New Faculty Timless Knowledge
Captain Ryan Goodwin: San Rafael Fire Department (ret)
Goodwin comes to COM as a newly retired Captain from Marin County’s busiest city—San Rafael. He began his career in Riverside, CA as a Fire/Medic, then moved on to San Rafael, working at both the Firefighting academy and the EMS training center. He retired as Captain of Training, after more than 27 years on the job , and without missing a step, graciously agreed to build out CoM’s ranks. Ryan has agreed to each assignment we posed to him. When asked to teach the local high school’s troubled sophomores, juniors, and seniors, CA Goodwin shrugged and smiled: “Sounds like my kind of people.”
As life happens, my first day as a paramedic intern, I watched Ryan resuscitate a breathless, soon-to-be-deceased man who was “blueberry” cyanotic, to pink, warm, and fighting with Ryan to remove the demand Oxygen valve. Thanks to Mr. Goodwin’s quick, decisive expertise, the seemingly hopeless patient was now conscious, breathing, and grappling with Ryan to stop filling him with added Oxygen. That’s public service for you.
And to watch him teach… it’s a masterful game of 4D chess that unfolds like a carefree conversation. One of the kids mentioned a difficult subject, and CA Goodwin interjected: “Great question,Eva…let’s dig deeper. Any ideas?” In hushed tones, a student in the back row mumbles the correct answer. “Correct! Well done, Kinoa. Nitro Glycerine would plummet BP in Right Heart Failure patients, even with IV fluid running.” Prof. Goodwin regards the student admirably, adding, “Did anyone ever compliment how smart you are?”
Kinoa grunts, shaking his head but radiating a newfound giddy electricity. “Well, I’m telling you know. Kinoa, please answer more questions in class. Even if the it’s not exactly right, it’s always well-thought-out. It also helps the whole class. Would you do me that favor?”
Kinoa, who is now radiating a field of electricity through newly stretched back shoulders, cracks an uncommon smile, says in a wet voice, “Okay…if it’ll help”
“ What’s that? I couldn’t hear you through all that correct answering.”
“Alright, I’ll answer more!” Kinoa’s smile puts the room’s bright. canny fluorescents to shame.,
“Even if you’re not sure?
“Even if I’m not sure—Especially if I’m not sure—”
“Alright! We’ve got one converter in our course.” Ryan is smiling now, “And I will get to each of you before this semester’s out.” Some classmates stare, silly-grinned, watching the others who smile ear-to-ear, having caught the momentary magic.
CA Goodwin is an everyday “ah-ha moment” conjurer; a medical magician.
Robyn Burton: Nicasio Fire Department (act)
Bridging our experienced and new faculty is Robyn Burton, Fire EMT from Nicasio Fire Department.
FF Burton came highly recommended by none other than Mike Seybold, and she has not disappointed. She is on time, rehearsed, replete, lugging all the gear, and itching to relate to students, a wild emergency she managed during the previous shift.
Students report that she is a no-nonsense practitioner, willing to stay after class to discuss concepts and develop ideas. Her youth and excitement for the job make Robyn visceral and relatable, and they have legitimate fun during her guided labs and scenarios
When asked to promote and lecture, FF Burton was taken aback by the responsibility and fluency required to take on that role. Like any heroic caregiver would when faced with an overwhelming challenge, Robyn jumped in with both feet, studying the material all over again and building the PowerPoints in a way that made studying from lecture notes intuitive.
As a result of her natural charisma and the students’ appreciation for her ability to teach, Ms. Burton has taken an active role in class this semester, lecturing or working as a Lab Assistant the majority of the day in EMT 1B.
Robyn is appreciated by students and faculty alike. She will work her schedule around to fill in for an opening…as long as it doesn’t interfere with her first love, riding and racing horses.
Captain Kurt Chun: Berkely Fire Department (ret)
It is truly amazing that our program attacts venerated individuals to teach new recruits. Kurt Chun is one who fits the bill.
Kurt Chun has not only been an operational Fire Captain in the East Bay, but also maintained a part-time teaching career in Fire Science at City College of San Francisco for decades, where his and my Healthcare Technology Programs integrated from time to time. CA Chun continued teaching after he retired from Berkeley Fire. When a part-time position at CoM opened, Kurt interviewed and got one of the spots, but the position has been dormant ever since. It is only after new courses opened up that Kurt was finally able to put his chops to work, teaching the new recruits Emergency Basic Life Support.
By all accounts, the EMT students appreciated his straightforward, traditional teaching method and focused approach to emergency care. Kurt will be working at Joint Lead Instructor of the Fire 215 (EMR course) with CA Goodwin this semester, giving him a chance to work with students from Day One of their emergency medical education.
Kevin Olson: Sonoma Fire EMT (act)
Kevin, when not working on the Human Body, is burning it… that is, he’s long been a volunteer healthcare worker for the annual Burning Man festival.
He is currently halfway through paramedic school, beginning clinicians, and is expected to be working as an ALS lifesaver in a 911 system by year’s end. We’re so proud of you, Kevin!
EMT Olson initially graduated from our Fire Technology program in 2023 and has since worked his way up the ranks to Lab Assistant and now Part-Time Lecturer.
He’s absolutely loved by the students. Kevin usually saves Friday lectures for utility scenarios, covering in a simulation what has not been adequately fleshed out over the week during lectures and skills. Because Kevin routinely sees all sorts of new emergencies himself, his scenarios are both fun and real-to-life. The students, knowing Kevin recently encountered this very situation, are eager to run through the mock-up so that the second half of class can be focused on what Olson’s crew did for the call.
It is a testament to our teaching program that a student can work their way from newly interested EMR, through EMT training, into a job as an EMT, and then want to come back and share their experience as an instructor of the next generation.