Foxwall EMS is pleased to introduce Ben Shopland, MHA, NRP, FP-C, as our new Chief and welcome him to our Team!
Ben brings almost two decades of EMS and healthcare leadership experience to the role. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University and a master’s degree from Point Park University.
Ben’s EMS career started at Duquesne where a classmate talked him into taking an EMT class on the weekends. Shortly after completing his undergraduate studies in music, Ben enrolled in paramedic training at CCAC, knowing that he wanted to make a career in EMS.
Ben spent the next several years serving as a paramedic and field training officer at NorthWest EMS before becoming a flight paramedic at STAT MedEvac, where he also served on several committees and led a quality improvement initiative for stroke care. Ben credits his time at STAT with convincing him to pursue graduate studies in health administration and management.
While completing his master’s degree, Ben made the difficult decision to leave full-time clinical care for leadership as he took on a position at UPMC. In his new role, Ben built a team and implemented innovative programs that leveraged paramedicine and telemedicine to provide care in the home, rather than in an Emergency Department or through a hospital admission. This new team strived to keep patient’s comfortable in their home, and during the pandemic, protected them from exposure and eased overcrowding seen in hospitals.
Ben is originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania. He and his husband Eric, and their dog Bruce live on the Northside of Pittsburgh in a 1920’s home that they lovingly restored over the course of several years. Outside of work, Ben is an avid hiker and kayaker and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
Welcome to Foxwall EMS Ben, and welcome to our Aspinwall and Fox Chapel communities!
