Team/Leadership

Michael Thomas

Director

Mike Director

Director Thomas

Director Michael Thomas has over twenty years of service to New Bedford and has been a paramedic on our city’s busiest ambulances. Mike has also served as a field supervisor , Deputy Director and was promoted to Director of EMS in 2021. As Director, Thomas is responsible for the overall management and delivery of Emergency Medical Services . Director Thomas is also a registered nurse.

Ryan Grasela

Deputy Director

Deputy Ryan Grasela began his career with NBEMS as a Paramedic in 2014, assigned to Medic 3, serving the city North End. Deputy Grasela also assumed the role of one of New Bedford’s first rapid response paramedics. A specialty unit that provides rapid response and support on high priority calls. He was promoted in 2022 to the Captain of Training and Professional Standards. He now serves as Deputy Director overseeing operations.

Jacob Hughes

Captain

Captain photo

Captain Hughes began his career with New Bedford EMS in October of 2016, initially as an EMT-Basic. He obtained his Paramedic in 2020 and was assigned to Medic 1, one of the busiest ambulances in our fleet. Captain Hughes also holds many different instructor certifications to include his Instructor Coordinator. Captain Hughes is currently assigned as lead in the Training and Professional Standards Division overseeing department training and outside education and training.

Paramedics and EMTs

Our team includes over eighty full-time and part-time Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who work diligently to ensure the health and safety of our community. These highly skilled professionals are at the forefront of emergency medical care, providing critical interventions, administering life-saving medications, and offering compassionate support to patients in their time of need. Their training and expertise enable them to handle a wide range of medical emergencies, from trauma care to cardiac incidents.

Educators and Community Advocates

Many of our team members go above and beyond their roles as medical responders. They are also educators, regularly teaching CPR, First Aid, and various healthcare programs to the public. This commitment to community education extends to supporting local high school Emergency Medical Technology programs and serving as precepting sites for Paramedic Interns. Our team believes in empowering the community with life-saving knowledge.