Santa Clara County Appoints New EMS Director

Contact:
Gwendolyn Mitchell/Lingxia Meng
Office of Public Affairs
408-299-5119

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – Today, the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department announced the appointment of Michael Petrie as the new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director. The appointment is effective July 5, 2011. Immediately prior to joining the County, Petrie served as the Director of Emergency Management Sciences in the U.C. Berkeley Center of Infectious Disease and Emergency Readiness.

“We are pleased to have Petrie join the County’s Public Health Department,” said Daniel Peddycord, Public Health Director. “His extensive experience and knowledge in emergency medical services management and research makes him the ideal candidate for this position.”

While at the U.C. Berkeley Center for Infectious Disease and Emergency Readiness, Petrie supervised emergency plan development and evaluation for cities, counties, and states, and managed the Cal PREPARE Exercise Laboratory, which conducts research on state and local governments’ homeland security, public health, and emergency medical preparedness.

From 2000-2008, Petrie was the EMS Director for the City and County of San Francisco where he oversaw the City’s EMS system. His experience also includes serving as the Hospital Administrator for Del Puerto Health Care District, and the Director of Patterson District Ambulance in Patterson, California. Petrie has also served on the faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and continues at NPS as Thesis Advisor and a member of the Editorial Review Board of Homeland Security Affairs. Petrie has been a licensed paramedic since 1983.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve as EMS Director for Santa Clara County,” said Petrie. “The Santa Clara County EMS System is well-regarded throughout the state. The EMS Agency has a well-seasoned and extremely competent staff and a high degree of collaboration among its fire service, hospital, ambulance provider, law enforcement, and other stakeholders.”

The Santa Clara County EMS Agency oversees the delivery of 911 emergency medical services within the county. The Agency coordinates with educational agencies, hospitals and specialty care facilities to conduct an integrated emergency medical care delivery system. The EMS Agency also establishes medical, operations and quality standards, monitors compliance, and certifies personnel.

Petrie, 49 years, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Saint Mary’s College, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Master’s in Security Studies - Homeland Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School. His annual salary will be $130,255.84.