In this special crossover edition of EMS One-Stop and , host Amelia Holliday leads the conversation, joined by Scott Helle, rural project manager at KORH; and Rob Lawrence, host of EMS One-Stop and EMS leader.
|More: Growing your own: 6 ways to develop next-gen leaders
Recorded live at the 2025 Kentucky EMS Leadership Academy, this episode explores the evolution, design and impact of the Leadership Academy on Kentucky鈥檚 rural EMS landscape. The discussion dives into the Academy鈥檚 origins, structure, statewide reach and its mission to prepare the next generation of EMS leaders in some of the most resource-challenged communities in the country.
From the realities of low-volume, underfunded rural services, to the inspiring stories of leadership growth and resilience, this episode offers a thoughtful examination of the challenges facing EMS in Kentucky and beyond. Rob reflects on leadership principles drawn from his military and EMS career, while Scott provides a blueprint for how to build and sustain EMS talent in small communities. Together with Amelia鈥檚 thoughtful moderation, this episode highlights how mentorship, structured learning and network-building are transforming rural EMS leadership 鈥� one cohort at a time.
Additional resources
- (Contains additional discussion)
- : Established to address health disparities in rural Kentucky
- Asking the big questions: Industry leaders weigh in on celebrating EMS Week amidst the forces shaping the EMS landscape
- Cultivating the next generation of EMS: Leadership development, emotional intelligence and the importance of mentorship
Memorable quotes
鈥淲e鈥檙e promoting people above their level of competency 鈥� not because they鈥檙e not good, but because we haven鈥檛 prepared them for what鈥檚 next.鈥� 鈥� Rob Lawrence
鈥淲e saw early on that EMS professionals were great at clinical care, but we were missing the leadership piece.鈥� 鈥� Scott Helle
鈥淓ffective communication is the core of good leadership. You can鈥檛 lead without it.鈥� 鈥� Amelia Holliday
鈥淢y six principles: pride, integrity, learning, humor, service and courage. They guide everything I do.鈥� 鈥� Rob Lawrence
鈥淚t costs money to build people. That鈥檚 why we provide this Academy at no cost to participants.鈥� 鈥� Scott Helle
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to run EMS in a state where many counties don鈥檛 even have a tax base to support it.鈥� 鈥� Scott Helle
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always leading. Once you start, it never stops. People are always watching and listening.鈥� 鈥� Rob Lawrence
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just building leaders 鈥� we鈥檙e building mentors, networks and future change-makers.鈥� 鈥� Scott Helle
鈥淣obody becomes a good leader because they want power. The best leaders are those who understand the responsibility.鈥� 鈥� Amelia Holliday
Episode timeline
00:18 鈥� Introduction to the Kentucky Leadership Academy and crossover with The Bridge Podcast
02:29 鈥� How the Academy was formed and why it was needed
05:00 鈥� Structure of the Academy, application process and regional representation
08:11 鈥� EMS 2050, developing next-gen leaders, and avoiding the Peter Principle
11:00 鈥� The importance of non-clinical leadership education
13:36 鈥� Funding challenges in rural EMS, tax base realities and sustainable operations
17:41 鈥� Rural EMS dynamics, local politics and the true cost of readiness
21:25 鈥� Hospital closures and extended transport times 鈥� national rural EMS challenges
24:11 鈥� Leadership is constant: visible, energetic and principle-driven
28:14 鈥� Rob鈥檚 military leadership values and the weight of being observed
32:35 鈥� Leadership as service and the power of building trust within teams
34:58 鈥� Rob鈥檚 group dynamics 鈥渋cebreaker鈥� exercise and lessons on leadership styles
39:33 鈥� Mentorship benefits both ways: mentees gain confidence, mentors renew purpose
44:49 鈥� Academy success stories and graduates becoming leaders elsewhere in EMS
46:44 鈥� Closing comments and podcast wrap-up with Amelia and Rob
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