James O. Page Legacy Scholarship Now Accepting Applications
CARLSBAD, CA—The James O. Page Legacy Scholarship, endowed by Hartwell Medical, in partnership with the Fitch EMS Foundation, is open to any aspiring EMS leader interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills to lead EMS systems now and in the future. Named for the late James O. Page, considered to be the father of modern EMS, the Legacy Scholarship offers selected individuals an extraordinary mentorship opportunity to further his or her leadership skills with expertise and knowledge that will last a lifetime.
Page devoted his entire life to serving others, as a fire chief, state EMS director, attorney and more. He was a technical advisor to the TV show “Emergency” and even wrote some of the scripts. In 1980 he created JEMS, The Journal of Emergency Medical Services, called the “conscience” of EMS by the National Association of EMTs. Page’s legacy of advocacy for excellence in patient care and public service continues after his death through the many tens of thousands of lives he reached through his articles, speeches, books, videos and personal mentorships.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this unique and life-changing learning opportunity," said Gary Williams, President of Hartwell Medical. "This mentorship program goes beyond the recognition of receiving a distinguished award and provides the recipient with one-on-one sessions that are meant to explore the ethics, values and level of commitment evident in highly successful leaders that are destined to always put the patient first—a hallmark of Jim’s legacy.”
The scholarship recipient receives free registration and travel expenses to the 2025 Pinnacle EMS Leadership Forum, hosted by Fitch & Associates. The core of the scholarship is a structured six-part mentorship program, facilitated by Jay Fitch, PhD, co-founder of the firm named after him and well-known speaker, author and educator. Page mentored Fitch as a young manager of an ambulance service and collaborated with him on a variety of projects.
The mentorship, which begins at Pinnacle, will tackle tough leadership questions over the course of six months, such as ethical decision-making, effective communication skills, and the use of personal vs. positional power.
The first recipient John Ehrhart, flight paramedic for Mercy Air (Air Methods) in Southern California and co-founder of the California Paramedic Foundation, shared his thoughts.
“It’s just a different way of looking at your work and learning how to lead people. It also provides an opportunity to connect with people you might not have had the chance to network with before and to learn from their perspectives on how they have affected change. It’s a very powerful experience for anyone looking to work on high impact projects.”
Nominations for the 2025 James O. Page Legacy Scholarship endowed by Hartwell Medical will be accepted through March 15, 2025. To apply, go to fitchemsfoundation.org and select the James O. Page Legacy Scholarship, endowed by Hartwell Medical.
Additional Contact:
Hannah Fitch
Fitch & Associates
hannahf@fitchemsfoundation.org
816-903-4901
Gary Williams
Hartwell Medical
760-438-5500
