Special Medical Response Team

10/14/2025

In the early hours of October 11th, we lost an amazing paramedic, leader, mentor, and friend. Our President Charles Alfred Welsch passed away surrounded by his family and close friends after a long battle with cancer.

Chuck began his journey with SMRT in 2005. From that point on, Chuck shared his experience, wisdom, and knowledge with our members. He gave his time to train and respond with multiple of our programs. Over the past three years while he had his own battles, Chuck was determined to still give even more by serving the organization on our Board of Directors with this year as our President.

Charles not only served his community through his primary employment at the University of Pittsburgh Police Department starting in 2013. He didn’t stop there, he served as the Deputy Chief of Irwin EMS managing clinical care and community education plus a law enforcement officer with Ligonier Valley Police.

Chuck was always focused on how he could make things or people better. In his honor, let’s share one last smile from Chuck. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as all work through this tremendous loss.

07/12/2025

In attempt to increase our social media presence, here is a follow up on recent training.

This week several members of our Mine Medical Support had an opportunity to visit a coal mine. This provides them with exposure to the environment and see the potential hazards that coal miners experience.

The Mine Medical Support (MMS) program is the original program in which the Special Medical Response Team was created. MMS provides medical and support personnel to advanced medical support Pennsylvania’s mine rescue teams though a program supported by the PA Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Mine Safety. Members train with and independent of the mine rescue program to prepare to respond to large scale emergencies underground.

In the photo, you see Dr John Morris (left) and Chad Dill (right). Dr John served as a SMRT board member and has recently taken on the role as Associate Medical Director. Chad is a jack of trades, serving as the Team Administrator by day and working as a flight nurse by night. These gentlemen are only two of the dedicated members assisting on the Mine Medical Support and SMRT’s other programs.  Hiding from the camera was Rod Shabbick, MMS deputy team leader and only remaining charter member who brings many years of experience as a paramedic and miner

04/30/2025

The strength of a rescue program lies in those who teach, lead, and inspire. John Soderberg, recipient of the PFBC Heroes of Water Rescue Award, has spent a lifetime doing just that—through Pittsburgh River Rescue, EMS and dive response, PA HART operations, and his years as a trusted instructor and mentor. His legacy lives in every responder he’s trained and every life they’ve helped save. Thank you, John, for shaping a safer, stronger rescue community.

10/03/2024

Pennsylvania Army National Guard Aviation/PA HART continues to support the mission in North Carolina.

09/30/2024

Keep not only our military partners and team members assigned to PA-HART in your thoughts and prayers but all first responders and personnel deployed to assist those affected by this storm.

We are proud of our members that work with PA Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania National Guard on such an amazing program as the Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team.

07/15/2024

Our members had the privilege to work side by side with some amazing individuals this weekend.

03/24/2024

On Friday, March 22nd, members of our Mine Medical Support group participated in a drill at the Consol Energy Harvey Mine for a simulated mine emergency. Members are assigned with mine rescue teams to provide advanced life support at the point of access to the victims. At this specific drill, SMRT had the opportunity to work with professionals from CONSOL Energy Inc., Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Mine Safety and Health Administration of the mining industry and with Ambulance & Chair EMS, Inc. for emergency services.

Members of the Mine Medical Support group complete the new miner training and additional training focused on mine rescue techniques and specialized equipment such as the Dräger BG4 closed circuit breathing apparatus as seen in the photos. The focus of this group of specially trained individuals is to decrease the time of onset of injury until the initiation of advanced care by training medical professionals and support personnel to enter into the mining environment.

**Below you can see a photo of the simulated smoke exiting the mine with additional photos of members reviewing assignments as they standby to go underground with the mine rescue teams.**

09/12/2022

05/15/2022

As this weekend closes, we are grateful for a beautiful weekend while our Mine Medical Support Lead Rodney Shabbick presented at the FDNY Medical Special Operations Conference (MSOC) 2022 in New York City. Rodney shared his “tunnel vision” through his experience and knowledge on the benefits and challenges of using a closed circuit breathing apparatus in subterranean environment. With over three decades in the mining industry, Rodney is used to things being over his head but this topic definitely wasn’t one of those. Congratulations Rodney on your presentation. Thank you Dr Doug Isaacs and team of New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and FDNY Foundation for putting on such a great conference!