It is with sincere gratitude, and reluctance, that Maine EMS shares that our Associate State Medical Director, Dr. Kate Zimmerman, is stepping down from the Medical Direction and Practices Board effective June 30, 2025, after 12 years of service. Dr. Zimmerman has been a leader and visionary in EMS care, system development, education, and advancement throughout her tenure as an EMS Medical Director. As a paramedic, she attended medical school and after residency at Maine Medical Center she began her career with EMS medical direction in 2013, when she was recruited and became the Maine Region 1 EMS Medical Director. In her time there, she led hospitals, EMS agencies, and EMS clinicians through changes in training, paramedic education requirements, Ebola concerns, and unified the eight Region 1 hospitals into a progressive and collaborative voice.
With the creation of the State Associate Medical Director position in 2019, Dr. Zimmerman was a natural choice to help lead EMS statewide. In this position, she has championed trauma care as the State Trauma Program Manager, stroke care, helping to improve and energize the Maine Stroke Alliance, and served as a founding member of the EMS for Children Advisory Committee. She has represented Maine as a medical director and trauma manager at many national conferences, including the American College of Emergency Physicians and National Association of State EMS Officials. Dr. Zimmerman has also been the glue holding together the Maine EMS protocol development and process, helping to manage the changes, track changes, research and provide evidence, and be the unsurpassed editor of the protocol documents themselves.
Perhaps one of her most remarkable achievements has been as the champion of our EMS K9 protocols. Leading the nation, she developed comprehensive Maine statewide EMS protocols to provide emergency care of public safety working dogs, such as Police K9s, Search and Rescue Dogs, Arson dogs, and other highly trained canines. She has testified in Maine and traveled to other states to present before state legislative bodies and promote the advancement of K9 care.
Dr. Zimmerman is continuing as an attending physician at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Portland and will be working with the EMS physician fellowship program. She will also continue to educate EMS clinicians and continue her role as the medical director for the Portland Police Department Special Reaction Team. Most importantly, she will also be able to spend more time with her family.
Dr. Kate Zimmerman has profoundly impacted EMS systems and clinicians in the State of Maine, and the entire United States as a thoughtful, insightful, passionate, and talented leader. Thank you to Dr. Zimmerman and thank you to her family for sharing your time with us. We are lucky to have benefited from your skills, time, and dedication and wish you continued success in your career!