Name
Bonus Panel: Moving EMS Wellness Forward: Fellowship Experiences from Across New York State
Date & Time
Saturday, November 14, 2026, 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Speakers
Stephen Brucato, NYS Division of State Emergency Medical ServicesBureau Chief, Bureau of EMS Emergency ManagementSteve began his EMS career with the Bellmore-Merrick Volunteer Ambulance Corps. on Long Island in 1997. He attended the Stony Brook University Paramedic Program in 2001 and spent 10 years working in the New York City 9-1-1 System before moving to the Capital Region. He earned a bachelor's degree in emergency management from Empire State University in 2012. From 2015- 2021 he served as the Chief of Operations for Greene County Paramedics, a rural countywide ALS first response agency, and received the 2021 Harriet C. Weber Leadership Award from the Hudson-Mohawk Regional EMS Council. Steve currently serves as the Bureau Chief for the Bureau of EMS Emergency Management with the New York State Division of EMS.
Katie Oldakowski, Mental Health Association of New York StateSenior Director of Training and Programs
Katie Oldakowski, Mental Health Association of New York StateSenior Director of Training and Programs
Description
This session highlights the work of the inaugural New York State EMS Mental Health Fellowship and the collaborative efforts to strengthen wellness, resilience, and peer support across EMS agencies. Through a brief program overview and moderated panel discussion, fellows will share common challenges, lessons learned, practical strategies, and successes from implementing wellness initiatives within their organizations. The session will conclude with an audience Q&A focused on advancing EMS wellness efforts statewide.
Session Type
General Session