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Faculty

Nick Smith

MS, LP
Chief Operating Officer
Harris County ESD 11

Nick Smith is Division Chief-Clinical, for the Montgomery County Hospital District. He is a Houston native who began his EMS career in 2013. He has experience in various aspects of EMS including as a 911 dispatcher, Communications Training Officer, Captain - Field Training Officer, and Assistant Operations Chief.

Chief Smith holds two Bachelor’s degrees: double science major at Texas A&M and a bachelor’s in computer science. Additionally, he completed his Masters in Data Science from Eastern University. Chief Smith has a passion for the clinical aspect of EMS and using data to enhance the care MCHD provides the community.

2026 Sessions

Expired EMS Protocols: How to Write Protocols In 2026

Yes, I understand

Since the beginning, EMS protocols have been a chapter book containing pages of detailed instructions, standing orders, and medical commentary. These books used to be just that—books. The printed and spiral bound books of years past have since made the technological transformation into digital books, but these are often cumbersome and difficult to use when seconds count.

We’re using 2026 technology to read protocols designed for 1976, and it’s time to fix that. Come learn about the pitfalls, gotchas, and shining moments of re-developing protocols from the ground up using an app-based, mobile-first approach to protocol development. Ditch the protocol book and download the protocol app.

Co-Presenter (2 Presenters)

Friday, October 02 9:45–10:45 AM
Room W224 C/D
Leadership and Management
Faculty

Michael DePasquale

MD
Associate Medical Director
Montgomery County Hospital District

Mike DePasquale, MD, NRP, started in EMS in 2007 as a volunteer EMT for the Rochester Institute of Technology Ambulance in upstate New York. He obtained his Paramedic certification in 2012 and worked full time as a Paramedic until starting medical school in 2016. He went on to complete residency training in Emergency Medicine in 2023 and EMS Fellowship in 2024 both at Indiana University and has since worked as a community emergency physician in the greater Houston area. Dr. DePasquale currently serves as both the Associate Medical Director for Montgomery County Hospital District EMS and as the Medical Director for the Houston Methodist Hospital EMS service. He is focused on responsible pre-hospital ultrasound utilization and integrative technology use in the field.

Faculty

Nick Smith

MS, LP
Chief Operating Officer
Harris County ESD 11

Nick Smith is Division Chief-Clinical, for the Montgomery County Hospital District. He is a Houston native who began his EMS career in 2013. He has experience in various aspects of EMS including as a 911 dispatcher, Communications Training Officer, Captain - Field Training Officer, and Assistant Operations Chief.

Chief Smith holds two Bachelor’s degrees: double science major at Texas A&M and a bachelor’s in computer science. Additionally, he completed his Masters in Data Science from Eastern University. Chief Smith has a passion for the clinical aspect of EMS and using data to enhance the care MCHD provides the community.
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