November 13, 2014
Dennis Rowe, director of operations in East Tennessee for Priority Ambulance, recently was voted president-elect of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) in a general membership election for a two-year term beginning January 1.
“Priority Ambulance is proud to have a national leader in the emergency medical services industry in our organization,” Priority Ambulance CEO Bryan Gibson said. “NAEMT is EMS’ largest professional organization, and its leadership influences pre-hospital policies and protocols across the country.”
NAEMT, with more than 40,000 members, is the largest professional association for EMS practitioners in the country. All active members have the opportunity to vote in the board elections. The NAEMT board consists of five officers, eight directors representing regions of the United States and two at-large directors.
As president-elect, Rowe will assist the president in his duties and prepare to serve as president of the association for a two-year term beginning in 2017. The president acts as the chief executive officer and oversees all aspects of association operations.
On the national stage, NAEMT represents its members before the federal government on issues that impact the EMS work environment and the ability to effectively serve patients.
“NAEMT provides a unified voice representing our EMS personnel at every level,” Rowe said. “Especially at this period of dramatic change in our health care system, I am honored to be able to take a new leadership role in this organization and help advocate for the interests of my colleagues and patients.”
The organization also provides continuing education and recertification classes for EMTs and paramedics and distributes information to its members on the latest technology and protocols for the industry.
Rowe oversees ambulance transports and communications centers in Knox, Loudon and Blount counties for Priority Ambulance and has more than 35 years of experience in the EMS field in East Tennessee. He spent 17 years at Rural/Metro serving in Knox, Loudon and Blount counties, Spring Hill and Nashville.
Previously, Rowe was the trauma coordinator for the Level One Trauma Center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He was involved in research publications, Trauma Center financial analysis and day-to-day operations. Before moving to the surgery department, Rowe was part of the UT LIFESTAR helicopter program startup team.
A longtime member of NAEMT, Rowe is completing a term as treasurer on the national board of directors and also has served on the Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Committee, NAEMT Bylaws Committee and numerous other committees and appointed liaison positions. He is a past president of the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association and currently serves on the Tennessee EMS Division Clinical Issues Committee.
About Priority Ambulance:
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Priority Ambulance provides the highest level of clinical excellence in emergency and nonemergency medical care to the communities it serves. Throughout its national service area, more than 375 highly trained paramedics, EMTs and telecommunicators staff state-of-the-art ambulances with the latest medical equipment and technology.
Priority Ambulance provides emergency and nonemergency medical transport options in East Tennessee to Knox, Loudon and Blount counties. Priority Ambulance also operates in Utica, N.Y., as Kunkel Ambulance and in Central Indiana as Seals Ambulance. Operating as Shoals Ambulance in Alabama, the company serves Lauderdale County, the City of Florence, the City of Muscles Shoals and Birmingham in Alabama.