EMT-A/ADVANCED PARAMEDICS, THE "FIRST CLASS"

The first EMT-A/Advanced Paramedic course consists of trainers from each Health Board/Area and both training institutions recognised by PHECC. Most have completed paramedic training in another jurisdiction previously. This group will be helping to develop and refine the course as well as complete it themselves.

All have progressed to the next part of the course after they were assessed on the Distance Education block by a multiple choice (MCQ) paper and short answer (SAQ) paper in December.

John Burton Born in the U.S., started career in EMS in 1979. Qualified as a Paramedic at the University of Alabama in 1983, and was licensed and worked in Alabama as a paramedic until January 1990. Worked as a paramedic at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital in Riyadh KSA for 4 years then moved to Doha, Qatar as a paramedic/operations officer for 2 years. Moved to Ireland, where he was employed by the National Ambulance Training School from 1996 until January 1999, when he took up the position of Training and Development Officer for the Mid-Western Health Board. Ricky Ellis Born in Dublin and lives in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Joined Dublin Fire Brigade in 1985. Attached to Tara St. Fire Station before posting to "A" Watch, Rathfarnham. Completed Ambulance training in 1986. Trained as a paramedic in Boston MA in 2000. Involved in EMS training in DFB since. Kevin Flannery Born in London in 1968. Joined the Western Health Board in 1991. Initially based in Roscommon, later transferred to Ballina, Co. Mayo. Responsible for Training Development in Counties Mayo and Roscommon. Completed the UK paramedic course in 1998. Tom Horwell Born in County Louth and still living there. Worked as a Business Studies teacher before joining the NEHB Ambulance Service. Joined the National Ambulance Training School as a Training & Development Officer in 1999. Trained as a paramedic in Scotland and as an IHCD Ambulance Tutor in Wiltshire. Currently, the Senior Training Officer in NATS. Lawrence Kenna Joined the Ambulance Service in March 1980. Worked in Naas, Maynooth and Loughlinstown stations before joining the National Ambulance Training School in 1992. Returned to the Eastern Region Ambulance Service in 1999 as the Training and Development Officer. Completed paramedic training in 1995. Shane Knox Born in the Orchard County, joined the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in 1990. Worked as a paramedic from 1994, while stationed in Craigavon, Co. Armagh. Joined the National Ambulance Training School in April 2001. Declan Lonergan Native of Dublin. Joined EHB Ambulance in 1987, initial assignment in Kildare. Joined National Ambulance Training School staff from 1990 to 1997. SEHB as Training and Development Officer in 1997. Completed paramedic training in Belfast in 1994. Completed BA in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management through NCIR in 1998 and MBS in Change Management through Waterford Institute of Technology in 2000. Danny O’Regan Born in Cork . Joined the SHB in 1976 and entered the Ambulance Service in 1978. Responsible for Training & Development in Cork and Kerry. Qualified as an Ambulance Aid Instructor in 2004.

Colm Megan Native of Dublin. Joined EHB Ambulance in 1986, initially stationed in Naas. Completed Basic Ambulance Course in 1987. Worked in the Swords Ambulance Station as LEMT prior to appointment as Ambulance Officer, Training and Development, Eastern Region Ambulance Service. Completed paramedic training, University of Alabama, Huntsville Campus in 2001. Fergus McCarron A true native of Donegal. Joined the Health Service in 1973. Transferred to the Ambulance Service in 1975. In 1994 was appointed as Regional Training Officer for the NWHB. Completed paramedic programme in 1997 in Bolton. Vincent O’Connor Native of Galway City. joined the Ambulance Service in December 1979. Completed basic training in February 1980 and converted in 1997. Completed the IHCD/NATS Instructor programme in 1999 which included the IHCD paramedic programme. Training and Development Officer in the WHB. Martin O’Reilly Joined Dublin Fire Brigade in 1989, stationed in Tallaght Fire Station for twelve years. An EMT tutor since 1997. Trained as a paramedic in the US in 2000. Recently been appointed Station Officer attached to Dolphin’s Barn and Tallaght Fire Stations. Brian Power Born in Waterford. Joined the Ambulance Service in 1979. Worked in ambulance control, National Ambulance Training School and operations management up to 2001. Joined PHECC as Programme Development Officer in 2001. Completed initial paramedic training in Belfast in 1991. Michael Seaman Born in Dublin. Joined NEHB Ambulance Service in 1989 initially assigned to Drogheda Ambulance Station. Qualified as an Ambulance Aid Instructor in 1995 and appointed as an Ambulance Training and Development Officer in 1996. Completed paramedic training in Belfast with the Northern Ambulance Service as part of a cross border initiative in 1996. Dawn Stevenson Born in Donegal. Served as an RNLI crew member and helmsman for 10 years on Lough Swilly Lifeboat. Joined the Ambulance Service in 1995, stationed in Co. Clare with the MWHB. Appointed as aTraining & Development Officer in 2000 with the National Ambulance Training Board (NATB). Qualified as an IHCD paramedic in Scotland and IHCD Ambulance Aid Tutor in Chippenhan, Wiltshire in 2000. Brendan Whelan A native of Laois. Joined the SEHB Ambulance service in 1998 based in Kilkenny City. Then transferred to the MHB Ambulance Service stationed in Tullamore. Currently Acting Training and Development Officer for the MHB Ambulance Service.