Patrick D. Horan Jr
Meet the person
Patrick Horan has devoted his life to emergency medical services, forging a career that spans over two decades of frontline care, leadership, and instruction. Beginning as an EMT and rising through the ranks to become a seasoned paramedic and educator, he has consistently placed patient-centered care at the core of his work. Throughout his tenure with diverse agencies including Wakefield EMS, Haz Mat 2 EFRC, and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Patrick has provided advanced life support to patients of all ages, often in high-stakes and critical care transport scenarios. His dedication to prehospital care excellence has earned him multiple honors, including the Meritorious Service Award and the ATSPA First Responder Call to Action Award.
In parallel with his EMS work, Patrick has cultivated specialized expertise in hazardous materials response. As a long-standing Tox Medic and Hazmat Specialist with Hazmat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue Company, he has applied NFPA-certified skills in the field, managing complex incidents involving chemical and radiological hazards. His credentials as a Radiation Specialist and Hazmat Branch Officer further underscore his readiness to operate in some of the most dangerous and technically demanding emergency environments. His dual proficiency in critical care and hazmat makes him a rare asset in the EMS community, uniquely capable of leading operations that span the spectrum from trauma scenes to high-acuity interfacility transports.
Equally passionate about education, Patrick has served in faculty and coordinator roles at institutions such as Harford Community College and Rutgers University. As an EMS instructor and life support educator across Pennsylvania and beyond, he has trained the next generation of emergency providers with rigor and compassion. His contributions on the education committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council and as a National Registry evaluator reflect a career deeply invested in raising clinical standards and expanding access to high-quality training. Patrick’s blend of field mastery, subject matter expertise, and instructional leadership defines a career that continues to shape and inspire the EMS profession.
Meet the position
The Training Coordinator for Wakefield EMS is responsible for planning, developing, and delivering a wide range of clinical education and training programs. This role oversees the internal credentialing process for EMR, EMT, AEMT, Paramedic, and PHRN providers, ensuring staff meet and maintain the competencies required for field operations. The coordinator also provides American Heart Association courses including BLS, ACLS, and PALS, and trains staff to serve as Field Training Officers (FTOs) to support onboarding and mentorship of new personnel.
This position leads the design and implementation of continuing medical education (CME) programs using a variety of instructional formats, such as classroom lecture, skills labs, simulations, and distance learning. Responsibilities include developing lesson plans, course objectives, instructional materials, and assessments grounded in a strong understanding of critical care, anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. The coordinator regularly reviews and revises educational content to reflect current clinical best practices and emerging technologies in prehospital care.
In addition to education and training, the Training Coordinator serves as the principal investigator for clinical complaints and internal performance reviews related to patient care, providing objective analysis and factual reporting to leadership. The coordinator also evaluates and proposes pilot programs to advance EMS practice within the organization, using a data-informed and research-driven approach to support continuous clinical improvement.