Curtis Roberds

For Curtis Roberds, a career in emergency medical services (EMS) began with inspiration from his favorite television show, Emergency! While the show sparked his initial interest in the profession, it was the reality of serving patients and supporting communities during critical moments that solidified his commitment to the field. More than 40 years later, Curtis continues to find purpose and fulfillment in a career that has proven far more meaningful and rewarding than its fictional portrayal.

He began his career with a local fire department in 1985 but soon transitioned to ambulance service after realizing that less than 10% of all emergency calls are fire-related. That decision ultimately led him to American Medical Response (AMR) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he has dedicated the past 35 years of his service.

Curtis started as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and quickly advanced to become a paramedic. Throughout his career, he has held the positions of field training officer, field training supervisor and operations supervisor. Today, he applies his extensive experience as a clinical education specialist, helping to develop the next generation of EMS professionals.

Curtis credits his professional track to one adaptable skill he learned very early on: navigation. He explains, “Learning the geography of our city is important. It’s not just about finding your way around, which can be problematic if an electronically assisted mapping system goes down or if there are road closures the computer does not know about; it’s also about customer service and how to carry on a conversation with a stranger.”

For Curtis, navigation has always meant more than knowing the fastest route. It also means communicating effectively, adapting when plans change and building trust with patients during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

As Curtis moved into leadership, he became equally passionate about supporting the well-being of fellow EMS clinicians. He says, “Exercising your brain is vital, and [it is] much healthier than when I started. You didn't cause the emergency; you are there to help. Try not to take your job home and don’t bottle your emotions up. Don’t be afraid to talk to your team members about the calls that cause emotional distress.”

Curtis’ journey illustrates how a simple source of inspiration can evolve into a lifelong calling. Although a television show first inspired him to pursue a career in EMS, it was each of the very real scenarios that followed that kept him in the profession for more than 40 years. He knows that the true rewards aren’t found in scripts or plot twists; they’re found in the everyday acts of service, compassion and resilience. As life imitated art by leading him to AMR, a lifelong EMS career became his reality, and helping others ultimately proved to be far more meaningful.