Michael Ragone

Disney Institute Processes Orientation Lost Vehicles Vehicle Keys Locked supplies Mental attitude Running for the Key On Stage / Off Stage

Outside Training Edward Deming Steven Covey Law of the farm Any road will get you there Maps Napoleon Hill Declaration of independence

Current State Our industry is undergoing some profound changes right now. The first generation of EMS executives is starting to retire. These are the folks to whom we sometimes point and say, "They did it without degrees- -why can't I?" There are two answers to this question.

First The first is that the original generation of EMS leaders was inventing modern EMS as they went along, and many grew up within organizations and systems that could have done better with some science and academics in the mix.

Second The second is that many of the early leaders in fact had academic credentials to support their accomplishments--Jim Page, Jay Fitch, David Boyd, John Chew, Bill Brown, Walt Stoy, Gregg Margolis and Baxter Larmon come to mind, all with at least master's degrees, and several with doctorates.

Possible Education Tracks

Shorter Education BA or BS ASM CCM Pinnacle Conferences (EMS Today)

Higher Education

Healthcare Master of Public Health (MPH) is often seen as a health-specific MBA, but that's not the case. This degree is designed to educate the graduate student in the five core public health disciplines: health services administration/management, biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral sciences/health education, and occupational/environmental health sciences. In recent years, some schools have developed programs in the emerging field of public health preparedness.

Business Master of Business Administration (MBA) typically exposes students to a variety of subjects, including economics, organizational behavior, marketing, accounting, finance, strategy, operations management, international business, information technology management, supply chain management, project management, government policy and ethics. Students traditionally study a wide range of courses in the program's first year, then pursue a specialized curriculum in the second. This degree is recognized internationally and is good to have if you'll be involved in any facet of EMS systems operation, planning or finance.

Public Administration Master of Public Administration (MPA) is well recognized in public safety and government circles, and generally focuses on public policy and/or governmental issues. Its core curriculum usually includes microeconomics, public finance, research methods/statistics, policy process and analysis, ethics, public management, leadership and program evaluation/performance measurement. The MPA is considered the basic credential for many city and county department head and executive positions, so it should not be overlooked for those considering advancement in the public sector.

Education Master of Education (MEd) is a fairly specific degree with education and learning as its target. The curriculum covers cognition, functional knowledge and foundations of education. This degree should prepare the holder for teaching future educators as well as for leadership and management positions in EMS education.

General Master of Science (MS) is generally seen as a generic degree, and what it covers varies quite a bit depending on your area of concentration. You can get MS degrees in finance, public health, mathematics, etc. There are often "non-thesis" options for degrees that involve pure coursework, as well as those that include theses or capstone research projects. The purpose of the thesis is to research a specific topic using appropriate techniques, adding to a discipline's overall body of knowledge.

Summary