WashU EMS Physicians

09/04/2026

Early this morning, St. Charles County Ambulance District deployed the Hazmat Medical Specialist Team to an anhydrous ammonia leak in Troy, Missouri, to provide scene rehabilitation for the firefighters and hazmat technicians working the leak. Dr. Michael DeFilippo, WashU EMS faculty and task force physician, responded as part of the team to provide on-scene physician coverage.

Anhydrous ammonia is a gas that injures the eyes, skin, and airway on contact. Crews spent time in encapsulated suits in the heat while the surrounding area was evacuated. Rehab is where they cool down, rehydrate, get vitals checked, and get cleared to go back in.

What does an EMS physician add at a scene like this?
- Medical care for the rescuers. Hazmat entry is physically punishing. The physician supports the rehab team in deciding who is safe to re-enter and who needs to sit out or be transported.
- Field care and on-scene medical direction. If a rescuer or a civilian goes down, the physician is there to assist with airway management, decontamination priorities, and the judgment calls that would otherwise go through a radio or phone call.

Our thanks to SCCAD, Lincoln County Ambulance District, Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1, Orchard Farm Fire Protection District, and any other crews that worked on scene with us.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

08/29/2026

Your WashU EMS docs in action this week:

Early in the week, Dr. Siegler and Dr. Tan (St. Charles County Ambulance District) trained with the Missouri US&R medical specialist team, working through rope rescue and high angle scenarios.

Later in the week, Dr. DeFilippo and Monarch Fire Protection District ran a full simulation with the St. Luke's Hospital - St. Louis ED and CVICU teams for their prehospital ECMO program. Programs like this are built on reps; every simulation sharpens the handoff and shaves time off the clock when it counts.

Rope systems one day, ECMO circuits the next. That's EMS medicine in St. Louis!

08/23/2026

Some highlights of WashU EMS physicians in the field this week! 🚑

Division Chief of EMS Dr. Svancarek spent time with Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, teaching and responding to calls alongside their crews in our newest addition to the fleet.

Meanwhile, EMS faculty Dr. DeFilippo provided physician coverage with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency at the Missouri State Fair, staffing the DMAT field hospital; a fully functional emergency department on the fairgrounds with X-ray, point of care labs, and resuscitative equipment.

Prehospital medicine takes many forms: firehouse education, field response, and mass gathering coverage at one of the state’s largest events. Proud of the work our team does across Missouri.

08/22/2026

Our EMS fellows Dr. Lord and Dr. Holton worked alongside WashU EM faculty Dr. Levine last night providing medical coverage for the Savannah Bananas game at Busch Stadium.

Our fellows get hands-on experience with professional sports and large event coverage (NHL, MLB), mass gathering medicine, and disaster response as part of their training.

We’re currently accepting applications for the WashU EMS Fellowship.

https://emergencymedicine.wustl.edu/education/fellowships/ems/

08/20/2026

Doctors Holton and Kroll from our EMS division recently responded to a third-alarm fire in Jefferson County through our partnerships with Saline Valley Fire Protection District and Rock Township Ambulance District - RTAD.

They assisted with medical monitoring and rehabilitation for responding personnel and remained available to support patient care if needed.

We appreciate the regional agencies and personnel involved in the response. Medical direction is a partnership and we are grateful for the opportunity to train alongside the crews we serve and support them in the field when needed.

08/14/2026

Congratulations to Missouri's EMS Physician of the Year, WashU's Dr. Melissa Kroll!!!

The Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association recognized Dr. Kroll for her work as Medical Director of Christian Hospital EMS, a BJC HealthCare hospital-based service, where she directs clinical guideline development, quality improvement, and clinician education.

Dr. Kroll is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine, and a faculty member of the Division of EMS. Alongside her medical direction, she contributes to resident and fellow education and to the Division's quality and research work.

Statewide recognition of this kind reflects sustained and largely unseen effort: guideline revision, case review, teaching, and time in the field with the crews who carry out that direction. The Division of EMS congratulates Dr. Kroll on a well deserved honor!

08/05/2026

Your WashU EMS physicians have been busy this summer!

Over the past few weeks, our EMS faculty have partnered with our agencies for a variety of hands-on educational experiences. These have included finger thoracostomy and prehospital blood transfusion simulations with Monarch Fire Protection District, as well as a live-tissue porcine lab through the WashU Institute for Surgical Education alongside the Abbott EMS Critical Care Paramedic Student Cohort.

Beyond education, our EMS physicians and fellows have also responded to multiple 911 calls this summer, providing on-scene physician support to our EMS agency partners.

In addition to our educational and operational work, our division has partnered with our EMS agencies to pursue more than $2.5 million in grant funding this summer. These proposals are designed to support innovation, strengthen regional EMS systems, expand educational opportunities, and help our partner agencies continue to grow their impact both regionally and nationally.

We’re incredibly grateful to our agency partners for their collaboration, trust, and commitment to advancing prehospital care. These partnerships make it possible to improve patient care, expand educational opportunities, and continue building the future of EMS together.

07/17/2026

The work doesn't stop.

Orientation month continues. Today Dr. Lord was at Rock Township Ambulance District - RTAD with EMS faculty member Dr. Jeff Siegler, running high-quality CPR training with RTAD crews and training officers. They worked on a high-fidelity mannequin using a LUCAS mechanical CPR device and a Hamilton ventilator in CPR mode. 🫀

Dr. Lord is assigned to RTAD as an Assistant Medical Director for the year, working under Dr. Siegler, the agency's Medical Director.

That direct medical director experience is another piece that sets our fellowship apart. Our fellows help shape clinical guidelines, train the crews, and oversee patient care, along with the wider range of medical director work: things like 911 field response, Mobile Integrated Health, and prehospital innovation and research.

We are accepting applications for the 2027-2028 academic year. Learn more about the WashU EMS Fellowship: https://emergencymedicine.wustl.edu/education/fellowships/ems/