LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Aug. 13, 2008)—Michael P. Somers M.D. has been appointed the Jurisdictional EMS Operations Program Medical Director for St. Mary’s County. Dr. Somers’ appointment was supported by the St. Mary’s County Ambulance and Rescue Association and has been approved by the State EMS Medical Director, Richard Alcorta, M.D., FACEP.
Dr. Somers had been serving as the Assistant Medical Director under Thomas Wilkinson M.D. Dr. Wilkinson had been volunteering as the County’s Medical Director for several years.
The duties and responsibilities of the Jurisdictional Medical Director are enumerated in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). Dr. Somers will provide medical oversight of patient care, including medical dispatch, in the EMS operational program through a comprehensive quality assurance plan covering all aspects of EMS patient care and medical dispatch, review standard operating procedures for the EMS operational program, ensure appropriate EMS provider continuing educational programs, credentialing of EMS providers and provide a liaison to the medical community as well as regional and State EMS medical directors.
Dr. Somers graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine with a Doctorate of Medicine in 2002 and graduated from the Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Sciences (Summa Cum Laude) in 1998 and he completed his residency at the Emergency Medicine Residency Program – University of Virginia Health System. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Emergency Medicine and a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians.