At some point in our lives, we have all had one special person that each of us have looked up to in one way or another. You may have to ask yourself these questions: how has this person had an impact on your life and/or, what have they done for you, as well as what have you learned from them? I have been fortunate enough to have multiple people that I look up to in my life.I know this will develop.throughout my development.
The individual who has had the biggest impact on my development, not only in my personal life but also career wise is Mark Weber. Mark whom was born and raised in North Dakota started off in Emergency Medical Services at the age of 20. Mark quickly moved up the ranks earning his EMT certification and thean became a his Paramedic soon after. Mark stated that he did experience troubles as well as many sacrifices during that time. He has saidstated that while attending paramedic school his wife and him were expecting their first child and it was a difficult time financially.
Early in Mark’s career, he worked for many EMS agencies around the North Dakota area which ranged from advanced life support ground ambulances to air ambulance as well as management level positions. Mark has also held the position as theof North Dakota EMS Association President. With his volunteer EMS work heading in the direction it has in rural North Dakota, Mark has taken the bull by the horns and developed ways to help small town ambulance services keep their doors open. A couple of ways he has done this is by asking for grant money to help rural North Dakota EMS and providing contract services to ambulance services that were not able to fully staff their vehiclesambulance during certain hours.,Ggenerally this happened during business hours Monday to-Friday. Mark hasd developed multiple relationships with numerous EMS agencies that haved expressed interest in needing the services that the company he was employed by had offered. Mark had not only helped rural ambulance services keep their doors open by providing staff, he also brought in jobs.
I have had the great privilege of knowing Mark for the past 12 years. During that time, he has basically taken me under his wing and made me the EMS provider I am today. I had met Mark in 2006, shortly after the completion of my initial EMT program. I had expressed my interest in furthering my education and advancing my training. In 2007, I had completed my EMT-Intermediate course under Marks instruction. Mark was very knowledgeable; I was told to take this course from him as his pass rates were very good.
Shortly after the completion of this program and passing my national written examination, I was then employed through the company/department that Mark had managed. While under the supervision of Mark and his other employees, I learned a lot,was taught so much.nNot only as an EMS provider but as an individual. I was taught discipline and that it was alright to fail at times if you learned from your mistakes.
In 2008, I had completed my paramedic training through a larger ambulance service in eastern North Dakota. They also had a very good relationship with Mark and allowed him to instruct students from the area. With this doneBy him doing this, it allowed students who normally would not be able to attend this type of training due to the distance and , gave such studentsthemanthe opportunity. Like the students that took the paramedic program, Mark also made many sacrifices during that time. He worked so hard that I remember him staying overthe night at the office as well as putting in long hours and extra shifts with mend staying up late with me going over material that I was having a difficult time comprehending. Mark was not the one to pass judgement on anyone and could take complex material and simplify it for everyone in their own way.
The paramedic class of 2008, was the last paramedic course that Mark had taught. He had a 100% pass rate for the course which was something that he took pride in. In 2010, he had left his position as an EMS coordinator and changed career paths. Mark is still licensed and certified as a Paramedic and still provides quality patient care in rural North Dakota when he has time. Mark has dedicated his life to take care of others not only as a Pparamedic but an Eeducator, Mmanager and friend.
I continue to keep in contact with Mark to this day. We do notn’t talk nearly as much as we used to. My heart will also hold a special place for Mark. As I have mentioned previously, he believed in me when most other people did notn’t. He has made me the EMS provider I am today through the knowledge he has given me and the personal growth and development that took place during my time of employment and while being under him as a student.
We all have someone that we have looked up to at some point in our development. Each of us will have different reasons for having that special person, regardless of the reason, each of us truly owes them credit for helping us get to where we are today. Without that person in our lives, we would notn’t be who we are today. For that I am grateful!