In this inaugural episode of the EMTS Academy Podcast, Program Director Matt Nealand sits down with Dr. Jeff Jarvis—emergency physician, medical director, and host of the EMS Lighthouse Project Podcast. From his early days as a volunteer firefighter in East Texas to becoming one of the most respected voices in prehospital medicine, Dr. Jarvis shares lessons on leadership, lifelong learning, and how to think clearly under pressure.

He discusses what makes a great clinician (hint: it's not your IV skills), how research shapes better patient care, and why embracing tools like AI and ChatGPT can make smarter, more reflective medics. With humor, humility, and hard-won wisdom, this conversation dives deep into what it means to serve, learn, and lead in EMS today.