Magical Destinations By Steve Podcast

Episode 121:David Hunnicutt and Christian Bennett from Cary Area EMS are the guests this week. Both are full-time Paramedics with Cary Area EMS and both have traveled to Ecuador with students from North Carolina State Universty on a medical mission. We hear about their experiences and challenges that they faced in Ecuador as well as their unusual paths that lead them into EMS and to Cary Area EMS.

Episode 120: John Feal. What do you think when you hear the words First Responders? Do you think EMS, Fire or Police? This week I talk to another First Responder who is not in public safety and was a first responder who was at Ground Zero. On September, 12th 2001 John and his team were ordered to report to Ground Zero in order to aid in the cleanup and recovery mission following the terror attacks. Without hesitation and with a sense of pride in serving his country in a time of need, John and his team reported as ordered. Tragically, on John’s fifth day on site, he became the one that needed aide. While supervising his team a steel beam weight approximately 8,000 pounds came loose from the huge pile of debris, crushing John’s left foot. Jon Feal’s story is unbelievable and his story at Ground Zero has led him down a path that he never knew he was on. Subsequently, John went through years of surgeries and innumerable hours of therapy; as well as extensive stays in the hospital for follow up treatments. John quickly learned the multitude of bureaucratic horrors that come with being severely injured He experienced hurdle after hurdle with mounting medical bills and no income. Fed up with hearing the word ‘No’ from insurance companies, doctors, and elected officials, John decided that no American should be treated so egregiously, especially those that had come to this country’s aide in its greatest hour of need. Once out of the hospital John made it his mission to help alleviate the many obstacles he had endured e founded The FealGood Foundation (FGF). Through its grassroots fundraising, the FGF has raised and donated millions of dollars to individuals gravely affected by the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Oh by the way when he is not pestering politicians, he found time to donate a kidney. We tell his story this week on the podcast.

Episode 119: Michael Bachman has been a paramedic for over 24 years and is currently the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs for the Wake County EMS system. Michael is responsible for the 911 response, clinical quality, performance improvement, research, and data analysis. Prior to this appointment, Michael held various positions in EMS to include Field Training Officer, District Chief and Clinical Educator. In addition to his responsibilities for quality assurance and data management, Michael oversees the implementation and delivery of the Advanced Practice Paramedic (APP) program for the Wake County EMS system. Our discussion includes Michael's early days in EMS, where you had to call for an IV, his track to Wake County, research, the future of EMS and an inside look at the Office of Medical Affairs.

Episode 118: Jon McCarthy is the author of Hard Roll: A Paramedic's Perspective of Life and Death in New Orleans. Jon began his public service as an active duty member of the United States Coast Guard. Six years later, he entered the world of emergency medical services and has worked for 20 years as a paramedic. He is one of the architects of the New Orleans EMS Field Training Officer program. The book gives readers an inside look into the chaos of EMS and the toll the job of a first responder takes on those who serve. We discuss his path into EMS, a mistake that almost cost him his career, the book and if there will be a sequel to Hard Roll?

Episode 117: Tom Bouthillet is the EMS Battalion Chief of Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue and Program Director of the South Carolina Resuscitation Academy. He is Editor-in-Chief of several websites devoted to Emergency Cardiovascular Care, an EMS 10 Award recipient, and has taught nationally in the Critical Care Transport (CCEMT-P) program out of UMBC. His writings have been referenced in the American Heart Journal, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions and the EP Lab Digest. We talk about EMS life on Hilton Head, his new promotion, Tom's early interest in cardiovascular care, the Academy and leadership.

Episode 116: Pittsburgh Emergency Management Retired Deputy Director Ray DeMichiei has 42 years oF public safety experience. His introduction to the importance of emergency management in his local community of Plum Boro was in 1972; where, as a volunteer firefighter, his first call was a three-day response to the aftermath of Hurricane Agnes. Deputy Director DeMichiei became involved with Emergency Medical Services in 1973in Plum Boro outside of Pittsburgh. He was certified as an EMT-2 in May of 1975 and employed by the City of Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services in June that same year. He put Pittsburgh Medic 2 in service for the first time on September1, 1975. During his EMS tenure he was assigned to Rescue 2 was promoted to Crew Chief and worked at Medic 5, Medic 1 and Rescue 1. June of 1986 saw Deputy Director DeMichiei assigned to the Pittsburgh Public Safety Office of Professional Responsibility as in investigator. In 1988 he was assigned to the Bureau of Communications 9-1- 1/EOC as Emergency Operations Coordinator where he was responsible for investigation and quality assurance of 911 call-taking and dispatch and Pittsburgh’s emergency management program. Our discussion involves all the above and we touch on subject and an incident that still weighs heavy on Ray.

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.