Mayor John Whitmire has appointed Dr. Kevin Schulz as the new EMS Physician Director for the Houston Fire Department, placing a veteran emergency medicine physician with more than 25 years of emergency medical service experience at the helm of one of the nation's busiest EMS systems.

Dr. Schulz succeeds Dr. David Persse, who retired earlier this year after nearly three decades of service to Houston. Since 2012, Dr. Schulz has served as an Assistant Medical Director with the Houston Fire Department, helping shape the department's nationally recognized emergency medical services system. He now assumes its top physician leadership role.

As EMS Physician Director, Dr. Schulz will oversee the medical aspects of the Houston Fire Department's EMS system, including clinical protocols, quality improvement, continuing education, and patient care provided by Houston Fire Department paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

Dr. Schulz brings more than a decade of service to the City of Houston and extensive experience in emergency medicine. He began his career more than two decades ago as a volunteer EMT in New Jersey and Pennsylvania before earning a bachelor's degree in biology from Villanova University and a medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Morristown Medical Center before relocating to Houston to complete an EMS fellowship at UTHealth Houston.

Throughout his tenure with the Houston Fire Department, Dr. Schulz has played a key role in advancing the department's EMS system and helping lead the medical response during major events, including Hurricane Harvey, Super Bowl LI, the NCAA Final Four, and the FIFA World Cup. Since 2013, he has also served as a tactical physician with the Houston Police Department's Tactical Operations Division (SWAT).

In addition to his responsibilities with the City of Houston, Dr. Schulz serves as Associate Clinical Professor and EMS Fellowship Director in the Department of Emergency Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. He also serves as Co-Chief of the Section of Disaster and Prehospital Medicine.

Dr. Schulz is chair of the National Association of EMS Physicians' Council of EMS Fellowship Directors and is a past president of the Texas Chapter of the organization. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council.

Board certified in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services, Dr. Schulz is a Fellow of both the Academy of Emergency Medical Services and the American College of Emergency Physicians. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 publications and abstracts related to prehospital and event medicine.

The appointment marks a leadership transition for the Houston Fire Department's EMS division as the city continues to build on a nationally recognized emergency medical services system following Dr. Persse's retirement earlier this year.