Mike Verkest to discuss clinical practice, quality improvement, Mobile Integrated Healthcare, and the role of storytelling in EMS.
    Mike is a career EMS clinician and educator with nearly 30 years of experience in prehospital medicine. He has been podcasting since 2015 and has hosted and produced The Second Shift, The EMS Show, and The EMS Lighthouse Project, using conversation and storytelling to explore the people, challenges, and future of EMS.
    With nearly 30 years in prehospital medicine, Mike shares lessons learned from the street, the classroom, and system-level leadership, along with why honest conversation and reflection matter in a task-driven profession.
    If you value thoughtful leadership and real conversations in EMS, Episode 318 is worth your time. Subscribe to Medic2Medic wherever you get your podcasts and share with a colleague.

    https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episdoe-318-mike-verkest--69490740
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    45 m
  • Episode 317: T.J. Bishop

    Episode 317: T.J. Bishop
    Jan 10 2026
    Episode 317 of the Medic2Medic Podcast, Steve sits down with longtime EMS leader, educator, and U.S. Army veteran T. J. Bishop for a grounded conversation on rural EMS, leadership, education, and service. T.J. serves as the Assistant Chief of Operations and Training for San Juan Island EMS, overseeing response and education. With more than 30 years spanning civilian EMS, military medicine, and healthcare education, TJ shares hard-earned lessons on training an entire system, leading in resource-limited environments, and building programs that last.

    A Powerful Family Story
    Toward the end of the episode, TJ shares a deeply personal story about his family, specifically his son Andrew, who has special needs, and his incredible Make-A-Wish journey to become a U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. It’s a moment that captures the heart of this episode: service, resilience, and what truly matters.
    🎥 Watch Andrew’s Make-A-Wish story here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgeKVGCVlW4

    Subscribe to Medic2Medic wherever you get your podcasts and share this episode with someone who believes in service, family, and heart.

    https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episdoe-317-tj-bishop--69383549
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    42 m
  • Episode 316: Special New Year’s Edition, with Greg Howard

    Episode 316: Special New Year’s Edition, with Greg Howard
    Jan 1 2026
    To kick off the new year, Medic2Medic presents a Special Edition episode centered on survival, perspective, and purpose.
    In this powerful conversation, Steve sits down with career EMS professional and public safety technology leader Greg Howard, a sudden cardiac arrest survivor whose story reframes how we think about EMS, provider health, and what truly matters. With more than 25 years of experience across EMS, emergency medicine, fire service operations, and healthcare technology, Greg has helped EMS agencies nationwide improve care delivery, documentation, and data-driven decision-making. That professional journey took a deeply personal turn when Greg suffered and survived sudden cardiac arrest.
    This episode sets the tone for the year ahead by focusing on awareness, survivorship, and the responsibility EMS has not only to patients, but to its own people. In true Medic2Medic fashion, the conversation also takes a turn toward shared roots and relationships. Steve and Greg reflect on their Pittsburgh area EMS connections, swapping stories and names familiar to anyone shaped by that region’s EMS culture.

    This Special New Year’s Edition of Medic2Medic is a reminder that sudden cardiac arrest does not discriminate, even within EMS. It challenges listeners to start the year with intention, awareness, and renewed commitment to caring for both patients and providers.


    https://bit.ly/4skYJoz
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    43 m
  • Episode 315: Rob Lawrence

    Episode 315: Rob Lawrence
    Dec 27 2025
    Episode 315: This episode goes beyond trends and buzzwords. It’s a candid discussion about leadership, accountability, education, and execution grounded in decades of experience across multiple EMS systems and cultures. Steve reconnects with longtime EMS leader, strategist, and global EMS advocate Rob Lawrence for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, education, system design, and the future of EMS.

    Rob is the Director of Strategic Implementation for PRO EMS and its educational arm, Prodigy EMS. Rob brings a rare international perspective, shaped by leadership roles in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the development of EMS systems worldwide. Rob is a prolific writer and broadcaster for EMS1 and Police1.

    https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-315-rob-lawrence--69220043
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    46 m