Rob on the Road
Every conference has the headline keynote speakers, the packed exhibit halls and the major announcements. But often the sessions that truly stay with attendees are the breakout presentations where someone stands up and delivers something practical, operationally relevant and deeply human.
As part of this new Rob on the Road series, as I go about my travels to EMS, fire and public safety conferences across the country, I will highlight the standout sessions, speakers and conversations shaping our profession. These articles are designed to bring readers inside the room, not simply to summarize agendas, but to capture the ideas, lessons, leadership insights and real-world discussions that crews will still be talking about on the flight home.
Dr. Joelle Donofrio-Odmann confronts cumulative EMS trauma head-on
The Salty Paramedic cautions medics, don’t lose yourself in EMS
Matthew Streger argues that preventable harm in EMS is less about knowledge gaps and more about culture, discipline and consistency
Virginia’s EMS director delivers a candid lesson in rebuilding trust, governance and integrity after systemic failure
A Marine general’s blunt leadership truths meet a forward-looking vision of AI, autonomy and a profession that can’t stand still
At NEMSMA’s leadership conference, Dr. Brent Myers makes the case that waiting for federal guidance is a losing strategy — and local governance is the only path forward.
