Josh Dickson, FP-C, CCEMT-P, WEMT-P, grew up in Oregon where family ties to the EMS community run deep. His father was the first paramedic in the state, and his family owned the ambulance and fixed wing service in his hometown of Astoria. His mother was a nurse in the emergency and intensive care departments, his uncle was the ambulance fleet mechanic and his aunt was a dispatcher. Josh’s own EMS career seemed inevitable.
He was raised at the ambulance station and remembers feeling proud of his father and how other people looked up to him. This left a strong impression on young Josh and when it came time to choose a career, it’s no surprise he decided to pursue a degree in paramedicine. After earning his license, Josh spent the next few years working with rescue teams on Mt. Hood in Oregon and as a ski patroller on Mt. Shasta in California. He became a flight paramedic, working for services in Mt. Shasta, as well as Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. He moved to Maine and began working for LifeFlight in March 2007, playing a key role in helping implement LifeFlight’s Fixed Wing program in 2015.
Not surprisingly, Josh enjoys spending his time off pursuing adventure-based activities like climbing, snowboarding, mountaineering and flying his own Piper Comanche. When he can’t get outside, he also enjoys making furniture.