Samuel Fuge
Licensed Professional Counselor, Chief Operations Officer
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States
Actions
Samuel Fuge brings over 16 years of frontline experience in emergency medical services to his work as a counselor, educator, and speaker. Beginning his EMS career at age 16, he served as a paramedic from 2011 to 2022 before transitioning full-time into the mental health field. During his career, he not only provided direct patient care but also helped train the next generation of providers as an instructor at the Conemaugh School of EMS in Johnstown, PA, and currently teaches health science and psychology classes at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
Samuel is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Dr. Mary Berge and Associates, where he specializes in trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. He is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and works extensively with first responders, combining clinical expertise with lived experience in the field. His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Messiah University, and current doctoral studies in Counseling Psychology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.
With a rare dual perspective as both a nationally certified EMS educator and a mental health professional, Samuel is passionate about improving EMS culture, supporting provider wellness, and developing systems that strengthen resilience and reduce burnout among first responders. His presentations are engaging, research-informed, and deeply relevant to the challenges EMS professionals face today.
Area of Expertise
Topics
What Now?: Grief and Loss in EMS
EMS providers routinely encounter death, dying, and families in crisis—yet grief processing is rarely addressed in training or culture. This session explores the unique ways grief manifests in EMS professionals, from unresolved calls and patient deaths to cumulative exposure over a career. Participants will learn how unprocessed grief contributes to compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as practical strategies for meaning-making, coping, and supporting colleagues through loss.
The Silent Siren: Understanding Mental Health in EMS
EMS professionals are exposed to trauma, critical incidents, and chronic stress at rates higher than nearly any other workforce. Yet, mental health often remains a silent crisis in the industry. This session explores the psychological toll of EMS work—including burnout, PTSD, depression, and maladaptive coping—and how providers can identify warning signs in themselves and colleagues. Drawing from both lived experience as a paramedic and clinical expertise as a counselor, this session bridges practical field realities with evidence-based mental health strategies.
Split-Second Minds: The Psychology of High-Stakes Decision-Making in EMS
Every EMS provider knows the pressure of making life-or-death decisions in seconds, often with incomplete information. This session examines the psychology of decision-making under stress, integrating concepts from cognitive psychology, stress response, and EMS field dynamics. Attendees will gain insight into common cognitive biases and errors in prehospital care, while also learning tools to strengthen decision-making, improve patient safety, and reduce personal stress.
From Burnout to Balance: Building Resilience in the EMS Workforce
Burnout is more than fatigue—it’s a systemic and psychological phenomenon that undermines performance, safety, and retention in EMS. This session introduces innovative approaches to preventing and addressing burnout in the prehospital setting, drawing on counseling psychology, resilience research, and paramedic field culture. Attendees will leave with both personal tools for resilience and organizational strategies that leaders can implement to protect their workforce.
“I’m Fine”: Supporting a Partner in Crisis
EMS providers often notice when a partner is struggling long before formal support systems do. Yet many don’t feel equipped to respond in the right way. This session teaches practical skills for being an effective peer supporter—how to listen actively, validate emotions, and encourage help-seeking without overstepping. Through a mix of clinical insights and EMS field realities, attendees will learn how to break the culture of silence and be the coworker who makes a difference.
Samuel Fuge
Licensed Professional Counselor, Chief Operations Officer
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States
Actions
Please note that Sessionize is not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the data provided by speakers. If you suspect this profile to be fake or spam, please let us know.
Jump to top