Thriving under pressure

Incorporating diverse perspectives and solutions from both within and outside the EMS community to foster a better future for EMS professionals

March 15, 2025 09:00 AM •

In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence engages with Robbie McCue and Lisa Giruzzi of the EMS Leadership Academy, to discuss the upcoming 6th Annual EMS Leadership Summit. The conversation centers around the summit’s themes, including leadership, communication and strategies for thriving under pressure in the EMS industry.

Using the 2024 What Paramedics Want survey results from EMS1 and Fitch & Associates as the focus of conference sessions, Robbie and Lisa highlight the importance of addressing overwhelming administrative burdens, career development, mental health resources, and effective communication within EMS organizations. They also emphasize the value of incorporating diverse perspectives and solutions from both within and outside the EMS community to foster a better future for EMS professionals.

Key quotes

“Our theme is thriving under pressure and building a better future.” — Robbie McCue
“You get more of what you focus on, and if you’re just focused on the problems and putting out fires, that’s all you’re going to see.” — Robbie McCue
“Our goal isn’t just to highlight some of our own industry’s best. It’s also to bring in outside concepts that our industry can leverage without having to reinvent the wheel.” — Robbie McCue
“The organization is a reflection of the leadership of the organization — 100% of the time, that has been my experience.” — Lisa Giruzzi
“You get more of what you focus on, and if you’re just focused on the problems and putting out fires, that’s all you’re going to see.” — Robbie McCue

Recruitment & Retention

Timeline

00:01 – Discussion on the leadership theme of the EMS Leadership Summit

00:03 – Overview of featured speakers and topics, including Dr. David Daniels and Chief Amira Gilchrist

00:06 – Addressing overwhelming administrative burdens and process improvement strategies

00:12 – Conversation on career development and creating pathways within EMS organizations

00:16 – Focus on mental health resources and support for EMS professionals

00:23 – Importance of effective communication and leadership within EMS

00:33 – Strategies for recruitment, retention and fostering a positive organizational culture

00:40 – Details on accessing the EMS Leadership Summit and available resources

About the EMS Leadership Academy

Rob Lawrence

Rob Lawrence has been a leader in civilian and military EMS for over a quarter of a century. He is currently the director of strategic implementation for PRO EMS and its educational arm, Prodigy EMS, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and part-time executive director of the California Ambulance Association.

He previously served as the chief operating officer of the Richmond Ambulance Authority (Virginia), which won both state and national EMS Agency of the Year awards during his 10-year tenure. Additionally, he served as COO for Paramedics Plus in Alameda County, California.

Prior to emigrating to the U.S. in 2008, Rob served as the COO for the East of England Ambulance Service in Suffolk County, England, and as the executive director of operations and service development for the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust. Rob is a former Army officer and graduate of the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served worldwide in a 20-year military career encompassing many prehospital and evacuation leadership roles.

Rob is a board member of the Academy of International Mobile Healthcare Integration (AIMHI) as well as chair of the American Ambulance Association’s State Association Forum. He writes and podcasts for EMS1 and is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board. Connect with him on Twitter.