What happens after the call ends? For first responders, the impact of the emergencies they answer does not always stay on the scene. Paul Smyth, Manager of EMS for Syracuse University Ambulance, knows this better than most and he is doing something about it.
Paul was recently selected as a fellow in the New York State Department of Health Division of State Emergency Medical Services Mental Health Fellowship, in partnership with the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS). While SUA operates independently from DPS, Paul has been a consistent and valued partner to our department for years, volunteering his time and expertise to support both our Police Academy and our Community Police Academy. That kind of commitment to the broader campus safety mission does not go unnoticed, and it is exactly why we want to recognize this milestone.
Deputy Chief John Sardino reflected on what makes this recognition so fitting.
“Paul Smyth is an exceptional professional whose leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to the Syracuse University community, and more specifically the Department of Public Safety, distinguish him as an outstanding employee,” says Deputy Chief Sardino. “His dedication to emergency preparedness, student safety, and the development of others has had a meaningful and lasting impact on our campus community. Paul is the type of leader who not only performs at a high level himself, but elevates those around him through his knowledge, integrity, and commitment to service. His selflessness and dedication to the health and wellness of others makes him the perfect fit for the New York State Department of Health Mental Health Fellowship.”
Through this yearlong fellowship, Paul will receive specialized mental health and wellness training, work alongside EMS professionals from across New York State, and develop practical strategies to strengthen mental health, resilience, and peer support within his agency. The fellowship is designed to bring that knowledge back directly to the people on the ground, the ones who show up every day to serve our community.
For Paul, the opportunity carries real weight. “On a professional level, I was very excited to be selected and to have the ability to represent one of the first collegiate EMS agencies in NYS to take part in this yearlong fellowship,” he says. “I am confident that with this specialized training, it will give me the tools I need to assist our membership when it comes to dealing with traumatic events that occur when we answer the call for help, either on or off campus.”
That mission extends beyond SUA’s membership. “The average person will experience two to three traumatic events during their lifetime, but in the first responder community those numbers are dramatically higher,” he says. “My goal in completing this fellowship will be to provide confidential support and to work closely with the Barnes Center to provide professional resources when a member experiences a traumatic event — hopefully providing resiliency not just as a first responder, but after graduation when they may be working in a healthcare-related field.”
First responder wellness is not a side conversation. It is a public safety issue. We are glad to see it being championed by someone who has already given so much to the people around him.
Congratulations, Paul. We are proud to call you a partner.