FEEL THE PULSE. FUEL THE FUTURE.

10:00 AM

When the Emergency Looks Different

Preparing First Responders for the Growing Population of Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Gina Tirri

About the Presenter

Gina Tirri has more than 30 years of experience working with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. She began her career as a special education teacher in 1993 and entered the field of applied behavior analysis in 1998. In 2003, she became Assistant Director of the Carbone Clinic, and in 2019, she and Dr. Emily Kerwin became owners of the organization, now All Points Licensed Behavior Analysts.

Gina has also served as a New York State EMT since 1989 and remains an active volunteer with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps. Her experience in both behavior analysis and emergency medical services gives her a unique perspective on the challenges first responders may encounter when assisting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. She is passionate about bringing greater awareness, understanding, and practical training to the first responder community.

About the Presentation

As the number of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities living, working, and participating in our communities continues to grow, first responders are increasingly likely to encounter individuals whose communication, behavior, and responses to an emergency may look different than expected.

This presentation explores the unique challenges that can arise when police, fire, and EMS personnel respond to emergencies involving individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Participants will examine how differences in communication, sensory processing, behavior, and understanding of danger can affect an emergency encounter—and how these differences may be misinterpreted as noncompliance, aggression, intoxication, or refusal to cooperate.

This presentation will help participants learn practical awareness and response strategies that can improve communication, reduce escalation, increase safety, and lead to better outcomes for the individual, their family, and first responders.

11:00 AM

From Wheel and Heal to Walk Again

A Podiatric Surgeon’s Perspective on Lower Extremity Trauma and Definitive Care

Jeffrey R. Horowitz, DPM, DABFAS, FACFAS — Podiatric Surgeon, Palisades Podiatry Associates

About the Presenter

Dr. Jeffrey R. Horowitz is a board-certified podiatric surgeon practicing with Palisades Podiatry Associates in Rockland County, New York. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Northeastern University before receiving his Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Horowitz completed an intensive three-year foot and ankle surgical residency, serving as Chief Resident at Metropolitan Hospital, Lincoln Hospital, and the Foot Clinics of New York, where he was twice recognized as Resident of the Year.

A Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Dr. Horowitz maintains active attending privileges at Montefiore Nyack Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital and serves as Medical Director of SurgiCare Surgical Associates of Mahwah. In addition to his surgical practice, he serves as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and has published research in leading peer-reviewed journals including Circulation and Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

About the Presentation

When prehospital crews complete the critical initial “wheel and heal”—stabilizing acute lower extremity trauma, placing splints, and managing immediate distress—the clock doesn’t stop. The podiatric surgeon steps in at this crucial junction to bridge the gap between emergency stabilization and long-term functional recovery.

In this session, Dr. Horowitz takes you behind the scenes of definitive care to explore high-stakes conditions including complex calcaneal fractures, Lisfranc dislocations, severe diabetic soft-tissue infections, and compartment syndrome. Attendees will gain insight into how frontline prehospital interventions directly impact downstream surgical outcomes—from emergent debridement and internal fixation to advanced wound modalities and custom biomechanical offloading—all designed with one ultimate goal: preserving limb integrity and restoring patient mobility.

1:00 PM

Your EMS Career Hasn’t Been Invented Yet

The Future Is Here: Are You Ready for EMS 2050? Drones, AI, Robots, Flying Ambulances—and the Next Generation of EMS

Aidan S. O’Connor, Jr., NRP, NYS EMT-P

About the Presenter

Aidan S. O’Connor, Jr., NRP, NYS EMT-P is a paramedic, EMS executive, educator, and advocate who serves as Executive Director and Chief of Greenport Rescue Squad, Inc. His career has spanned ground and air medical services, EMS education, government, and statewide EMS leadership. Aidan serves on New York State’s SEMAC and was appointed to the NYS Rural Ambulance Services Task Force. He is passionate about advancing EMS and inspiring the next generation to help shape the future of the profession.

About the Presentation

What if the ambulance of the future drives itself? What if a drone delivers blood or an AED before EMS arrives? Could your next training scenario happen through a virtual-reality headset or hologram? Could a wearable device recognize a life-threatening emergency before the patient even knows something is wrong? And someday, could robots supplement—or even replace—some of what EMTs and paramedics do today?

The future of EMS isn’t as far away as you might think. Many technologies that once sounded like science fiction are already being developed, tested, or used today. Together, we’ll explore drones, artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual and augmented reality, eVTOL aircraft, wearable diagnostics, predictive medicine, autonomous ambulances, and other innovations that could fundamentally change how we respond to emergencies.

Most importantly, we’ll ask what all of this means for you. The EMTs, paramedics, clinicians, leaders, and EMS careers of 2050 may look very different from those of today—and some of those careers haven’t even been invented yet.

You aren’t just the next generation joining EMS. You are the generation that will help decide what EMS becomes.

2:00 PM

Long Dark Road

Douglas Sandbrook — Director of EMS Education & EMS Liaison, SUNY Upstate Medical University

About the Presenter

Douglas Sandbrook is presently serving as the Director of EMS Education & EMS Liaison for SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He has over 35 years of public safety experience, with time spent in all disciplines including EMS, fire service, law enforcement, emergency management, and homeland security. The bulk of his career has been in EMS, with operational experience in suburban, urban, and rural communities.

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. EMS is unique, in that it affords us the ability to work in a dynamic, ever-changing environment while rendering care and aid to someone in need. It’s truly an intimate profession, being placed in strangers’ lives to have a positive impact and solve problems. Even when you don’t think you make a difference, you’ve changed somebody’s life. Every day you work, you will impact someone’s life forever. I do love what I do.”

About the Presentation

There’s no sugar coating this one; a frank discussion on a responder’s personal experience and reflections in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a daily occurrence in the public safety industry, with far reaching grasp, including our family and friends. Long Dark Road is a discussion focusing on raising awareness and encouraging discussion to promote our own health and wellbeing.

We’ve all heard it: “Oh you’re an EMT, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen?” Some questions we find ourselves asking: “How can I possibly keep doing this after all these years, tragedy after tragedy?” “It’s the job, it’s what we do.”

Long Dark Road is a look through a responder’s eyes into despair, judgement, and fear associated with PTSD and how to overcome those demons, including:

• Case based – personal reflection
• Public Safety Culture – beliefs and misconceptions
• PTSD – common symptoms, suicidal ideation, triggers, techniques for overcoming crisis, and dealing with associated symptoms
• Live your life