NOTE TO LISTENERS: Technical difficulties affected some of the audio on this episode.

Historically, there hasn’t been a lot of diversity in firefighting and emergency medical services. Seeing is believing, and two graduates of the St. Paul Fire Department’s EMS Academy Pathways program, which provides tuition-free emergency medical technician certification, share the impact representation has had on them.

In the final episode of Season 1, Josh Garubanda, a firefighter-paramedic, and Nela Kurtic, a paramedic, discuss cultural barriers, the challenges of cultural nuances, navigating differences with their peers, and connecting with the communities they serve. Off the Charts will return soon with Season 2.

Hosts: Kari Haley, MD, and Steven Jackson, MD

Guests: Josh Garubanda and Nela Kurtic

HealthPartners website: Off the Charts podcast

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