Diversity in Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services

08/15/22 • 35 min

Off the Charts: Examining the Health Equity Emergency

NOTE TO LISTENERS: Technical difficulties affected some of the audio on this episode.

Historically, there hasn’t been a lot of diversity in firefighting and emergency medical services. Seeing is believing, and two graduates of the St. Paul Fire Department’s EMS Academy Pathways program, which provides tuition-free emergency medical technician certification, share the impact representation has had on them.

In the final episode of Season 1, Josh Garubanda, a firefighter-paramedic, and Nela Kurtic, a paramedic, discuss cultural barriers, the challenges of cultural nuances, navigating differences with their peers, and connecting with the communities they serve. Off the Charts will return soon with Season 2.

Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD

Guests: Josh Garubanda and Nela Kurtic

HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcast

Got an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

NOTE TO LISTENERS: Technical difficulties affected some of the audio on this episode.

Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD

Guests: Josh Garubanda and Nela Kurtic

HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcast

Got an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Previous Episode

Childhood Vaccines and Disparities

Childhood immunization schedules are designed for children’s young immune systems, helping to protect them from preventable diseases as early and as safely as possible. That’s why it’s so important to stay on schedule – even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrea Singh, MD, department chair of pediatrics at Park Nicollet and co-lead of the Children’s Health Initiative, discusses disparities in childhood vaccination rates and how critical vaccines are for keeping kids healthy. Dr. Singh also shares her lifelong passion for teaching and helping people learn, and her experience as a parent and how it relates to building trust with patients and their families.

Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD

Guest: Andrea Singh, MD

HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcast

Got an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].

Next Episode

Black Maternal Health from a Midwife's Perspective

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, it’s part of our ongoing work to improve the health and well-being of birthing parents and babies, through health equity efforts focused on eliminating disparities in maternal and infant care.

Dr. Diane Banigo, a doctorate-prepared midwife, certified nurse midwife and Park Nicollet community consultant, discusses means to be a midwife, the importance of building authentic relationships, and “birthing while Black.”

Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD

Guest: Diane Banigo, DNP, APRN, CNM

HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcast

Got an idea? Have thoughts to share? We want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].