Virginia EMS Blog

Regional EMS Council Designation Process Announcement

UPDATE: The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) Request for Application (RFA) for the Regional EMS Council designation is now open, July 7 – August 15, 2025. The RFA process will establish a contract through competitive negotiation for the development and implementation of an efficient and effective statewide regional emergency medical services delivery system for VDH.

Learn more at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/regional-ems-council-designation-process-guidance-documents/


The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) is formally notifying Virginia’s EMS community of the upcoming process to reimagine Virginia’s EMS Council system.

On Monday, July 7, 2025, the official Request for Application (RFA) process will begin for organizations to apply to be the EMS Councils of record for the seven new Regional EMS Council areas. Organizations will be invited to submit applications formally through the Commonwealth’s official procurement system eVA. That process will be open through August 15, 2025.

Be on the lookout for the official RFA notification and directions on how to participate, coming soon: www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/.

As we continue to work to transform Virginia’s Office of EMS and its role in providing support to the EMS community, VDH and OEMS leadership remain committed to transparency and forward-thinking innovation. This RFA process and the redefined Regional EMS Council boundaries are an example of a new way of doing business in the Commonwealth. We continue to appreciate your partnership and support as we remain on that path.

Governor Glenn Youngkin Celebrates EMS Week with Special Event Recognizing the Governor’s EMS Award Recipients

On May 19, 2025, Governor Glenn Youngkin honored the 2024 Governor’s EMS Award recipients at a special EMS week reception at Virginia’s Governor’s Mansion. Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet Kelly, State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, M.D., and VDH Chief Operating Officer Christopher Lindsay also participated in honoring recipients of the 2024 Governor’s EMS Awards.

These awards represent the highest level of recognition in Virginia’s EMS system and celebrate providers, agencies, and community partners who demonstrate excellence in emergency medical care.

Additional VDH and Office of EMS staff were in attendance, along with EMS leaders and system partners to recognize the award recipients and Virginia’s EMS system.

  • Check out the event photos. Official Photos by Kaitlyn DeHarde, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin.
  • Read the news release.

 

EMS Week 2025

During EMS Week, staff from the Virginia Office of EMS (OEMS) had the privilege of attending special events celebrating the heroes who make up Virginia’s EMS System.  

OEMS Director Dr. Maria Beermann-Foat delivered inspirational remarks at the Virginia Association of First Responders formerly Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS), reflecting on the evolving role of EMS in Virginia and across the nation. She commended the dedication, compassion and resilience that define Virginia’s EMS providers, especially those who volunteer in service to their communities.  

You’re not just keeping up with change – you’re driving it. You’re showing what it means to lead with integrity, serve with humility and care without condition, said Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, NRP. 

The rebranding of VAVRS to the Virginia Association of First Responders (VAFR) highlights a powerful shift that honors the legacy of volunteerism and embraces a broader, more inclusive future for Virginia’s EMS System. 

Continuing the weeklong celebration, Dr. Beermann-Foat also attended an uplifting EMS Week event hosted by Central Shenandoah EMS (CSEMS) Council – an ice-cream social that brought together EMS providers and the community for a time of reflection and fellowship.  

Attendees participated in a group viewing and discussion of the documentary “Honorable But Broken: EMS in Crisis,” which facilitated meaningful conversations regarding the current challenges in the EMS profession. This special event also featured a visit from Staunton’s very own Spider-Man, who recently completed an EMS class in the CSEMS region.    

As EMS Week comes to a close, we thank all EMS providers for their unwavering commitment to deliver compassionate care to our communities. The work you do matters; it’s inspiring, uplifting and life changing. And it’s because of you that we’re shaping a stronger, more resilient future for EMS in Virginia.  


EMS Week in Virginia is May 18-24, 2025. EMS for Children Day, May 21, focuses on the pediatric patient and the specialized care required when providing treatment to them.

EMS Week recognizes the dedication of 39,964 EMS providers and 548 agencies in Virginia. Last year, EMS providers responded to 1.74 million calls for help in Virginia, which represents approximately 4,754 incidents per day. 

Learn more about EMS Week in Virginia: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/ems-week-2025/.

My First 100 Days as Virginia’s EMS Director: Rebuilding Trust, Listening Deeply, and Shaping a Shared Future 

My First 100 Days as Virginia’s EMS Director: Rebuilding Trust, Listening Deeply, and Shaping a Shared Future 

When I stepped into the role of Director of the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) three months ago, I knew I was joining a community of deeply committed professionals. But what I could not have fully anticipated was how inspiring, honest, and energizing these first 100 days would be. 

It has been a period of listening, learning, and laying the groundwork for the long-term work ahead: restoring trust, building partnerships, and strengthening our EMS system for the future. 

Listening First, and Listening Often 

From day one, I made it a priority to hear directly from the people who power this system—EMS providers, agency leaders, regional council partners, and community stakeholders. Since mid-February, I had the chance to complete 24 site visits across five of Virginia’s eleven Regional EMS Councils: Rappahannock EMS Council, Tidewater EMS Council, Southwest Virginia EMS Council, Central Shenandoah EMS Council, and Western Virginia EMS Council. I plan to visit the remaining six regions in the months ahead. 

Each of these visits has been packed with insight and heart. I’ve toured rescue squads, fire departments, and hospitals. I’ve attended board meetings, award ceremonies, and community events. I’ve met the dedicated providers who are the backbone of our system—and I’ve listened closely to their challenges, ideas, and hopes. 

During my tour at Rappahannock EMS Council area – I had the privilege of speaking with administrators from a new health sciences college program. I also attended the Anatomage Tournament, the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS) Board of Governors meeting, a BLS competition, and the VAVRS District 1 gathering in Stuarts Draft. I was honored to be a guest speaker at award ceremonies hosted by the Forest View Rescue Squad and Virginia Beach EMS. 

These visits have been more than symbolic. They are shaping how I lead. They have helped me understand what unites us across metro, suburban, and rural areas and where the system needs to adapt to meet local needs. 

At my first State EMS Advisory Board meeting in February, we were strangers. Today, I feel we are truly colleagues and partners in progress. 

Learning From Within and Strengthening Alignment 

Internally, I’ve spent time getting to know our OEMS team—meeting one-on-one with staff to learn about their work, hear their concerns, and explore where we can be more efficient, responsive, and accountable. I am grateful to the OEMS leadership team for helping identify opportunities to modernize our operations and support our staff more effectively. 

Externally, I began building stronger bridges with key partners. I’ve met with: 

  • The Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads 
  • The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association 
  • Fire chiefs in Virginia Beach and the Peninsula area 
  • Public safety and health leaders across the Commonwealth 

We are coordinating upcoming meetings with additional regional associations and leaders who share our mission. 

I’ve also been in active discussions with leadership at the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, and the Department of Fire Programs. These conversations are opening the door to greater coordination and shared strategies around how EMS and fire services deliver care and resources to the people of Virginia. 

Clarifying Priorities: A Path Forward 

One of the most important things we have done in these first 100 days is to define a clear set of priorities that will guide how we serve the Commonwealth moving forward. My leadership approach is grounded in agility, transparency, and alignment. These are the values we need in a system that must be both responsive and resilient. 

Here are the four strategic priorities shaping our path: 

  1. Unify EMS System Statewide: Align our work with the EMS Agenda for the Future 2050 to build a truly integrated, people-centered system. 
  2. Public Health Integration: Transition EMS from a reactive emergency model to a proactive partner in community health. 
  3. Funding, Fiscal Transparency & Oversight: Strengthen the integrity and effectiveness of programs like RSAF and Return to Locality through clearer oversight and more responsive management.  Additionally, improve funding sources for EMS across the State as well as within OEMS to increase services and programs.  
  4. Rebuild Trust & Strengthen Communication: Ensure we are consistently engaging with providers, partners, and the public through open dialogue, shared goals, and value-driven leadership. 

Bringing OEMS Into Alignment with a Broader Vision 

Another area of focus during this transition has been aligning OEMS systems with broader VDH operations. This kind of integration is essential, it promotes consistency, reduces redundancy, and makes better use of our shared infrastructure. It’s one way we build a system that not only works—but works better together. 

We’ve also posted a full OEMS update presentation on our website, consisting of a PowerPoint and webinar video from April 29, 2025.  

I encourage you to take a look – it’s one step in our broader effort to keep you informed and engaged in where we are headed. 

Gratitude, Momentum, and What Comes Next 

This is just the beginning. The first 100 days were about building relationships, identifying our strengths, and creating space for honest conversations about what needs to change. 

I want to thank every provider, leader, stakeholder, and system partner who has taken time to speak with me, invite me into your work, and offer your support.  

Your commitment to this profession and your communities is what makes Virginia’s EMS system so special. 

Together, we are rebuilding trust, restoring purpose, and reimagining what EMS in Virginia can be.  

I’m proud to walk this path with you—and I’m more optimistic than ever about the future we are building. 

With appreciation,
Maria Beermann-Foat, PhD, NRP
Director, Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services 

Public Safety and Public Health Leaders Collaborate on EMS and Fire Resource Availability and Improved Delivery of Care for Virginians

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