Theodore Schmidt

Theodore "Ted" Schmidt has been a dedicated member of the American Medical Response (AMR) team for nearly 50 years. His unwavering commitment and passion for serving others truly embody the sprit of "EMS For Life."

He was first hired as a full-time, volunteer firefighter with Shepard Ambulance—now AMR Seattle—in 1978. Shortly thereafter, he became an emergency medical technician (EMT).

What initially drove Ted to a career in EMS and what he loves most about his role is the desire and ability to help people in need. He enjoys being out in the community, working with 911 agencies and other healthcare workers, to help the sick and injured get the best possible care and treatment.

“After seeing my neighbors get the emergency response they needed from other members of the community, who volunteered their time and efforts to get the appropriate training to provide this service during a volatile period when the area was still growing, without city budgets to pay them, this became a very personal reason why I chose to serve as an EMS professional.”

Ted has held many positions at AMR Seattle; including EMT, dispatcher, chairperson of the Safety Committee, and more. Today, he’s an intermediate call receiver.

Two roles he’s particularly proud of occurred during his time as EMT trainer and new hire trainer, because Ted was able to impart the skills he gained early in his career to the next generation of EMS professionals.

“A focus on consistent, systematic patient assessment, triage and response,” are the areas Ted says every EMT should be adept in as they continue to grow and develop their careers. He continues, “My advice to someone interested in joining the EMS industry, with GMR especially, is to be prepared for a dynamic environment and the unexpected. EMS is not what it looks like on television.”

It’s clear that Ted’s multi-decade career is built on a combination of compassion and critical thinking, aligning with GMR’s culture. Thus, he contributes positively to the success of the organization, the community, his patients and the entire EMS industry. We are truly grateful for his exceptional service.