FAN work in the field
- Published September 30, 2024
Names: Derek Loftus and Katie Cone
State/Territory: Massachusetts
Derek Loftus and Katie Cone, the FAN representatives for Massachusetts, have done some amazing work over the last two years. In addition to the work they do with the advisory committee, beginning in 2023, they both sit on a panel as part of the annual Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps Training Conference. The conference brings together Medical Reserve Corps volunteers from across Massachusetts. Katie and Derek are the key panelists for a session on how to best care for children and families with special health care needs in disaster shelters from a parent’s perspective. Since they’ve taken on this panel, Derek and Katie’s work at the conference has quickly turned their session into one of the most popular and is frequently requested to return!
Derek and Katie are also part of a group planning simulation sessions launching in Massachusetts in early 2025. These sessions were first launched in 2019 and were wildly popular, but unfortunately had to be paused during the pandemic. They return this year with the goal of bringing high-quality simulation to both EMS and ED pediatric emergency care coordinators (PECCs) across the Commonwealth. At Derek and Katie’s suggestion, most of the simulations will involve some type of family interaction and one of the simulations will be a “high-tech”/device-dependent child with a challenging family interaction. As parents, they have both experienced positive and negative interactions with health care providers, and they are passionate about instilling in providers the importance of listening to the patient’s family and having frank and respectful conversations. Along with several members of the advisory committee, they will be key role players in the simulation itself and the debrief. Derek and Katie’s knowledge, experience, and passion are key in making these simulation days a success and keeping the Massachusetts EMSC State Partnership Program grounded in its fundamental work of improving patient- and family-centered pediatric care in Massachusetts.