Stephen Harper named EMS Leader of the Year

Stephen Harper, MD, deputy medical director of the San Antonio Fire Department and medical director of several emergency response departments in the area , has been named Texas EMS Leader of the Year.

Harper received the award from the Texas Department of State Health Services at the annual Texas EMS Conference held in November in Fort Worth. Harper serves as deputy medical director for the San Antonio Fire Department and medical director of the Wilson County Emergency Services District 4, Kerrville Fire Department, Bexar County Emergency Services District 5 and the City of Pleasanton Fire Department. He is an assistant professor/clinical in the Department of Emergency Health Sciences and the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Captain William Miles, Wilson County Emergency Services District 4, nominated Harper for the award. 

“We see him multiple times a month,” Miles said. “If we need to call him, he’s a phone call away and he does a ton of quality improvement and education with our folks and is just a very hands-on medical director. He is very busy and wears a lot of hats but he always makes time for us. As a small rural department, that is obviously really important for us, because we do get some really sick patients.” 

Harper has served as the Wilson County ESD 4 medical director since September of 2021. 

“I’ve always looked at this job as I’m 100% there to support the people who are on the front line with the critically ill patients,” Harper said. “My job is to give them the training, the education and the equipment they need and then afterwards, it is my job to make sure they are resilient. The goal is to make sure they are good and continually improving as paramedics.”

Crew members feel and appreciate the support, Miles said.

“It is hard to put into words just how much he does for the department and the individual crew members,” Miles said. “If they run a really tough call or pediatric death, first concern is the crew members and how they are doing. There is never any doubt he cares about the folks he works with. The medics really feel that.”

An emergency room doctor by training, Harper served in the U.S. Army for 12 years and is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

“This is an incredible achievement, and it speaks volumes about Dr. Harper's dedication, leadership and impact on the EMS community,” said Lance Villers, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Health Sciences. “It’s a well-deserved recognition, and I’m excited to see his continued contributions to the field.”