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New Orleans EMS: Promoting diversity, equity & inclusion

Medical Directors Emily Nichols and Meg Marino join The EMS Educator podcast to share their strategies

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At New Orleans EMS, Medical Directors Emily Nichols and Meg Marino created the Diversity and Inclusion Council to improve access and promote diversity in EMS.

How did they do it?

Learn more in this episode of The EMS Educator podcast, hosted by Hilary Gates, MAEd, NRP; and Rob Lawrence.

The EMS Educator podcast has relevant, high-quality discussions around best practices in EMS education: Find more at www.prodigyems.com. Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Learn more about diversity and inclusion

Prodigy EMS brings you EMS education reimagined. Join us for relevant, high-quality discussions around the best practices in EMS education. You’ll find interviews with experts in EMS, education, medical direction, leadership, and more. Earn CAPCE credit at www.prodigyems.com and explore our library of courses. Follow @ProdigyEMS on Twitter, FB, YouTube and IG.

Hilary Gates, MAEd, NRP, is the director of educational strategy for Prodigy EMS and is a consultant for 410 Medical, Inc. She is a volunteer paramedic in the Alexandria (VA) Fire Department and teaches in the School of Education at American University in Washington, D.C., and in the Emergency Medicine program at University of Pittsburgh. Beginning her career as a volunteer EMT with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County, Md., Gates became a full-time paramedic, EMT instructor and FTO at AFD, and then served as senior editorial and program director for EMS World. Gates implemented AFD’s MIH/CP program in 2017 and has extensive experience as an EMS educator, symposium presenter, and quality improvement trainer.

Rob Lawrence has been a leader in civilian and military EMS for over a quarter of a century. Currently, he works on both coasts in part-time roles as director of strategic implementation of PRO EMS Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as executive director of the California Ambulance Association. Rob is also the principal of Robert Lawrence Consulting. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Paramedics Plus in Alameda County, California, and COO of the Richmond Ambulance Authority (Virginia), which won both state and national EMS Agency of the Year awards during his 10-year tenure. Rob also writes and podcasts at EMS1, is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board, and co-hosts the popular FirstWatch “Conversations that Matters” web series. Rob is a former board member of the American Ambulance Association and currently serves as chair of its Communications Committee and as a member of the media rapid response task force, providing media response to national industry-related news inquiries.