About the Author

Bruce J. Walz, PhD, is professor and past chair of the Department of Emergency Health Services at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). As a professor, he teaches management and clinical courses as well as serving on graduate thesis committees. He has been in the University System of Maryland since 1979, having served with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute until 1987 when he joined the faculty of UMBC. He served as department chair 1994 to 2016. Bruce Walz has been involved in many aspects of EMS education and development. Most notably, he served as a group leader for the development of the 1998 National Standard Paramedic Curriculum and the 1999 National Standard Intermediate Curriculum. He headed the educational infrastructure workgroup for the development of the National EMS Education Standards. He is a charter member of the National Association of EMS Educators and served as president in 1998. He is a past president of Advocates for EMS. Additionally, he served as a site visitor for the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP) and is on the editorial board of Prehospital Emergency Care. He wrote the chapter on education in the National Association of EMS Physician’s medical director’s handbook Prehospital Systems and Medical Oversight. He has presented at numerous international, national, and regional EMS conferences. In addition to his professional experience, Bruce Walz has been active in the volunteer fire service since 1970. He has served in many administrative and line positions including president and chief officer. In 1975 he was certified as one of the first 50 Cardiac Rescue Technicians in the State of Maryland. In 1990, he became a nationally registered paramedic. He is an approved Maryland paramedic instructor. He is a nationally certified Fire Officer IV and Fire Instructor IV. Jason J. Zigmont PhD, Paramedic, is a learning innovator and founder of Learning in Healthcare. He has previously worked as the System Director of Learning Innovation for OhioHealth. In this role he provides leadership for an integrated clinical learning infrastructure that includes Simulation, Learning Consulting, Learning Management System and Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Nursing Continuing Education (CE). Jason served on the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s Education committee and headed the sub-committee on preparation for the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator. He holds a PhD in Adult Learning specifically focused on Experiential Learning. He is a paramedic and EMS instructor who has served in both paid and volunteer EMS and fire departments for over 15 years. He founded VolunteerFD.org, and was a regular columnist for JEMS. Jason’s mission in life is to improve healthcare through learning. His research focuses on creating learning initiatives that have demonstrated outcomes in clinical quality, customer service, work life and finance.