About - Paramedic Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Paramedic Association of Newfoundland and Labrador was formed on April 18th, 2005. Since its inception, PANL has stressed the need for an association to represent Emergency Medical Service (EMS) professionals in the province. There are many issues and challenges facing EMS personnel in Newfoundland and Labrador today, and we hope to aid the profession with a united voice.

Speaking on behalf of its members, the PANL strives to have its mission statement realized: “To improve prehospital patient care in Newfoundland and Labrador”. PANL’s goal is to act as a public advocate for the profession.

As the official provincial chapter of the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC), we can now add our voice to issues confronting EMS on a national basis. In addition, we have access to national resources, never before at the disposal of Newfoundland and Labrador EMS personnel. We hope that the PANL will act as a bridge between the provinces individual practitioners, the general public, the government and the health care system. It is time for us to come together, with a new sense of energy to achieve our mandates and provide the best care we can for our patients.

In closing, we feel that this is a very exciting time for EMS in Newfoundland and Labrador. Please join us in taking the next steps forward; realizing that the field of Emergency Medical Services is going to continue to evolve, and from now on, we refuse to be left behind.

The Executive Team

Rodney Gaudet, ACP, MFSPresident

Rodney Gaudet grew up in rural P.E.I. His father was a volunteer firefighter for 25 years so Rodney was always around the Fire hall. When he turned 20, he joined the Volunteer fire department. Quickly he realized he knew he wanted to help people in need. He got interested in the medical side of the fire department and applied to the Primary Care Paramedicine program at Holland College and started his studies in 2006. He started working for Island EMS upon graduation and applied to do his Advanced Care Paramedicine program, which he graduated in 2008. In the summer of 2010, personal reasons took him to St. John’s, NL, where he worked with Eastern Health. Then in 2013, he got a job on the Flight team in St. John’s, where he currently works. He is also a Lieutenant with the Torbay Volunteer Fire Department.

Josh Fisher, ACP, MFSVice President

Josh Fisher began his career in Paramedicine in 2004. He received a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services through Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. His first job was with an ambulance company specializing in long distance road transfers from rural areas to tertiary hospitals. He also spent time in the Sun Coast of Florida as an ALS and Critical Care Paramedic. He also served as a Medical Communications Officer and Quality Assurance Officer during his time in Florida.

Josh moved to St. John’s for family reasons in 2010 and began working with Eastern Health. He has held positions as Advanced Care Paramedic, Medical Flight Specialist, Quality & Learning Facilitator with Provincial Medical Oversight, and an educator for various industry training and certification programs. Josh also serves on several national committees including the COPR National Exam Item Development Group and the National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP) Review EMR Working Group. He looks forward to pushing for positive change to the Paramedicine landscape of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Adam Fisher, ACPCentral Representative

Adam started his career in 2003 through Programs in Paramedicine in St. John’s. Upon completion, he began his passion in Central Newfoundland with a private ambulance service. Four years later, he relocated and began a new adventure with Central Health in Grand Falls-Windsor.
After starting a family and working as a PCP for almost 10 years, he decided to continue his education with Medavie HealthEd in Nova Scotia. After patiently waiting for the expansion of ACPs, he finally began working in that capacity with Central Health in September of 2018. Adam is thoroughly involved in EMS QI and MCI readiness for Central Health helping improve pre-hospital medicine in Central Newfoundland. He is very excited to be a part of the growing change of Paramedicine in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Megan Michaud, PCPWestern Representative

Megan moved to Newfoundland from rural New Brunswick to follow her dream of becoming a Paramedic. She enrolled in the College of the North Atlantic’s Primary Care Paramedic program in 2013 and found her calling. Upon finishing the program, she first registered in New Brunswick as a PCP, but when she couldn’t find employment, Newfoundland again called her name, and she began her PCP career in rural eastern Newfoundland in March 2014. First working for a private service in St. Bride’s, then moving to Cape St. George on the west coast to work for a community-based service, Megan has enjoyed everything that this beautiful province has to offer, and has put down roots on the Port au Port Peninsula. Passionate about her work, she believes that Paramedicine should be a progressive career, and is interested in trying to expand the scope of practice for PCP’s, implementing community Paramedicine in a way to best benefit the patient and practitioner, and is keen on becoming an advanced care paramedic so she can offer the best possible care to her patients during long transport times. Megan is looking forward to serving all practitioners on the west coast of the island as PANL continues to serve its mandate in the province.