Nominations for Jack Stout EMS Fellowship 2023

PLATTE CITY, MO — The Jack Stout EMS Fellowship, endowed by FirstWatch, is accepting nominations now through May 1, 2023. Established in August 2021, the Fellowship is open to emerging EMS leaders interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills to lead EMS systems now and in the future.

The Fellowship was developed by FirstWatch in cooperation with the Fitch EMS Foundation, a non-profit organization led by Jay Fitch, PhD. Its mission is to build on Fitch & Associates’ core value of leadership development by giving back through scholarships to aspiring leaders.

Named for the late Jack Stout, considered to be the father of high-performance EMS systems, the Fellowship will allow selected individuals to understand the principles espoused by Stout:

Matt Parrish, a captain with the Columbus (Ohio) Division of Fire, was the initial recipient of the Fellowship.

“Matt has been a great inaugural Jack Stout Fellow,” said Mike Taigman, Improvement Guide at FirstWatch. “He started with the Jack Stout Celebration of Life at Pinnacle Marco Island last year. Currently, he’s attending the Fitch Ambulance Service Manager (ASM) course. I can’t wait to hear his Pinnacle 2023 presentation on his year-long improvement project called Right Response.”

“After nearly 30 years in the Fire and EMS service, I believed I had learned or experienced nearly everything I needed to be successful in my profession,” said Parrish. “The FirstWatch/Fitch Associates Jack Stout fellowship has opened a new door to learn from industry experts, grow my network, and impact the EMS profession in ways I never dreamed possible.”

The selected Jack Stout Fellow will attend the 2023 Pinnacle EMS Leadership Forum and either the Fitch Ambulance Service Manager (ASM) program or the Communication Center Manager (CCM) program with all expenses covered by FirstWatch. Fellows will be mentored by FirstWatch senior leaders Todd Stout, Founder and President, Randy Skomsvold, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Silvia Verdugo, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Mike Taigman, Improvement Guide, among others, including Jay Fitch, PhD and other members of the Fitch leadership team.

“This is exactly what we hoped for in creating the Fellowship—the chance to expand an emerging leader’s world view, and give them the tools to make a difference in their own communities,” said Todd Stout, son of Jack Stout and founder of FirstWatch. “I can’t wait to see the nominations for the second year of the Fellowship.”

Nominations for the 2023-2024 Fellowship will be accepted through May 1, 2023. To apply, go to FitchEMSFoundation.org and select the Jack Stout EMS Fellowship, endowed by FirstWatch.

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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 for over 500 communities across North America.

About the Fitch EMS Foundation

The Foundation was created by the EMS consulting firm Fitch & Associates and others who believe the future of the EMS profession requires the aggressive development of its future leaders. By providing scholarships, the Foundation opens the door to a community of high-performing emerging leaders who need a helping hand for a national perspective.

About the Pinnacle EMS Leadership Forum

Now in its 17^th year, Pinnacle is the only leadership-focused national meeting that serves all EMS service models. Always located in a retreat-like setting, the conference is renowned for its networking, mentoring, and cutting-edge program. The 2023 Pinnacle will be at the JW Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas, July 24-28.

Contact:

Mike Taigman

Improvement Guide, FirstWatch