Walt Alan Stoy, PhD, EMT-P is Professor and founding Director of Emergency Medicine Program at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Stoy was the founding Director of the Office of Educational and International Emergency Medicine at the Center for Emergency Medicine (CEM). He remains Director Emeritus at the CEM Office of Education. Walt started at the Center (originally under the School of Medicine) in 1981.
Walt’s accomplishments in his early years in the School of Medicine include the creation of the fourth year Elective in Emergency Medicine as well as classes for third year and first year medical students. He oversaw numerous continuing educational programs for all levels of healthcare providers. His primary goal was the creation of paramedic education at CEM. The first class started at CEM in 1982.
Walt assisted with the creation of STAT MEDEVAC and worked part-time as a flight paramedic for 12 years (84-96). His prior efforts as a paramedic date back to 1975 working initially for two funeral home-based EMS systems prior to joining the City of Pittsburgh EMS bureau in 1977 through 1981.
Upon the completion of his doctoral degree, he was sought by U.S. DOT-NHTSA to serve as the Principal Investigator over the EMT-B national standard curricula revision project. Following that successful undertaking, he was contracted to direct the revisions to the First Responder, EMT-Intermediate and Paramedic curricula projects.
In the later part of the 1990’s his efforts saw the implementation of the nation’s first and only Emergency Medicine undergraduate degree at SHRS. Although there are other programs similar in nature, PITT has the only BS degree in Emergency Medicine.
During this same time frame, Walt was finding likeminded colleagues to create the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE). This organization has thousands of members across the nation that are engaged in the education of EMS personnel.
He has a rich history of involvement internationally in the Middle East and directed one of the projects with UPMC International. A contract was in place for several years in Qatar to enhance emergency medicine aspects including EMS, emergency medicine as well as a trauma system.
At the request of the former Dean of SHRS, Walt was asked to oversee the creation a Physician Assistant Studies Program. The process started in 2008 and by January 2010 the first class of 22 students were seated.
Over the many decades, Walt worked with various individuals and organization to create instructional materials. Over 80 publications that included videos, textbooks, workbooks, textbook chapters, and instructional texts have been created to enhance the EMS domain.
Walt continues to serve as a site visitor and reader for Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP). His efforts with this organization assist in ensuring the integrity of EMS educational facilities across the country.
Walt will continue to teach in the EM program in the fall and spring terms. The Cognitive Psychology of Clinical Decision Making is team taught with Dr. Paul Paris.
