Dr. Carol A. Cunningham, MD, FAAEM, FAEMS

Media Releases

A Vital Force in Emergency Medicine

The Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS proudly announces the ongoing contributions of Dr. Cunningham, who has been serving as the State Medical Director since July 2004. With an esteemed career spanning nearly two decades, Dr. Cunningham is a board-certified emergency physician at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center and holds the position of associate professor of emergency medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Dr. Cunningham’s extensive qualifications include being a fellow of both the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the Academy of Emergency Medical Services. Her commitment to leadership is exemplified by her completion of the Executive Leadership Program at the Center for Homeland Defense & Security, as well as earning the Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education, following her participation in the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative.

Among her accolades, Dr. Cunningham was honored with the 2021 University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award and received Lakeland Community College’s 2022 Woman of Achievement Award. In addition, she was the recipient of the 2012 American Academy of Emergency Medicine James Keaney Leadership Award, underscoring her impact on the field of emergency medicine.

Dr. Cunningham is actively involved in shaping the future of emergency medical services as the co-principal investigator for the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines project. Furthermore, she represents NASEMSO on the National Registry of EMTs’ IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) Task Force. Her leadership extends to national committees, where she served as the EMS Medical Director representative on the National EMS Advisory Council and contributed to the Education and Workforce Committee.

Additionally, Dr. Cunningham plays a vital role on various boards and councils, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate’s First Responder Resource Group, the OnStar® Public Safety Advisory Council, and the Mobile Education Team for the Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Education Program. Her community involvement is further exemplified by her service on the Board of Directors of the Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, the Eversight Board of Directors, the Tri-C Jazzfest Board of Advisors, and the Board of Trustees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

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