Public Safety and Public Health Leaders Collaborate on EMS and Fire Resource Availability and Improved Delivery of Care for Virginians
Leaders from both Public Safety and Public Health, including Virginia’s Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Virginia Department of Fire Programs, as well as leadership from the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association, the Virginia State Firefighters Association, the State Board of Health and the State EMS Advisory Board, came together yesterday to discuss EMS and Fire Services in the Commonwealth.
Public Health and Public Safety are wound together in the delivery of EMS, and the group spent the afternoon discussing a path forward to improve care delivery and resource availability to citizens. Actions from this group include a commitment to improved working relationships and broadened communication amongst leadership at the state level in EMS and Fire Services.
Featured in Group Photo from Left to Right:
Nick Nanna, Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Gary Critzer, Chair, State Board of Health
Sonny Daniels, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Leah Mills, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Stephanie Dunkel, Deputy Commissioner for Population Health and Preparedness, Virginia Department of Health
Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, Director, Virginia Office of EMS
Karen Shelton, MD, State Health Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health
Lanette Walker, Deputy Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Health and Human Resources
Brian Frankel, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association representative to the State EMS Advisory Board
Janet Kelly, Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Christian Eudailey, Executive Director, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association
Walt Bailey, President, Virginia State Firefighters Association and Member, Virginia Fire Services Board and State EMS Advisory Board
Christopher Lindsay, Chief Operating Officer, Virginia Department of Health
Kevin Dillard, Chair, State EMS Advisory Board
J.C. Bolling, Vice-Chair, State EMS Advisory Board