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In this candid and timely discussion, field experts Monte Chambers and Mike Taigan explore the intersecting crises shaping today’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workforce. From the growing disconnect between leaders and line staff to the systemic funding challenges that keep EMS undervalued, this session takes a hard look at the gap between the brochure version of the job and its daily realities—homelessness calls, nursing home care, trauma, and emotional exhaustion. Drawing on insights from American Sirens and current research, the presenters unpack what “serving the community” truly means, why the right fit still find meaning and adventure in the work, and how retention and wellness efforts are not just moral imperatives but financial necessities—given it takes roughly 11 months and $130,000 to replace a single EMS professional.