Eastern to host annual Eastern Connecticut EMS Council information session
Theme: 'Give It a Try and Discover Your Why'
Willimantic, CT (02/20/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University will host the annual information session for the Eastern Connecticut Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Council on Feb. 28. Titled "Eastern CT EMS - Give It a Try and Discover Your Why," the event will focus on recruitment, retention, and building a sustainable future for the EMS field, and aligns with Eastern's new Career Pathways program in emergency services/public safety.
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 28
- When: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Where: Paul E. Johnson Community Conference Room (room 204), J. Eugene Smith Library, Eastern Connecticut State University
According to Connecticut EMS Region Four President Joe Danao, the EMS field, nationally and in Connecticut, is facing significant challenges, including workforce instability, compensation inequities, training gaps, and impacts on well-being.
"By bringing the EMS community together at this critical moment, the session supports informed advocacy, professional resilience, and a stronger, more sustainable EMS system for eastern Connecticut and beyond," said Danao.
The meeting will bring together EMS professionals, Eastern faculty, and students enrolled in Eastern's Emergency Services and Public Safety (ESPS) Career Pathways program. Karim Ismaili, Eastern's president and a criminologist, will serve as the event's keynote speaker.
Program:
- 8 a.m.: Opening remarks, Joe Danao, president, Eastern Connecticut EMS Council Region Four
- 8:15 a.m.: Keynote address, Karim Ismaili, president, Eastern Connecticut State University
- 9 a.m.: Updates, Department of Public Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services
- 10:15 a.m.: Panel discussion, recruitment and retention
- 11:15 a.m.: Panel discussion, EMS education/training
- 12 p.m.: Networking
William Lugo, sociology/criminology professor and Career Pathways director, noted that Eastern and EMS Region Four serve the same region in Connecticut. "The ESPS Pathways Program supports workforce development and career pipelines in EMS," said Lugo, by exposing students to prospective employers and providing skills training.
"The (ESPS) program implements this framework all four years of a student's education within the ESPS Pathways Program so that by the time a student graduates, they are ready and confident for their chosen career."
Press contacts:
- Joe Danao, president, Eastern CT EMS Council Region Four: sapperr@aol.com
- William Lugo, professor and Career Pathways director: lugow@easternct.edu
- John Fournier, coordinator, Career Pathways: fournierj@easternct.edu
More information:
- Eastern's Career Pathways Program: www.easternct.edu/career-pathways/
- Connecticut EMS Councils: www.ctemscouncils.org/
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
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