INSTRUCTOR SPOTLIGHT: SHAWN DAVIDSON providing quality training that gets people the help they need when they call 911. That makes every other factor meaningless by comparison.
Most memorable teaching moment. It’s impossible to narrow
my experiences down to a single “most memorable” moment. What I can tell you I love is watching the “ah hah!” moment, when a student who has struggled with a concept or skill feels the click that signifies the beginning of understanding. That moment is an awesome one to witness and even more fun to be a part of.
Best advice to a student taking courses at MFRI. Honestly
the best advice, I think, is to learn yourself before you try to learn other things. Self-awareness matters. To be successful, not just as a student but in everything, a person must know what their strengths and weaknesses are and act accordingly. What classes do you teach at MFRI? EMT, EMT Skills, EMT Experience has taught me that when a person is willing to work for their goal they are much more likely to achieve it. I Refresher and EMS Officer. know that sounds trite, but it’s true. Knowing yourself, the raw What inspired you to be an instructor? My background is material you are working with, makes it much easier to meet in elementary school special education and early childhood your goal. Each of us finds self-awareness in a different way and education. At the same time, I literally grew up around EMS – it certainly never happens overnight. Learning to know and my dad, Kim Davidson (also a MFRI instructor) is the longest appreciate yourself is an ongoing process, assuming you do it serving member in the history of Lexington Park Volunteer right. The day you think you know everything is the day you Rescue Squad with 44 years this year. I joined the same should give up everything because you have no more room left department in 1989 and just celebrated my 30th anniversary to grow. in volunteer service in St. Mary’s County. Teaching for MFRI allowed me to combine the two things I am most passionate Fun fact about you not related to teaching. My husband and I work with the Dachshund Rescue of North America. We have about: education and EMS. six miniature dachshunds of our own. The head of the rescue What do you love about being an instructor? MFRI can be has teased me about being her “fat farm” because I take in challenging – but also supremely rewarding What I do every overweight dogs and help them lose a few pounds. Currently day, from the curriculum development I work on to every class at our home we have the six dogs, three cats, twelve koi and a I ever teach, I touch the lives of countless people who visit, Juliana pig. We volunteer at the local community theater and live, and work in Maryland. I positively impact the world by have three sons, all of whom are grown.
NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE STAFF AND COMMAND COURSE BRINGS EMERGENCY SERVICES LEADERS TO ANNAPOLIS Nearly 80 emergency service providers from across the country attended this year’s National Fire Service Staff and Command Course in Annapolis, MD. Sponsored in cooperation with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the week-long event brought together chief officers, senior administrative personnel and those aspiring to be chief officers. The National Fire Service Staff and Command Course featured nationally distinguished fire service speakers such as Dr. Richard Gasaway, Dr. David Griffin and John Rukavina, J.D. Local speakers included Daniel Madrzykowski, Lt. Amy Dant,
Howard County EMS Battalion Chief Dave Sabat and Alex Cardella.
his department is utilizing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s format featured two panel discussions by local emergency personnel services. Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green, Baltimore County Fire Chief Joanne Rund and Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Trisha Wolford were the panelists for “Learning from the Top: Getting the Perspective from Emerging Leaders.” Participants engaged in a question and answer format with the metropolitan chiefs. Dave Sabat, EMS Battalion Chief for Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services described efforts
Following this in-depth discussion, participants toured the United States Naval Academy, and the Naval District Washington, DC Fire Department.
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Dave Statter from STATter911 Communications, LLC; retired Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department Spokesperson Mark Brady; John Butler, Fire Chief, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department; and John Rukavina, J.D. closed the Staff and Command Course with their panel discussion “Torn from the Headlines: Reputation Management Decision Making.”
