Co-Founder, Six Minutes to Live
Santa Cruz, California
Hilary Gates is an educator, connector, paramedic and advocate for humans. Hilary is passionate about taking care of the hearts and minds of EMS clinicians and all of those they touch. Hilary's interest in high-performing systems of care for cardiac arrest is rooted in multiple experiences as both a lay bystander, provider and bereaver. Combining clinical acumen with a prolific writing career and professional teaching background helps Hilary bring a unique perspective to improving our industry. She is a co-founder of Six Minutes to Live.
Hilary did not enter EMS through the traditional pathway. She began her career as a high school English and journalism teacher. After hearing students tell stories about volunteering in EMS, Hilary agreed to do ride-a-long, which was a life changing experience. The rest is history.
Hilary is currently the director of educational strategy for Prodigy EMS. Her EMS career began as a volunteer with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County (MD), and then as a paramedic, EMT instructor and field training officer with the City of Alexandria (VA) Fire Department. She also implemented AFD's MIH/CP program. Hilary then served as senior editorial and program director for EMS World, helping to make EMS World Expo the most well-attended EMS conference in the world. Hilary has also served as an adjunct instructor for both American University's School of Education, the University of Pittsburgh's Emergency Medicine program, and the GWU School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Hilary proudly works in the harm reduction space helping people who use drugs. She serves on multiple boards and consults for a variety of initiatives including Heartsight, whose aim is to reduce uncertainty and improve understanding for anyone affected by cardiac arrest.
Hilary actively seeks out opportunities where innovation in EMS can improve the patient and clinician experience, and she works tirelessly to find solutions when the road to success seems blocked.
In her spare time, Hilary enjoys riding her bike, skiing as fast as her age will allow, and traveling to foreign lands. She dreams of becoming a surfing instructor and/or seaplane pilot.