Pages Menu
TwitterRssFacebook
Categories Menu

About Rom Duckworth

Rommie L. Duckworth is a dedicated emergency responder, author, and award-winning educator with more than thirty years of experience working in career and volunteer fire departments, hospital healthcare systems, and public and private emergency medical services.

In addition to numerous awards and citations for excellence in education and dedication to service, Rom is the recipient of the American Red Cross Hero Award, Sepsis Alliance Sepsis Hero Award, and the EMS 10 Innovators Award 

Rom is currently a career fire captain and paramedic EMS Coordinator with the Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department, Founder and Director of the New England Center for Rescue and Emergency Medicine. A member of numerous national advocacy, editorial, and advisory boards, author of chapters in more than a dozen EMS, fire, rescue, and medical textbooks as well as over 100 published articles in fire and EMS journals, magazines, and websites, Rom is an international leader in emergency services advocacy and education. 

 

Awards / Honors 

Western Connecticut Health Network Lifetime Achievement Award

2019

EMS Today: EMS 10 Innovators Award

2019

Sepsis Alliance: Sepsis Hero Award

2015

Christopher Blackwell Dedication to Service Award

2014

Ridgefield Fire Department: Unit Citation

2010

State of Connecticut: Public Leadership Citation

2009

American Red Cross: Hero Award for Professional Achievement

2009

State of Connecticut: Public Service Citation

2004

Danbury Health Systems: Regional Educator of the Year

’03, ‘05, ‘11

BSI EMS: Special Service Award for Response to 9/11

2001

Specialties

Rommie L. Duckworth

Emergency Services Operations

Since 1998: Fire-rescue technician and officer, performing incident command-level fire suppression, hazard mitigation, rescue, and related public services with Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department to the rank of Career Fire Captain (Shift Commander) and Acting Assistant Chief.

Since 1994: Paramedic, providing emergency and critical care for municipal, private, hospital, and fire-based EMS services in urban and suburban tiered response systems, rural paramedic intercept. Currently with the Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department holding the position of EMS Coordinator.

Since 1989: Firefighter, has performed fire suppression, hazard mitigation, rescue and related public services with the New Fairfield (CT) Volunteer Fire Department to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief.

Disaster Response and Operations

2007: Served as EMS Operations Section Chief at Joint Incident Command for multi-patient anthrax exposure incident, Danbury, CT.

2001: Lead an emergency response team to World Trade Center attack at Ground Zero on September 11th-12th, 2001 with NY State Office of Emergency Management through Danbury Health Systems.

1994: Served as Treatment Officer in 111 victim multiple school bus crash in New Fairfield, CT.

1990: Provided volunteer EMS response to Hurricane Andrew relief effort in South Florida.

Rommie L. Duckworth Books and Articles

Textbook Author / Contributor (see Portfolio Section)

2020: Authored EMS Systems, Workforce Safety and Wellness, Medical Legal and Ethical Issues, Communications and Documentation, and Medical Terminology chapters of the 12th edition of the AAOS Emergency Care of the Sick and Injured EMT Textbook.

2019: Co-authored Sepsis and Septic Shock chapter of the 3rd edition of NAEMT’s Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS) program textbook.

2018: Contributed to Medical Incident Command and Rescue Awareness and Operations chapters of the 4th edition of Mosby’s Paramedic Textbook as well as peer-review of six additional chapters.

2016: Authored Vehicle Extrication and Technical Rescue and Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and contributed to Bleeding Control and Disaster Response chapters of the 8th edition of the AAOS Nancy Caroline’s Emergency Care in the Streets Paramedic Textbook.

2015: Authored Patient Assessment and Team Approach to Healthcare chapters of the 11th edition of the AAOS Emergency Care of the Sick and Injured EMT Textbook.

2013: Authored significant revisions for Jones and Bartlett’s ACLS for EMTs textbook.

2011-2013: Member: IFSTA Pumping Apparatus Driver/Operator, 3rd Edition Validation Committee.

Trade Publication Author / Content Developer (see Portfolio Section)

2017: Authored cover stories for both EMS World (pediatric sepsis) and JEMS (MCI) magazines.

2014-2017: Produced and hosted podcasts for FireChief.com, FR1.com and RescueDigest.com.

2012-Current: Authored over 100 original articles for print and online publications including the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), EMS World Magazine, EMS1.com, Wisconsin EMS Professional, Fire Engineering, FireRescue1.com, FireChief.com, Firehouse Magazine, Paramedic Chief, NAEMSE Educator Update, Australian Paramedic, and others.

Emergency Services Research and Advocacy

2018-Current: Analyst of national research on EMS expertise / education in adult and pediatric sepsis.

2018: Advisor for United Kingdom fire service adoption of EMS response models of United States.

2018: Advisor for the development of the Sepsis Coordinators Network of the United States.

2018: Lead Author for National Association of EMS Educators Position Paper on Sepsis Education.

2015-2017: Advocated for prehospital sepsis alert protocol adoption across New England.

2014-2017: Testified before state legislature and performed committee work for legislation to establish Stroke Systems of Care in Connecticut on behalf of American Heart / American Stroke Association.

2012-2016: Contributed to research and development of emergency stroke treatment support for EMS Subcommittees of the Northeast Cerebrovascular Consortium (NECC).

2010: Contributed to the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Model Social Media Policy.

Training Program Design and Educational Content Creation

Since 2020: Medical Advisory Board Member, The Sepsis Institute medical education institute.

2019: Developer of Pediatric Sepsis: First Response education program for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority Division of Research, Innovation and Ventures (BARDA DRIVe) of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Since 2018: Advisory Board Member, FISDAP education and research programs.

2018: Developer of MarCom Award-winning Sepsis: First Response EMS Education program endorsed by NAEMSP, NAEMSE, NAEMT, NECREM and Sepsis Alliance.

2017: Education design contributor for Connecticut Office of Emergency Medical Services EMS-Instructor Trainer Program Re-design and Roll-Out.

Since 2016: Advisory Committee Member, Jones & Bartlett Learning / NAEMT RECERT program.

Since 2010: Develops and delivers original webinar content for National Association of EMS Educators, Sepsis Alliance, Texas Tech University, EMS World Magazine, Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), Fire Engineering, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and many more.

Since 2009: Designs, develops and delivers fire, rescue, EMS, education and leadership development programs internationally through the New England Center for Rescue and Emergency Medicine, llc.

2004-2009: Developed learning management systems for Danbury (CT) Hospital EMS Division.

1992: Developed the first formal recruit training program at Squantz Engine Company, New Fairfield, CT.

Education Delivery

2018-2020: Instructor for the National Fire Academy’s Professional Development Program.

2017-2019: Instructor for the National Fire Academy’s EMS Quality Management Program.

2016: Presenter at the National Fire Academy’s 2016 Executive Fire Officer Program Symposium.

2013-2018: Adjunct Instructor for Connecticut State Fire Academy.

2011-2015: Educator for Chief Officer and Company Officer Leadership Symposia for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Rescue International conferences.

2011-2012: Developed “Initiative for Best Practices in ALS” program for Ridgefield (CT) FD.

2004: Coordinated first ACLS for Experienced Providers programs in CT & New York City regions.

2004: Coordinated DHS’ Center for Domestic Preparedness first Weapons of Mass Destruction training program for first responders in Connecticut.

1999-2009: Served as EMS Training Director for Danbury (CT) Health Systems.

1995-1999: Delivered EMS education programs for American Medical Response, New Haven (CT).

1992-2012: Delivered CPR, First Aid, and Safety programs through the American Red Cross.

Rommie L. Duckworth

Public Safety Leadership

2018-Current: Member, EMS Today Conference Advisory Board Member.

2017-Current: Member, Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) Editorial Board.

2017-Current: Member, National EMS Management Association Accreditation Committee.

2015-Current: Member, Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) Advisory Board Member.

2015-Current: Member, Advisory Board for the Sepsis Alliance charitable organization.

2015-2018: Member, AHA’s NE Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and QA/QI Chair.

2013-2016: Executive Director for First Few Moments 501c3 education nonprofit.

2009-2015: Member, American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee for the Connecticut Region and New England Regional Transition Committee.

2009-Current: Director, New England Center for Rescue & Emergency Medicine, llc

2002-2018: Member, AHA ACLS National Faculty and PALS and BLS Regional Faculty

1999-2001: Union Steward, International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1739.

1998-Current: Member, Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department committees, workgroups, and task-forces including Paramedic Service, Technical Rescue Team Coordinator, EMS Rescue Task Force, Hazardous Materials Preparedness, 40th and 50th Union Anniversaries, and Memorial Day Services.Fire and EMS