Biography
My name is Bryan Stevens. I`m a 30 year Frontline Services Veteran, I have served the people of Ontario as a Paramedic. For the last 18 years, I have worked as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic on a helicopter based in London, Ontario. I was among the highest educated, trained, and certified paramedics in North America.
With this level of training, I was expected to perform my duties at a very high level of autonomy and acuity. During my career, I responded to over 10,000 calls. Our mission was to treat and transport the most severe trauma patients from vehicle, farming and industrial accidents, pedestrians struck and burn victims of all ages.
Additionally, we treated and transported the most complicated medical patients, ranging across cardiac, stroke, brain injuries, infection and sepsis complications, seizure disorders, and overdose patients. Whenever all efforts had been exhausted at their current hospitals, our care helped transport them to high level tertiary care centres such as Toronto Sick Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Hospitals, Toronto Sunnybrook, and Toronto St. Michael’s Hospital.
In my career, I have touched the lives of hundreds of patients and their families. I have watched and been a part of many tragedies as they unfolded, trying desperately to provide a helping and healing hand, or simply a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on.
In August of 2014, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With the assistance of many people, I`m now able to manage those symptoms. Even though I’m no longer able to work as a Front Line Responder, away from the lights, sirens and rotor blades turning; I have ventured down an exciting new path in life. With a deeper understanding of the effects of PTSD and OSI, I found that I am still able to help others – and with that, the birth of “Frontline Forward!”
With the expertise of three incredible professionals, we are opening a PTSD Treatment Centre specialized in working with Frontline staff including paramedics, police, fire, RN, doctors, corrections, and social workers. Our facility offers a fully functional gym, yoga/meditation studio, on site psychotherapy, physiotherapy, and massage and fascial stretching therapy.
Every day my personal goal is to provide a place for Frontline personnel and anyone suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Occupational Stress Injury complications, supporting and encouraging them to Feel Healthy – Feel Safe – Feel Strong!