Medic2Medic Podcast

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John Feal Oct 22, 2017

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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.

Mike Bachman Oct 15, 2017

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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.

Jon McCarthy Oct 08, 2017

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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?

Tom Bouthillet Oct 01, 2017

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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.

Ray DeMichiei Sep 24, 2017

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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.

Stephen Kavalkovich Sep 17, 2017

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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.

Joseph Zalkin Sep 10, 2017

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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.

Justin Schorr Aug 28, 2017

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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.

Larry West Aug 20, 2017

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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.

Jessie Senini Aug 13, 2017

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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.

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