Most of our members have joined NCEMS with no previous healthcare experience, but have an interest in exploring healthcare, public policy, or medicine.
New Canaan EMS is a natural fit for those looking to learn more about these areas, and for many former members, NCEMS has been the springboard to a career in one of these disciplines.
Read some of their stories below.
Frank joined NCEMS in 1988 as a student member. After an 18 year stint as a Greenwich Police Officer, Frank moved into emergency communications, first in Meriden and now as Operations Director of SWRCC, the entity that dispatches NCEMS! Frank returned to NCEMS 10/2019 to once again serve the residents of his hometown.
Active member 2004-2011, started while at NCHS: "NCEMS is the reason I chose a career in medicine. It molded me into the great caregiver I am today. I was mentored by some of the most professional and caring volunteers during my tenure at NCEMS. I have worked on an ambulance for 16 years."
Al spent 2-3 years with New Canaan EMS and then went on to become a Paramedic. Since 1988, Al has continued to volunteer time with EMS. His recollections of New Canaan EMS include: "Great working alongside good experienced EMTs - great facilities and equipment".
Jenn is the Emergency Management Program Manager for Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, a 300+ bed hospital with 8 regional medical centers and 4 outpatient facilities. "I wouldn't be in the career I am now in if it weren't for NCEMS. NCEMS was 'family' to my daughter Anna and me".
"When I took the EMT class, I couldn’t imagine how much I would love being a volunteer EMT, both with NCEMS and in Vermont, where I went to college. The joys of helping people in your community, of learning from your patients and your colleagues, and of belonging to a community like NCEMS are so profound they are difficult to summarize. I still think of NCEMS as part of my family."
Dr. Eudowe also serves as the clinical director for several crisis response teams and instructs on trauma, crisis response, clinical assessment and care. Josh's 10 years of exposure to trauma and crisis while at NCEMS fueled his commitment to helping people work through physical and emotional trauma
An active member for 13 years, Laurie joined NCEMS with no medical experience after the tragedies of September 11. Immediately hooked on Emergency Medicine, she went back to school and became an ER nurse, a paramedic, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice all while an active member. Laurie has taught nurses and residents at Dartmouth Hitchcock. "NCEMS was my inspiration and is like a second family!"
Greg went on to serve Monroe EMS for many years and has been a leader with the CT Critical Incident Stress team for more than 20 years. "My time with NCEMS was an amazing way to serve others as well as make great lifelong friends". Gregg is currently a SVP of Learning and Development at a Westport consulting firm, and is State Captain Patriot Riders of CT, and Director, Honor and Remember of CT