https://www.co.stokes.nc.us/departments/emergency_medical_services/employment_ems.php, http://instagram.com/stokescounty

Stokes County EMS, 3169 NC 8 Highway S, Walnut Cove, NC (2026)

06/17/2026

Deep Experience, Rooted in Excellence 🚑 Welcome to the team, Paramedic Matthew Smallwood!

When you combine a decade of clinical experience with a genuine heart for service, you get the kind of provider that elevates an entire department.

We are thrilled to introduce Matthew as the newest addition to our Stokes County EMS team!

Matthew arrives with an impressive 11-year track record in the industry. For the past decade, he has operated at the top of his credentials as a Paramedic. His journey is marked by a unique blend of perspectives: spending 3 years sharpening his diagnostic precision within the walls of a hospital Emergency Department, balanced by 8 years on the front lines of the ambulance.

That depth of experience—seeing the full spectrum of patient care from stabilization to definitive treatment—brings a seasoned, calm confidence to our units.

🛠️ Culture and progress are BUILT by design at Stokes County EMS!

We know that clinicians like Matthew, who have navigated the complexities of both the ED and the field for over a decade, know the toll this profession can take. They don't just need a job; they need a system that respects their expertise and protects their longevity.

By prioritizing "The Space In Between," we ensure that our providers have the intentional recovery time necessary to thrive. We’ve designed our environment—anchored by our 24/72 shift rotation—to match the caliber of the clinicians we hire. Because when our team is rested and supported, the community receives the highest tier of care possible.

We are building a legacy of rural medicine where elite experience meets the support it deserves.

Welcome to the family, Matthew! Let’s show him some Stokes County love—drop a warm welcome in the comments below!

P.S. Links to our 'BUILT' series and Instagram can be found in the first comment! 👇

06/16/2026

Lauren, Sam, baby goats.
That’s the post.

06/15/2026

The Path to Paramedicine: Foundational Growth 🚑🌟 Welcome to the team, Paramedic Jared Friday!

Jared’s journey to the field didn’t happen overnight. It was built through six years of dedicated service in the hospital environment, including tech roles in critical care units like the ICU. That experience provided the clinical bedrock that shapes his path, guiding him from his time as an EMT to his newly minted Paramedic credentials.
Jared is ready to bring that steady, experienced perspective to our community. 🌳✨

Culture and progress are BUILT by design at Stokes County EMS! 🛠️

We believe that great clinicians aren't just found; they are developed through intentional support. For providers like Jared, we offer an environment that values the years spent learning the clinical landscape from the ground up.
By prioritizing "The Space In Between," we ensure our providers have the intentional time to recover and recharge. Our 24/72 shift rotation is designed to respect the human side of high-stakes medicine, ensuring our team is always sharp, prepared, and ready to meet our neighbors on their worst days. 🩺💪

We don’t just fill slots—we build a team. We are creating a legacy of rural medicine that emphasizes sustainable careers and long-term clinical growth.

BUILT in the foothills.
BUILT on tradition.
BUILT for the future.

Welcome to the family, Jared!
Let’s show him some Stokes County love—drop a welcome in the comments below!

(P.S. Links to our 'BUILT' series and Instagram can be found in the first comment! 👇)

06/14/2026

There is a profound peacefulness that exists in “the space in between.”

It can be found in moments like these, when the sirens are silent, looking out towards Danbury from our station in Walnut Cove.

The space in between is a rainstorm moving across the foothills & the daylight dancing through the clouds, as it races towards nightfall.

It’s where we are still.
It’s where we are present.
It’s where we are always ready to be the calm in the storm.

We are BUILT for this.

Another Sunset Sunday.

06/12/2026

🎉 STOKES COUNTY SELECTED FOR MAJOR HEALTHCARE INVESTMENT:

Stokes County EMS has been officially awarded funding through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (NCDHHS) landmark Rural Health Transformation Program!

Fueled by a historic $213 million investment to reshape healthcare delivery across rural North Carolina, NCDHHS has designated $10 million specifically to strengthen frontline Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) programs.

Out of agencies statewide, Stokes County EMS was selected as one of only 39 premier departments to receive this vital funding.

What is "The Space in Between?" ⛰️🚑
At Stokes County EMS, we look at the phrase "the space in between" in two ways:

For our staff: It’s peaceful moments between calls looking out over the foothills, and the critical 72 hours of rest and family time our providers get between shifts on our progressive 24/72 schedule. It’s how we keep our frontline workforce healthy, sharp, and resilient.

For our community: It’s the gap where unmet healthcare needs could slip through the cracks. It is the space in between a 911 emergency call and long-term wellness, or the distance between a rural home and specialty care. This is where our Community Paramedics are essential.

Meeting Unmet Needs, wherever they are, 24/7/365.
Because we believe in a proactive frontline, we are proud to provide full 24/7/365 Mobile Integrated Health coverage with a dedicated Community Paramedic on every single shift.

This grant does not just fund a temporary project. It infuses advanced resources directly into our existing, around-the-clock team to drastically improve care coordination and expand healthcare access right here in Stokes County.

How this investment transforms care in our community:

Seamless Care Coordination: Giving our paramedics advanced tools to bridge the gaps between localized primary care, chronic disease management, and hospital systems.

Improved Healthcare Access: Meeting residents directly in their homes for clinical assessments, reducing the need for costly and stressful Emergency Department visits.

Behavioral Health Expansion: Equipping our shift providers with specialized training to manage complex mental health crises right in the field.

Post-Crisis Interventions: Expanding our capabilities to provide critical medications for opioid use disorder and executing rapid, face-to-face follow-up care after overdose events to connect individuals to long-term recovery networks.

Built for the Frontline.
Built for Stokes County. 🤝

Our community is built on resilience, and our EMS team is BUILT to last. We extend our sincere thanks to the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services and NCDHHS for investing heavily in the future of rural EMS!

👇 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:
Our Community Paramedic program is built entirely around serving you. Drop a comment below to thank our hardworking crew, or share this post to help your neighbors know about the expanded healthcare resources available right here at home!

06/11/2026

Perspective in Practice: Meet Paramedic Drake Butler! 🚑

At Stokes County EMS, we believe the best care comes from providers who bring more than just a certification to the scene—they bring a life of experience.

Drake Butler is a perfect example of that depth. Before committing his career to emergency medicine, Drake worked in both construction and finance. He understands the grit required for hard labor and the analytical precision required to navigate complex systems. That unique blend of perspective is exactly what he brings to our team.

BUILT in the foothills. ⛰️
Drake understands that medicine here is unique. Whether he’s navigating the winding roads of our county or managing a complex clinical situation, he approaches this landscape with the adaptability of someone who knows what it takes to build from the ground up.

BUILT on tradition. 🛡️
With three years of experience bridging the gap between high-volume metropolitan systems and rural medicine, Drake brings a rock-solid foundation of clinical excellence. He joins a team that honors the history of our service while constantly refining how we deliver care to our neighbors.

BUILT for the future. 🛠️
For Drake, choosing to join our team was about finding a professional home that matches his work ethic. By operating under our 24/72 shift schedule—what we call "The Space In Between"—Drake is able to maintain the physical and mental recovery necessary to stay sharp for the long haul. He isn't just running calls; he’s part of a culture evolving to ensure our providers can serve this community for decades, not just months.

We are proud to have Drake on the front lines. Help us give him a warm Stokes County welcome in the comments! 👇

🎥 See what we are building in the "BUILT" series:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

📸 Follow our providers on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

06/07/2026

The view of Pilot Mountain from Pinnacle is a constant in our landscape, but it’s moments in time like this one that stick with you. 🏔️

For our clinicians at Stokes County EMS, “the space in between” isn’t just a concept—it’s a vital part of how we operate.

Whether it’s a quiet pause, in the flow of a 24 hour shift, or during the 3 days off to reset, moments like these provide the clarity & decompression required to deliver high-level care.

We believe that to show up fully for our community, we have to respect the person behind the uniform, fostering a culture where balance is intentional.

Our mission is deliberate:
BUILT in the foothills.
BUILT on tradition.
BUILT for the future.

This is how we sustain our focus and ensure that when the call comes, we are ready—not just in technical skill, but in spirit.

This is home.
This is where we breathe.
This is where we want to be.

Original 📸: D Shift Supervisor Richard Matthews.

Where do you go in Stokes County to find your own “space in between” and catch the best views? We’d love to hear your favorite spots in the comments. 👇

06/02/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ginny Kaplan, Paramedic, FAEMS, to the Stokes County EMS family! 🚑

Dr. Kaplan joins our team with over 20 years of experience as a clinician, researcher, and educator. Holding a PhD and MHS, she is a nationally recognized leader in our field. She is a past recipient of the National EMS Educator of the Year award and the EMS10 Award for her groundbreaking contributions to prehospital care.

As a Fellow of the Academy of Emergency Medical Services (FAEMS), she has spent her career tackling the critical challenges facing our profession, particularly in provider health and sustainability.

Ginny was inspired to join our team by the environment we’ve BUILT for our providers—a culture that recognizes that true excellence isn’t just found in the emergency call, but in “the space in between."

Beyond our clinical standards, Ginny was drawn to the genuine spirit of our agency—a culture she first discovered through our digital initiatives. She was compelled by the transparency we share across our platforms, which mirrors the reality of our operations: from our sustainable 24/72 shift schedule to our progressive clinical protocols.

We are honored to have a professional of her caliber on the ambulance, and we look forward to the expertise she brings to the citizens of Stokes County.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ginny is a competitive billiards player. She brings the same level of focus, precision, and strategic foresight to every patient encounter as she does to the billiards table—mastering both the clinical "shot" and the "space in between." 🎱

Please join us in giving Dr. Ginny Kaplan a warm welcome to the team! 👏 👇

Explore our story:

📺 Watch our "BUILT" documentary series here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_J0Mh61e6B2c_zVnS8M_d0A6-h3e0g5T

📸 See what we’re up to behind the scenes on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyem

06/01/2026

🚨 Introducing Paramedic Jason Collins. 🚑

At Stokes County EMS, we believe that the best care isn't just about technical skill—it’s about character. We don't just hire employees; we recruit dedicated professionals with the lived experience to match their clinical expertise.

Today, we are proud to welcome Paramedic Jason Collins to the team.

Jason joins us with over 22 years of experience in EMS.

From the high-tempo demands of municipal systems to the unique challenges of rural medicine, he has seen this field from many perspectives. Beyond the ambulance, he has spent 9 years leading regional EMS educational programs, mentoring the next generation of providers.

The Credentials:
🎓 Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Medical Care
🎓 Masters Degree in Health Science (Western Carolina University)

Jason isn’t just bringing his hands to the truck; he’s bringing an advanced clinical perspective that elevates our entire mission: providing world-class, compassionate care to the citizens of Stokes County.

Progress doesn’t just happen.
It’s BUILT. 🛠️

For a veteran paramedic like Jason, the transition to our 24/72 shift rotation provides more than just a schedule—it provides "The Space In Between." It gives him the time to decompress, recharge, and be present for the moments that matter most, with his family.

Welcome home to Stokes County EMS, Jason!

Help us give him a warm Stokes County welcome by dropping a note in the comments below! 👇🤘🏻

🎥 WATCH the "BUILT" series on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

📸 Catch a behind-the-scenes look on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

05/27/2026

BUILT with Purpose. 🛠️
The Anatomy of Our Service.

Our citizens are the heart of this community. 🫀

Our crews are the lifeblood 🩸that flows in rhythm with—and sustains—its pulse.

Our administration and training staff provide the skeletal structure, 🩻 the essential framework that allows us to stand tall, move with purpose, and maintain our integrity through the demands of this vital, lifesaving, and life-changing calling.

Central to this framework is our commitment to clinical excellence:

We have built FOUR FULLY STAFFED SHIFTS organized entirely around the Double-Paramedic staffing model. This ensures that the highest level of care is consistently available to our neighbors 24/7 when they need us most.

From day one, this mission has been deeply personal to those of us guiding the agency. Our eyes and focus are fixed on the horizon, building a service that honors our providers, our community, and the legacy we build every single day.

This is how our Agency Support Structure is BUILT:

🔹 Brandon Gentry,
Director
🔹 Renee Bridges,
Operations Manager
🔹 Tim Settle,
B Shift Supervisor
🔹 Allen Overby,
C Shift Supervisor
🔹 Ryan Dillon,
A Shift Supervisor
🔹 Richard Matthews,
D Shift Supervisor
🔹 Fred Shaffer,
Training Officer
🔹 Laura Bullins, Administrative Assistant

We aren’t reinventing our identity; we are intentionally strengthening our framework to better support the people who carry the weight of this mission every day.

"It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." — Seneca

We believe that by focusing our resources and our culture on the things that truly matter—the mental and physical health of our providers and the quality of care for our neighbors—we ensure that our time together is purposeful.

The transition to the 24/72 schedule and the evolution of our clinical capabilities are more than just operational changes; they are a fundamental commitment to the long-term sustainability of our responders.

At the center of our design is the "Space in Between."

By respecting the time our providers spend away from the station, we protect their ability to be present for their families and their own well-being.

Our role is to ensure that when they are on the clock, they are supported by an environment that values their recovery and clinical sharpness.

As we continue writing our story, we are committed to making sure every chapter reflects the dedication and resilience of this team.

Join the Conversation 👇

We love to hear from our community!

Connect With Our Story 🔗

🎥 Watch the documentary series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDaEWIr6XUIWbohZ5DWcFexZnTzvuS5q2&si=wNzSetP_kW6uVfpZ

👀 See the journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stokescountyems

📖 Read our mission on EMS1: https://www.ems1.com/recruitment-and-retention/a-new-chapter-for-stokes-county-ems-built-for-our-people-and-our-future

Stokes County EMS

06/17/2026

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06/15/2026

06/14/2026

06/12/2026

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05/27/2026

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