PRESS RELEASE
AUSTIN, Texas — EMS and fire service leaders today face mounting pressures—from workforce challenges and budget constraints to increasing performance expectations. To help leaders meet these demands with proven, results-driven strategies, David M. Williams, PhD, and Mike Taigman are launching the Next Level Improvement Science for EMS master course.
This program is designed for senior EMS and fire leaders who want to take a data-driven, system-wide approach to performance improvement, problem-solving, and leadership development.
Why this course?
Unlike traditional leadership training, this course is built on Improvement Science, a framework that blends evidence-based methods with real-world EMS and fire service experience to drive measurable, lasting results.
Participants will learn how to:
✔ Make quality a leadership strategy and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
✔ Guide leadership teams in evaluating performance metrics and selecting impactful improvement opportunities.
✔ Use qualitative and quantitative data to understand system performance and test changes effectively.
✔ Master the use of Shewhart charts, PDSA cycles, and change management techniques to ensure sustainable results.
✔ Develop a compelling business case for strategic improvement initiatives.
✔ Build a portfolio of improvement work to showcase their leadership impact.
Who should apply?
The course is ideal for:
- Senior EMS and fire service leaders.
- Those aspiring to become Chief Medical Officers, Fire Chiefs, or CEOs.
- Leaders responsible for results-driven improvement, operations, and system performance.
Course format and schedule
This 12-month project-based program includes a combination of virtual learning and in-person workshops at ESO headquarters in Austin, Texas. The interactive format ensures participants gain practical, hands-on experience with tools and methods that will be immediately applied in their organizations.
📅 Key Dates:
• Application Deadline: April 18, 2025
• Program Start: July 22, 2025
• In-Person Workshops: September 2025 & February 2026 (Austin, TX)
• Course Completion: December 2026
💰 Cost: $5,000 per participant
🔗 Learn more and apply today: https://davidmwilliamsphd.com/ems-course/
About the course leaders
David M. Williams, PhD, is a globally recognized expert in EMS performance improvement, leadership, and the Science of Improvement. He has worked with EMS and hospital leaders worldwide to implement evidence-based strategies that drive measurable improvements. A faculty member at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Dr. Williams has helped shape EMS quality initiatives and co-authored Quality as an Organizational Strategy.
Mike Taigman, MA, is a seasoned EMS leader, educator, and improvement science expert. With decades of experience in quality improvement, operational leadership, and system performance, he has coached EMS and fire service leaders across North America on using data-driven decision-making to enhance emergency response and patient care. Taigman is the Improvement Guide at FirstWatch
A game-changer for EMS and fire leaders
“The EMS and fire service landscape is more complex than ever,” said Dr. Williams. “This course equips leaders with the skills and tools to solve problems, drive real change, and build high-performing systems. It’s an investment in the future of emergency services.”
🚑 Apply now to secure your spot: https://davidmwilliamsphd.com/ems-course/
About David M. Williams, PhD
David M. Williams, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in improvement science, EMS performance, and leadership development. A former EMS leader, he has dedicated his career to helping organizations build learning cultures, test changes effectively, and achieve measurable improvements in patient care and operations. He is coauthor of Quality as an Organizational Strategy: Building a system of improvement and the former senior lead of improvement science and methods and leadership at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. For information, visit www.DavidMWilliamsPhD.com.
About FirstWatch
FirstWatch helps public safety and healthcare professionals serve their communities through the use of technology and the science of quality improvement. Drawing on deep experience in emergency services, the FirstWatch team develops software and personalized solutions to help organizations continuously improve at what they do. Founded in 1998, and based in Carlsbad, Calif., FirstWatch has partnered with more than 500 communities across North America to improve outcomes, efficiency, safety, and operations. Find out more at FirstWatch.net.
About ESO
ESO (ESO Solutions, Inc.) is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s EMS agencies, fire departments, hospitals, state and federal offices. ESO currently serves thousands of customers throughout North America with a broad software portfolio, including the industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next generation ePCR; ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind healthcare interoperability platform; ESO Fire RMS, the modern fire Record Management System; ESO Patient Registry (trauma, burn and stroke registry software); and ESO State Repository. ESO is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.eso.com.